Christian and secular historians verify that Jesus Christ lived, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead. During His ministry, Jesus also made some very bold claims, calling Himself the Son of God. We know for certain that His statements were true because His words have come to pass. If He were just another religious teacher, His statements would only prove today that He was arrogant and foolish. Instead, they prove He is the risen Savior.
In Matthew 24:35 (NKJV), Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” In Matthew 5:18 He said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” In these verses, Jesus made the bold claim that His Word would never pass away.
In the book, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” Josh McDowell states, “In A.D. 303, Diocletian issued an edict to stop Christians from worshiping and to destroy their Scriptures … an imperial letter was everywhere promulgated, ordering the razing of the churches to the ground and the destruction by fire of the Scriptures.”
From that time until modern communism, many people have tried to outlaw, burn and destroy the Bible, yet it still remains. What other book has endured such vehement hatred and continual effort to destroy it? In spite of this, the Bible remains the most published and bestselling book in all of history, with multi-billions sold.
Bernard Ramm, as quoted in the book, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” states, “No other book has been so chopped, knifed, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology … has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible? With such venom and skepticism, with such thoroughness and erudition? Upon every chapter, line, and tenet? The Bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, and studied by millions.”
Another writer said, “If this book had not been the book of God, men would have destroyed it long ago. Emperors and popes, kings and priests, princes and rulers have all tried their hand at it; they die, and the book still lives.”
For Jesus to claim that His words would never pass away, He would have to be God. These words of Jesus about the Bible have proven true.
Another statement by Jesus in John 8:12 reads, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'”
Jesus called Himself “the light of the world” when He was known only around Galilee. How could He make such a claim?
In his book, “Defending the Faith,” Henry Morris said, “How could an uncultured carpenter from a despised village in a small province ever presume to assert that he was the very light that would enlighten the entire world? Absurd. Yet there have been millions down through the centuries who have testified that He was, indeed, the light of their world.”
These followers of Jesus have impacted the world in extraordinary ways. Only God, working through Christians, could have delivered people from all kinds of bondage, cast out devils and healed diseases through the power of His name. Christian organizations have fed and helped the poor worldwide for decades. Jesus is in fact, the only light in this dark world.
First John 1:5b says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” When Jesus said He is the light of the world, He was saying that He is God.
The ultimate act of Jesus proving He was who He claimed to be was His willingness to die a cruel death on a cross for our sins. He then rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 witnesses. Jesus then ascended into heaven as final proof of His identity and deity.
No other person or religious leader can be compared to the risen Savior. He created all things and left His place in heaven to come to the earth. He was born of a virgin, lived as a sinless man, suffered, and died for our sins, and rose from the dead conquering death, hell and the grave. He is infinitely powerful, holy, just, merciful, loving, and ready to forgive and receive all who will come to Him. He is the Almighty, eternal God. This is why we are privileged and honored to serve Him.
Bill Wiese
