Reasons to Believe in Jesus Christ
Who is Jesus Christ?
He is a Person who knows our needs, feels our pain, and sympathizes
with our weakness. In exchange for our trust, He offers to
forgive our sins, to intercede for us, and to bring us to
His Father. Fully God and fully man, he cried for us, died
for us, and rose from the dead to show that He was all He
claimed to be. Conquering death, He showed us that He can
save us from our sins, live His life through us on earth,
and then bring us safely to heaven. He offers Himself as a
gift to anyone who will trust Him ( John 20:24-31).
Who Jesus Christ is Not
People think of Jesus in extremes. For some he is not simply
a thoughtless expletive, for others he is only a mythical
figure. For some he is a good teacher, and yet for others
he is much more than a good man…he is God.
Jesus was not simply a Good Teacher. "Why do you call
me good?," Jesus said. "No one is Good except God
alone" (Luke 18:19). While millions of people live their
lives by the good teaching of Jesus Christ, he is much more
than a good teacher. Jesus came not to teach the Law of God,
but to fulfill it (John 10:18).
Who Others Said He Was
Jesus Christ is not the centerpiece of some myth. The existence
of Jesus is recorded by historians…Jewish, Roman, Christian
and non-Christian alike. Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus,
who was born in A.D. 37, writes,
"Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wide man, if
it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful
works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.
He was Christ.; and when Pilate had condemned him to the cross,
those who loved him at first did not forsake him, for he appeared
to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets
these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him;
and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct
at this day" (Antiquities XVIII, III).
Roman Historians, who like Jewish historians would have preferred
to dismiss the reality of Christ's existence, make reference
of Christ and his followers (Tacticus Annals XV, 44) Others
including the critic Luican of Samosata, Seutonius, and Pliny
the Younger give sufficient additional historical evidence
of the existence of Jesus Christ.
Who Jesus said He Was
Jesus said…
- "I have authority to lay my life down and authority
to take it up again" (Matt. 5:17)
- "I have told you everything ahead of time" (Matt.
12:8)
- "If a man keeps my word, he will never see death"
(Matt. 24:30)
- "The Son of Man will come on the clouds…with
power and great glory" (Mark 2:10)
- "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark
13:23)
- "I am [the Messiah]" (Luke 12:9)
- "The Son gives life" (Luke 22:70)
- He who disowns me before men will be disowned before the
angels of God" (John 4:25-26)
- "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
in me will live" (John 5:21)
- "The Son of Man has authority…to forgive sins."
(John 8:51)
- "I have…come to fulfill the Law" (John
10:18)
- "You are right in saying I am [the Son of God]"
(John 11:25)
The Reality of Fulfilled Prophecy
Jesus Christ's advent as the Messiah would receive many challenges
throughout history. If he was the same as any other "would-be"
messiah his claims could be easily refuted. But consider what
the prophets said…
In the 7th century BC, the prophet Isaiah tells us, Isaiah
pronounced, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is
given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His
name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace" (IS 9:6). The location of this
birth was identified as Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
The Reality of His Life
Even in his early youth, Jesus refers to God as "My
Father (Luke 2:49). He continues to make the same reference
throughout his life as it is recorded in the gospel accounts.
In John 4, Jesus spoke with a woman from Samaria and that
woman made reference to the knowledge of a coming Messiah,
and Jesus responded clearly, "I, who speak to you, am
He" (John 4:26).
Jesus demonstrated the miraculous in order to support his
claims. He healed the sick, raised the dead…all the while
demonstrating the compassion of one who truly loved those
he was sent to serve..
Jesus lived a pure and holy life. Religious leaders trumped
up the accusations that led to his arrest and crucifixion.
His innocence was ultimately evident in his trial before the
governor where Pilate states, "I find no basis of charge
against in him" (Luke 23:4).
However, one of the most powerful evidences that Jesus lived,
died, and rose from the dead is the changed lives of his followers,
from those of the first century to those in the present time.
Hundreds of millions of people throughout history have been
able to say that they have come to know Jesus and that He
has changed their lives.
