“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-17
I’ve said it before, I am like Thomas in the Bible. It’s difficult to just believe when I can’t see. See many living in our world are the same. They must have proof to believe it’s real. And, often, like me, even seeing something doesn’t make the leap of faith automatic or easy.
Those people look at the Bible and Gospels as a faith writing, not considering it as a historical document. They wonder along with the atheist world when it says “did Jesus really live?” or agree that “Jesus was just a good teacher.”
‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ John 20:29
First off, let’s look at point one there. Yes, it is a proven fact that Jesus did exist and did walk the earth. On the second, He said Himself that He was more than just a nice guy with some good things to say when He said He is God. The Gospels and letters that make up the New Testament are a historical record and should be viewed as such – no different than other famous people from ‘ancient times.’
There are historians who write of Jesus’ reality within the time range of His ministry, death and resurrection.
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who was employed by the Romans and wrote during the time of Christ. He would write, “When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified . . .”
Tacitus, who is generally regarded as the greatest of the Roman historians, wrote in about 116 AD “Nero fastened the guilt [of the burning of Rome] and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.”
This Bible, contains eyewitness accounts of Jesus and His words and actions. Even the doubts and worries.
“The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am He, the one who is speaking to you.’” John 4:25-26
“And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf” John 5:37
Matthew 11:2-3 show us that even Jesus’ forerunner wondered after he proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God – “When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’”
Do you find yourself asking God to prove Himself? To prove (maybe again) that He is real and present? Don’t beat yourself up over this. I think it is part of our human condition to always seek proof..”seeing is believing” after all. But, don’t negate what your heart knows or what you’ve seen already. Don’t doubt what you already know. The first leap is the hardest but when you find Jesus catching you when you leap, it becomes easier.
I have seen Jesus working directly, I’ve even heard Jesus AND the Father speak to me. Not just “in my heart” but truly speak in audible words. These aren’t secondhand accounts, but, actual experiences. And, yet, I’ve found myself look to the heavens and ask ‘prove Yourself…again.” I’m a ‘doubter’ like Thomas and I can say, ‘I believe.’ So to those worldly doubter, in love and truth, I answer, “prove to me my faith and these events aren’t real.” I wrote and published “I Knew His Voice” specifically to tell and show people the He is real and is active even today.
The events captured in words of the New Testament, historians and the Fathers of the early Church confirm the events as fact. So much did these men, Peter, James, Paul, Ignatius, Felicity and others, believe that they died rather than recant their ‘stories.’
Believe with your eyes and mind and connect that understanding with your faith. Become a whole believer.