Part II
I am a Witness of Jesus Christ
“But He was wounded for your transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Are you a witness for Christ? I have often been confronted with the task of proving Jesus was a real man who lived on this earth for thirty-three years, died a brutal death and was resurrected from the dead on the third day. Although, I leave the conviction for the truth of Jesus Christ to the Holy Spirit, it gives me great joy to witness Science further proving my Savior lived, died and rose again!
Most historians believe Jesus was a real man. And to test the veracity of Biblical claims, historians have compared the Christian accounts of Jesus’ life with historical ones recorded by Romans and Jews, alive during the same time. Most notable of these men were the ancient historians, Flavius Josephus and Cornelius Tacitus. Let me share with you just a few of the facts solidifying that Jesus lived, died and rose again!
Scholars agree that a man by the name of Jesus was born between 2 B.C. and 7 B.C. as part of the peasant class in a small village called Nazareth in Galilee. Historians also back the claim that Joseph, Jesus’ father, was a carpenter and there was a good possibility that Jesus would have gone into the family profession as well.
In addition, one of the most pivotal moments in the New Testament, is Jesus’s baptism in the wilderness by John the Baptist. In Mark 1:10 the scene is described like this, ” And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. A powerful turning point in Jesus’s life for sure. Again confirmed by historians. We also know that historians confirm that Jesus was known during his lifetime as a teacher and healer in Galilee and Judea.
Several historical sources document Jesus’s brutal death at the hands of Pontius Pilate. The Gospels tell us that the skies darkened for hours after the crucifixion, which many historians even viewed as a miracle. Using astronomy, later historians have used this as a marker to pinpoint the death of Christ. Death by crucifixion was one of the most brutal ways to die, and it was typically reserved for slaves and those seen to be challenging Roman authority. Even one of the most famous relics of Jesus, the shroud of Turin, has solid scientific footing. After strict analysis, most historians agree the shroud clearly dates back to the time of Jesus. And to put the icing on the cake, more than 500 people were witnesses to Christ after His resurrection. Not one, not two, but 500! For forty days, Jesus ate, slept, and performed many miracles on earth after being resurrected from the dead!
As the days wear on, science points further and further to the truth of Jesus, as man and Messiah. You and I are living in the days where we can boldly claim, “I am a Witness for Jesus Christ!”
If you make your way to Kentucky anytime soon, remember,
“We’re saving you a seat!”
Pastor Tom
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