This week’s devotions are based on the Week 5 “Explore God” – Is Jesus Really God? (WATCH HERE)
How would you prove that Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States? No, I’m not starting some conspiracy theory, but rather simply getting us to think how we would prove to someone that Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States.
Things that we may include in this list are the following:
- Eyewitness and records of people with him – people who saw him as President.
- Written documentation – Documents he signed that only the President can sign.
- Election records – Events that document he was selected and inaugurated as President.
We might include external sources from other countries, military records, or national archives.
After all this evidence is presented, a very large majority of people would accept the truth that Abraham Lincoln was president.
So if we apply the same approach to affirming that Jesus is God, we would perhaps consider the same things. So what does the evidence say?
He was “elected” as the Son of God from God himself at his baptism and transfiguration:
Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
We have the written records of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – four different writers with different purposes and perspectives, but a singular agreement that Jesus was God. Perhaps the most important record is Jesus doing “God” things in his miracles. He showed his power over the elements of nature. He healed terminally ill. He drove out demons and rose the dead.
But if that wasn’t enough, we have Thomas who spent three years listening to Jesus, interacting with him, and seeing his miracles did not believe he rose from the dead. Only when he personally saw and touched Jesus did he believe.
Even in Jesus’ day the “election records,” the written documentation, the miracles and the testimony of many did not convince people he was God.
But his resurrection did. No one had ever done this before nor since. The resurrection of Jesus is the unique and powerfully convicting proof that Jesus is God.
It convinced Thomas:
John 20:26 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!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
It convinced the Apostle Paul:
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
It was recorded to convince us:
John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Consider the evidence. If one can conclude Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, there is abundant and clear evidence that Jesus is God.
Apply: What other evidence do you notice that convinces you that Jesus is God?
Prayer: Lord, again, we praise you for leaving abundant evidence of the truth that Jesus is God! AMEN.