Sunday, August 28, 2005

That You May Believe - 10

"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
The Testimony For Jesus' Resurrection - Part 1

In this study we have noted that John seeks to produce faith in Jesus by recording the claims concerning Jesus We have looked at claims made by John in his prologue to the gospel and claims made by Jesus Himself throughout His ministry. By recording testimony to support such claims we read of the testimony of those who saw and heard Jesus and the testimony of the Father through signs and Scripture. Perhaps the strongest testimony provided by John is that of Jesus' resurrection. For if Jesus truly did rise from the dead He indeed is everything that both Jesus and John claimed!

What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus? In John's gospel, the testimony for Jesus' resurrection begins with Jesus' death; in other words, what is said about the crucifixion. Let’s look at the evidence. First there is the soldiers' observation that Jesus was dead - Jn 19:31-33 "After Jesus drank the wine, he said, "Everything is done!" He bowed his head and died. The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs and take their bodies down." Then we have blood and water coming from Jesus' pierced side - Jn 19:34-35 "One of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus' side, and blood and water came out. We know this is true, because it was told by someone who saw it happen. Now you can have faith too." Medical authorities have commented on this phenomenon as evidence that it proves Jesus died on the cross (not sometime later). "There remains, therefore, no supposition possible to explain the recorded phenomenon except the combination of the crucifixion and rupture of the heart." - Samuel Houghton, M.D. (physiologist from the University of Dublin). There is testimony of Tacitus, Roman historian (ca. 112 A.D.) - "Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberias."

The alternative view is that Jesus only swooned, to either die or be revived some time later. Postulated by many skeptics, trying to deny the resurrection of Jesus (e.g., The Passover Plot, by Hugh J. Schonfield)
Which is more likely becomes apparent as we consider the evidence of the empty tomb. The stone removed - Jn 20:1 "On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance." The first observation is by Mary Magdalene, on early Sunday morning. A stone that had been sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers - Mt 27:62-66 "On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one." Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how." So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it." The body gone - Jn 20:2 "She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him."' The tomb is empty! Mary supposes that the body has been removed, and runs to tell Peter. The grave clothes - Jn 20:3-9 "Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in. When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life." Peter and John see the head covering (napkin) lying neatly folded by itself indicating there had been no hurry to get away, or to steal the body (Hailey).

The alternative views and theories are the body was stolen. This theory says the disciples stole the body, then claimed He rose from the dead. This was the "official" theory offered from the very beginning - Mt 28:11-15 "While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened. So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money. They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about." The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The people of Judea still tell each other this story." There are difficulties with this described explaination. The explanation defies logic. If the soldiers were asleep how did they know it was the disciples who took the body? How could the large stone guarding the entrance be rolled away without awakening the soldiers? The soldiers guarding the tomb were Romans - Mt 27: 62-66. They were professional soldiers charged to guard the tomb with their lives. The punishment for falling asleep on duty was death. This would make those who testified they saw Jesus liars and frauds for they claimed empirical evidence - Ac 10:39-41 "We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him." Suppose just a few disciples stole the body, unknown by others, such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or the women. Others still say they saw Jesus, ate and drank with Him. You have to explain why they were willing to lie and die knowing it was a lie.

Another alternative view or theory is the swoon hypothesis. The theory explained that Jesus did not actually die on the cross, He only swooned. Suffering from shock, pain, and loss of blood, He fainted (swooned) from exhaustion. Thinking that He was dead, the Roman soldiers took Him down and He was buried in the tomb. In the coolness of the tomb, Jesus revived. Somehow He left the tomb, and appeared to His disciples, then lived in obscurity to die years later. The difficulties here are that Jesus would have had to revive sufficiently enough to break through the burial garments that bound Him, including a hundred pounds of spices used in preparing His body for burial - Jn 19:38-40. He had to role away the large stone that sealed the tomb, fight off the Roman guards protecting the tomb, walk the seven miles to Emmaus where He was seen by the two disciples, then walk back to Jerusalem where He was seen by the apostles. All within the same day! Every effort was made to prove He was dead. The Roman soldiers at the cross pierced His side - Jn 19:31-34, Pilate made sure He was dead - Mk 15:43-45. When Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body the Roman centurion confirmed that Jesus was dead. Not only would this make the apostles liars and frauds, but Jesus also for allowing a lie to spread for years! Another alternative view or theory is the vision hypothesis. The theory explained all of Christ's post-resurrection appearances were only supposed appearances and those who claimed to see Jesus had hallucinations. The difficulties as described are the appearances were not just to individuals, one at a time. Ten apostles claimed to see Him - Jn 20:19-25. Jesus appeared to six disciples at the Sea of Galilee - Jn 21:1-14. He appeared to over 500 people at once as recorded in 1 Co 15:6. The theory contradicts laws and principles which psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations. Only certain kinds of people have hallucinations. Usually high-strung, highly imaginative, and very nervous people, only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have hallucinations, or someone on drugs. The appearances were not restricted to people of any particular psychological make up. Hallucinations are linked in an individual's subconscious. An individual may have an hallucination, but hallucinations do not appear to groups of people. They occur in people when there is a spirit of anticipation or hopeful expectation. The disciples had no such anticipation - Lk 24: 13-21. They were prone to disbelieve even after they were told of the resurrection - Jn 20:24-25. I would highly suggest the reader open their Bible and read the scriptures referenced in this last paragraph.