The Reality of His Death
All available evidence, matters of public record support
the fact that Jesus went specifically through six distinct
trials. The first before Annas, the high priest (John 18:13),
another before Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57), the third before
the Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:59), the fourth before Pilate (Matt.
27:2), the fifth before Herod (Luke 23:7), and the sixth was
back before Pilate (Luke 23:11-25). This biblical record shows
reflect that three of these trials were Jewish, and three
were before Roman officials.
Jesus death by crucifixion was also a matter of public record.
This form of capital punishment was unusually cruel, and it
came after a customary whipping. The biblical record speaks
of his accusers as placing a crown of thorns on Jesus head,
as they mocked Him saying, "Hail, the King of the Jews."
They spit on Him, and beat Him with a rod.
When his executioners observed that he was dead, they thrust
a spear into his side, and recorded in John 19:34, "Immediately
there came out blood and water." This liquid outpouring
suggests that Christ's death was not caused by suffocation,
as would be typical, but by heart failure. Pilate consented
to Christ's being removed from the cross only after four executioners
had certified his death.
The body was placed in a private tomb, cut out of solid rock.
A 1-2 ton rock was then place in front of the entrance. Since
the authorities were suspicious of those who followed Jesus
Christ, and from fear of political turmoil a security guard
was sent to the tomb (Matt. 27:65). Jesus was dead. His burial
tomb was sealed. The scene was secure.
The Reality of His Resurrection
Something happened almost two thousand years ago that changed
the course of history. That something was an empty tomb! The
tomb that had held the sealed remains of Jesus Christ was
empty. It was no secret, and anyone interested could confirm
it as it was only a fifteen minute walk from the center of
Jerusalem.
Even after over 2000 years, mankind hasn't forgotten the
empty tomb nor the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.
This is how iw took place…
There was a giant earthquake (Matt. 28:2). The stone that
had sealed the tomb had been rolled away. (Mark 16:4). It
seems the Roman guard fled, as there was no one to stop those
who came to the tomb from entering (John 20:6). The tomb wasn't
completely empty for it contained the strips of linen that
had been the graveclothes of their Master. When they saw the
clothes in which they had buried Jesus, "they believed"
(John 20:8).
Jesus appeared on several occasions that are recorded, we
will mention just a few. To the Christ-followers on that first
evening behind closed and locked doors (John 20:19) and by
the Sea of Tiberias (John 21). Jesus linked up with a couple
guys who had been in Jerusalem and were heading to Emmaus
(Luke 24:13-15). Somewhere near Bethany Jesus left the Christ
followers and ascended into heaven (Luke 24:52). Jesus later
appeared to a hostile Christ hater named Saul while he was
travelling to punish the Christ followers (Acts 9:3-6).
So What Do You Think?
You have mixed feelings when you think about the evidence
surrounding the life of Jesus. You may feel compelled to believe
that Jesus is the Son of God, but you're not sure of your
relationship to Him. If that's the case, be assured of this:
If you accept Him, He will accept you. I you seek forgiveness,
he will give it. If you will receive His offer of forgiveness,
everlasting life, and adoption into the family of God, He
will become your Savior, Teacher, and Lord.
Here's Some Good News
If you've never received Jesus in this way, we encourage
you to carefully read just a few verses from one book of the
New Testament. These verses clearly present some very good
news. Romans 3:23 (which says that all have sinned), Romans
6:23 (which says that the wages of sin is spiritual death,
separation from God), and Romans 10:13 (which assures us that
all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved).
To accept God's gift, you can pray something like this: "God,
I know I'm a sinner. I know I can't save myself. I believe
Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe He rose from
the dead to live His life through all who believe in Him.
I now receive Him as my Savior. I accept your offer of forgiveness
and everlasting life. Thank You, Father. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen."
Did you pray that prayer? If so, you have accepted the greatest
gift of all. The gift bought by God Himself—for you.
Please contact us for
more information about how to grow in your new life as a child
of God. Also, we would welcome you to join us as we grow in
our faith together. Washington Heights Baptist Church is a
body that faithfully teaches the bible in a spirit of love
and continued support.
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