 Proof
One of the realities that provides great confidence for us about the validity of the apostolic witness is that they faithfully held to their testimony even to the point of death. This does not prove that Jesus’ resurrection or the claims of the Christian faith are true. But it does prove that they believed it was true. Let's call this fact premise A. The second thing that we know for sure about the apostles' testimony to the miracles, ministry, and messiahship of Jesus is that they had to know the truth. What I mean is that they had firsthand knowledge of Jesus’ miracles. They had the front row seat for the many hours of Jesus’ public teaching. They had the backstage pass of three years of Jesus’ personal life in all circumstances. Finally they saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion. Since all of this is true, they could not have been wrong about the facts of their message, so we can call this premise B. What I am proposing is a logical proof. A + B = C. If A is true and B is true, then C must be true. The “C” conclusion is that Jesus is the Christ who rose from the dead and is reigning at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:15-22). Prophecy The disciples of Jesus in the first century, who by virtue of their own eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ resurrection knew that He was the Christ sent by God, had to reevaluate the messages foretold by the prophets in light of the reality of Jesus' advent (Luke 24:13-27). Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of heaven and proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom of God gave them new insight into the revelation that God had given through the prophets. In this way they were able to see how Jesus was not only claiming to be the Messiah who was promised but He also fulfilled the prophecies about the coming Christ. In the same way we must use the record given to us in the New Testament by the apostles to understand the message and ministry of Moses and the Prophets regarding Jesus and His kingdom. In this way we should be even more assured of our hope by recognizing the fulfillment of these things in Christ (2 Peter 3:1-13). Promises The point is that we can trust God who always keeps His promises. As we are coming near to the week when most expressions of the Christian church are focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we should reflect on how in Christ God has kept His promises to us. Going all the way back to the garden of Eden just after Adam and Eve had disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, God made a promise to the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15). We may not usually think about a curse as a promise but it is God promising to send a descendant of the woman to crush the head of the dragon (Revelation 12). In the New Testament, John calls this destroying the works of the devil (1 John 3:4-10). Going all the way back to Abraham, God promised to bless all the nations through him (Genesis 12:1-3). However, God also gave Abraham and his descendants conditions that none of them were ever able to perfectly meet until Jesus came to inherit the promises made to Abraham (Galatians 3:15-29). Going all the way back to God’s promise to David that he would have a descendant who would rule over God’s people forever (2 Samuel 7)! Jesus came as the King of kings and Lord of lords to rule not only the physical Israelites but all the nations forever fulfilling God’s promises to the greatest possible degree (Romans 1:1-7). Of course we could go on listing the many promises that God has kept in Christ. But now since the one true God has kept all His promises, will we repent and rest in the work of Christ on our behalf? And also serve in obedience to Christ for His Glory? May it be so!
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