Having looked at these alternative views or theories we will continue our study in a lesson to follow looking at the greatest evidence of all, the witnesses.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

That You May Believe - 9

THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
The Father's Testimony Through Scripture
Part Two

Jesus was rejected as a teacher. Prophecies related to this are Isa 53:1; 6:9,10, in which many would not receive the Messiah because of dull hearts. John made reference to these passages - Jn 12:37-41"He had worked a lot of miracles among the people, but they were still not willing to have faith in him. This happened so that what the prophet Isaiah had said would come true, "Lord, who has believed our message? And who has seen your mighty strength?" The people could not have faith in Jesus, because Isaiah had also said, "The Lord has blinded the eyes of the people, and he has made the people stubborn. He did this so that they could not see or understand, and so that they would not turn to the Lord and be healed." Isaiah said this, because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him." The Jews' rejection of Jesus and His teachings thus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy

The King’s entrance is recorded in Zech 9:9 "Everyone in Jerusalem, celebrate and shout! Your king has won a victory, and he is coming to you. He is humble and rides on a donkey; he comes on the colt of a donkey." Israel's king would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. John records Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem - Jn 12: 12-16 "The next day a large crowd was in Jerusalem for Passover. When they heard that Jesus was coming for the festival, they took palm branches and went out to greet him. They shouted, "Hooray! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!" Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, just as the Scriptures say, "People of Jerusalem, don't be afraid! Your King is now coming, and he is riding on a donkey." At first, Jesus' disciples did not understand. But after he had been given his glory, they remembered all this. Everything had happened exactly as the Scriptures said it would." Later, His disciples would understand how this fulfilled what was written of the Messiah
Reference to the crucifixion of the Messiah is made in Zech 12:10 "I, the LORD, will make the descendants of David and the people of Jerusalem feel deep sorrow and pray when they see the one they pierced with a spear. They will mourn and weep for him, as parents weep over the death of their only child or their first-born." Reference to his burial is found in Isa 53:9 "He wasn't dishonest or violent, but he was buried in a tomb of cruel and rich people." John describes the crucifixion in detail, and refers to Zechariah's prophecy in Jn 19:37 "and, "They will see the one in whose side they stuck a spear."" He also refers to Isaiah's prophecy regarding His burial in Jn 19:38-42 "Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross. Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead. In the place where Jesus had been nailed to a cross, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they were in a hurry to put Jesus' body there."

The Father's testimony through Scripture was not limited to prophecies found in the writings of Moses and the Prophets. Let's briefly note how John also makes several references to prophecies in the Psalms. The zeal of Jesus is recorded in Psa 69:9 My love for your house burns in me like a fire, and when others insulted you, they insulted me as well." This is mentioned by John in regards to Jesus cleansing the temple - Jn 2:13-17 "Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins. Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, "Get those doves out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace." The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, "My love for your house burns in me like a fire."" His betrayal by His familiar friend is recorded in Psa 41:9 "My most trusted friend has turned against me, though he ate at my table." This is mentioned by Jesus in regards to the betrayal by Judas - Jn 13:18 "I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But what the Scriptures say must come true. And they say, "The man who ate with me has turned against me!"" Jesus being hated without cause is recorded in Psa 35:19 "Don't let my brutal enemies be glad because of me. They hate me for no reason. Don't let them wink behind my back.."; 69:4 "There are more people who hate me for no reason than there are hairs on my head. Many terrible enemies want to destroy me, God. Am I supposed to give back something I didn't steal?" Jesus explained that the Jews' rejection of Him fulfilled these passages - Jn 15:24-25 "I have done things that no one else has ever done. If they had not seen me do these things, they would not be guilty. But they did see me do these things, and they still hate me and my Father too. That is why the Scriptures are true when they say, "People hated me for no reason."'

