Who Are You?
The question of who we really are and what our purpose is has been rationalized for decades with many different explanations. To think that there was a "Big Bang" and we became a living human is as ridiculous as driving down the road and a car backfires creating a new "carbon monoxide" creature. To answer the question of who we really are we must investigate historical documents that contain factual information about our origin. History is defined as "The study of past events, particularly in human affairs." Even though we were not physically there, we know that the Roman Empire existed based on documents, evidence and other artifacts that have been found. By investigating these documents, artifacts and other information, we get a pretty good idea of what life was like during that period of time and who the Roman people were.
Man has been recording historical events for as long as he has existed. Even today everyday events are being recorded through newspapers, magazines, television broadcasts and countless other methods. These recordings become historical documents providing information as to what happened today. But that does not mean that what is recorded was the truth. I'm certain that you have heard or read something that ended up being false. Now if someone were to find that document in the future and based their findings on that one document, their findings would be false, and they would believe something that was not true. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 19:15 that "A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." Even in our court system today the testimony of one witness becomes doubtful if there is no substantial evidence to back it up. When someone makes a statement do you take it for fact, or do you look for conformation? Historical documents, eye witness testimony, artifacts and other evidence give us the facts we need to determine if something is true or false.
The Bible is no different. The Bible is a series of recorded documents that line up with history supported by artifacts, scientific evidence and prophecies written by eye witnesses to events that had actually taken place.
So why is there so much controversy over the Bible? Why do some of us believe what the Bible says while others don't?
To answer this question we must first question the factual information in the Bible itself. We must see the evidence, timelines and history that line up with what was written. And most importantly, since the Bible has eye witness accounts, we must see how strongly the eye witnesses are willing to stand behind what they had seen.
The 12 apostiles who followed Jesus were eye witnesses to many miracles on a daily basis. Being at the side of Jesus everyday and seeing the things that happened should have given them unsurpassed conviction and faith to believe every word Jesus had said, right? Well in fact, as long as Jesus was present they were fine,
but when alone some still had doubts. In fact when Jesus was arrested by the Roman solders, which led to His crucifiction, the disciples fled out of fear. (Matthew 26:31) Some denied knowing Jesus while others went into hiding so they wouldn't get caught.
Later we see these same apositels standing strong in their conviction and proclaiming that Jesus really was who He said. So what made them stand firm now, when eariler the ran and hid? What convinced them beyond any reasonable doubt that Jesus really was the Son of God? It was the resurrection. Because when they had seen Jesus raised from the dead they knew beyond any reasonable doubt that He really was the Messiah, the Son of God! And that ment that everything He had told them was absolute truth since God cannot lie.
Now some say that they made up the resurrection to convince everyone that Jesus was who He said He was. So let's investigate to see weather they were telling the truth or not. To do this we must first ask ourselves a simple question. Would you be willing to give up your life for a statement you make? Most of us would answer no. All but one of the Disciples died a violent death because of their conviction to Christ. The same disciples that fled when Jesus was arrested were now willing to die because of Him. Not one of them changed their statement to save their own life. Why? Because it was the truth! There can be no other explanation.
How the Disciples Died:
Andrew - He was crucified at Patras (Greece) in AD 60. He suffered on the cross for 2 days, while preaching and encouraging the people gathered around him.
Bartholomew - He died in Albanopolis, Armenia, where he was beaten, then flayed alive, afterwards crucified and lastly beheaded.
James the Son of Alphaeus - There are two views concerning his death. According to the first view, he was beaten and stoned to death by the Jews at the age of ninety-four; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club. The second version says that he was crucified in Persia.
James the Son of Zebedee - James became the first martyr among the apostles when King Herod Agrippa ordered his execution around AD 43 (Acts 12:2). According to Clement, as he was led to the place of his execution, his accuser, seeing James’ extraordinary courage, repented and asked for his forgiveness. This man became a Christian and asked to be martyred together with James. They were both beheaded at the same time.
John - John was the only apostle who died a natural death in AD 98–100, when he was about 100 years old.
Judas (Not Judas Iscariot) - One tradition says that magicians killed him with clubs and stones in Persia; according to another one he was crucified in Edessa, Turkey, in AD 72.
Philip - It is believed that he was martyred in Hierapolis, a city in today's Turkey.
Simon Peter - He was then killed in Rome at the order of Nero around AD 68, one of thousands of Christians martyred during this emperor's reign. According to Tertullian and Origen, he was crucified head downwards at his request. He said he was unworthy to be crucified the same way as Jesus Christ.
Simon Zelotes - He was crucified in Britain in AD 74.
Matthias - Matthias was stoned to death and then beheaded by the Jews in Jerusalem.
Judas Iscariot - “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.” (Matt. 27:3–8).
Lets
look at some eye witness testimony:
(John 20: 24-28)
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
(Mark 16:14) 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
(Luke 24:36-43) 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
The disciples were not the only ones who saw Jesus after His death on the cross. There were over 500 other eye witnesses to His resurrection.
Jesus had fullfilled not one but all of the prophecies written in the Old Testament, proving that He is the Messiah!
Through Him there is everlasting life!