The parting of His garments is recorded in Psa 22:18 "They took my clothes and gambled for them." John explains this was fulfilled by the solders during the crucifixion - Jn 19:24 "The soldiers said to each other, "Let's not rip it apart. We will gamble to see who gets it." This happened so that the Scriptures would come true, which say, "They divided up my clothes and gambled for my garments." The soldiers then did what they had decided." The offering of gall and vinegar while on the cross is recorded in Psa 69:21 "Enemies poisoned my food, and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar." 2. This was fulfilled by Jesus while on the cross - Jn 19:28-30 "Jesus knew that he had now finished his work. And in order to make the Scriptures come true, he said, "I am thirsty!" A jar of cheap wine was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held it up to Jesus' mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. After Jesus drank the wine, he said, "Everything is done!" He bowed his head and died."

Through the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, the Father was bearing testimony. Preparing Israel for the coming of the Messiah. He was providing a way for them to be able to recognize the Messiah, proving that Jesus was everything that He claimed to be regarding the Messiah. We should not underestimate the force of such testimony from the Father. It has been estimated that over 300 prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. The likelihood that anyone coincidentally or purposefully fulfilled all these prophecies is mathematically implausible. The apostles' depended heavily upon the testimony by the Father through Scriptures to convince people that Jesus was the Christ (cf. Ac 3:24; 17:2-3). Are we willing to accept the Father's testimony concerning His Son given through the Scriptures? Will we allow the Scriptures to produce faith in our hearts? Ro 10:17 "No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ."

Sunday, August 14, 2005

That You May Believe - 8

"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
The Father's Testimony Through Scripture
Part One

We saw where Jesus appealed to His Father's testimony through signs. Miracles and wonders that Jesus did (e.g., turning water to wine, healing the nobleman's son, healing the lame man, etc.), in which the Father bore witness to Jesus as being sent by God - cf. Jn 5:36. Jesus also appealed to His Father's testimony through scripture, the same Scriptures many looked to for eternal life - Jn 5:39a "You search the Scriptures, because you think you will find eternal life in them.". Scriptures which themselves bore witness to Jesus - cf. Jn 5:39b "The Scriptures tell about me," From Lk 24:44, "Jesus said to them, "While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen."", we can assume that Jesus had in mind the following scriptures in The Law of Moses, The Psalms and The Prophets, when He said ""The Scriptures tell about me,". Note Jesus' words in Jn 5:45-47 "Don't think that I will be the one to accuse you to the Father. You have put your hope in Moses, yet he is the very one who will accuse you. Moses wrote about me, and if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me. But if you don't believe what Moses wrote, how can you believe what I say?". In these scriptures were many prophecies concerning the Messiah.

In John's gospel, he records how many of these prophecies bore witness to Jesus as the Messiah. In the writings of Moses the first prophecy is recorded in Gen 3:15 "You and this woman will hate each other; your descendants and hers will always be enemies. One of hers will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel."" depicting the conflict that would exist between Satan and Christ. This conflict was referred to by Jesus in Jn 12:31-33 "This world's people are now being judged, and the ruler of this world is already being thrown out! If I am lifted up above the earth, I will make everyone want to come to me." Jesus was talking about the way he would be put to death."; 14:30 "I cannot speak with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. But he has no power over me." Jesus' resurrection proved Him to be the fulfillment of this conflict - cf. He 2:14-15 "We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying."

The seed of Abraham is recorded in Gen 12:1-3 "The LORD said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you."; 22:18 "You have obeyed me, and so you and your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth."" That in his seed (Christ) all the nations would be blessed. Jesus made reference to the promise made to Abraham - Jn 8:56 "Your father Abraham was really glad to see me."" In their gospels, Matthew and Mark reveal Jesus' genealogy from Abraham .

The prophet to come is recorded in Deu 18:15 "Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says.", 17-19 "Then the LORD told me: Moses, they have said the right thing. So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn't obey the message will have to answer to me.". The prophet was to be like Moses whom they were to heed. Jesus claimed to be such a spokesman (prophet) from God - Jn 12:48-49 "But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day by what I have said. I don't speak on my own. I say only what the Father who sent me has told me to say." His apostles later declared Jesus to be this prophet - cf. Ac 3:22-26 "Moses said, "The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. No one who disobeys that prophet will be one of God's people any longer." Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise that God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, "All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family." God sent his chosen Son to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins."

From the prophecies of Moses, we turn now to the prophecies recorded by the prophets after Moses. The coming of a forerunner is recorded in Isa 40:3 "Someone is shouting: "Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road for the LORD our God.". A reference to one who would prepare people for the coming of the Lord. John the Baptist makes reference to this prophecy - Jn 1:19-23 "The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, "I am not the Messiah." Then when they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, "No, I am not!" And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said "No!" Finally, they said, "Who are you then? We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!" John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "I am only someone shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord!' "" Thus the work and testimony of John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy.

Several prophecies found in Isa 11:2; 42:1; 61:1 2. In which the Spirit was to come upon the Messiah. A fulfillment to which both John the Baptist and Jesus referis recorded in Jn 1:32-33 "I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.""; 3:34 "I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God." Luke also records how Jesus fulfilled such prophecies - cf. Lk 4:16-21 "Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures, he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read, "The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, and to say, 'This is the year the Lord has chosen.' " Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the meeting place looked straight at Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "What you have just heard me read has come true today."’

We will continue this lesson in another section looking at the prophecies concerning the rejection of Jesus as a teacher, His entrance into Jerusalem and references to His crucifixion.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

That You May Believe - 7

"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
The Father's Testimony Through Signs
In our last lesson, we considered the human testimony recorded in John's gospel, such as that offered by John the Baptist, the early disciples and others who believed. But also the testimony by the masses, including many who did not believe. As noted, human testimony alone does not prove Jesus to be the Son of God. Jesus Himself did not depend upon human testimony alone as evidence - cf. Jn 5:33-37 "You sent messengers to John, and he told them the truth. I don't depend on what people say about me, but I tell you these things so that you may be saved. John was a lamp that gave a lot of light, and you were glad to enjoy his light for a while. But something more important than John speaks for me. I mean the things that the Father has given me to do! All of these speak for me and prove that the Father sent me. The Father who sent me also speaks for me, but you have never heard his voice or seen him face to face.". He recognized human testimony, such as that offered by John the Baptist. Yet He appealed to a "greater witness", that of His Father's testimony! -- Jesus encouraged people to consider the Father's testimony as evidenced by the works which He did. In this lesson we shall define the purpose of the works or "signs" Jesus did, and note how they serve as evidence to sustain the claims Jesus made.

The definition "sign" is a Greek word, semeion. It is used "of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by Him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God's." - Thayer. This word is used by John almost exclusively in his gospel (as opposed to miracle or wonder). Jesus claimed that the works, miracles or wonders He performed "bear witness of Me" - Jn 5:36 The Father bore witness through these "signs" to the validity of His claims (such as the claim "the Father has sent Me"). What were these "signs" in which the Father bore testimony concerning Jesus? John says there were many (Jn 20:30), too many to record them all (Jn 21:25). In his gospel, John records at least seven.
Turning water to wine is the first sign and was done in Cana of Galilee - Jn 2:1-11. Jesus demonstrated His power over creation, proving the claim made in the prologue ("All things came into being by Him") - Jn 1:3. For example, He is the Creator! The next sign we read of is the healing of the nobleman’s son which was also done in Cana of Galilee - Jn 4:46-54. Jesus demonstrated His power over physical disease, supporting His claim to provide salvation from spiritual disease - cf. Jn 8:34-36 for example, He is the Savior! In Jn 5:1-9 we read of the healing of the lame man done in Jerusalem, at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus demonstrated His power over birth defects used to show His equality with God - Jn 5:17-21. For example, He is Deity, and capable of giving life! In Jn 6:1-14 we find the feeding of the five thousand done near Bethsaida of Galilee. Jesus showed His power over food supply proving His claim to provide man with his spiritual needs - Jn 6:35 "Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.", He is the Bread of Life! In walking on the water on the Sea of Galilee Jesus showed His power over nature - Jn 6:16-21 Once again this confirms the claim made by John in the prologue - Jn 1:3, He is the Creator! F. In healing the blind man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth - Jn 9:1-12, Jesus showed His power over blindness confirming His claim to be "the light of the world" - Jn 8:12, He is the Light! When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead as He done at Bethany - Jn 11:39-44, Jesus shows His power over death, proving His claim to be "the resurrection and the life" - Jn 11:25, He is the Life! Through such signs as these seven, the Father bore testimony concerning Jesus of Nazareth they were designed to impact those who saw them and indeed they did.

We have the testimony by witness such as Nicodemus saying to Jesus, "You are a teacher come from God" - Jn 3:2a, "No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him" - Jn 3:2b There is also the testimony of the multitude, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?", prompting many to believe in Him - Jn 7:31 We also have the testimony of His enemies. "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs." - Jn 11:47. They could not deny the signs, though they refused to accept their implications. John stated his purpose in recording these "signs" of Jesus, including the one in which He showed Himself alive to doubting Thomas (cf. Jn 20:26-29), That we might believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and that we have life in His name - Jn 20:30-31. Jesus said these "signs" served as testimony from the Father - Jn 5:36. That the Father sent Him and that He is everything He claimed to be. The question we face is this: Do we ignore these signs, attested to even by the enemies of Jesus? Or do we accept them as testimony from the Father, that the claims of Jesus are true? The blessing of eternal life hangs in the balance.