Evidence for Jesus

John 5:32 -There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

If you have not yet become a Christian, it makes sense you should want to know for sure Jesus is truly one you can believe in. A life change of that magnitude should have some evidence to back it up, and we have that from Jesus himself. In the last portion of John Chapter Five, Jesus gives four solid sources of evidence for his unique role as the Son of God and Savior of the world.

The first is John the Baptist (John 5:33). If you read through John 1, as well as Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3, you will see what an impact John’s preaching had on the Jewish people. He came in clear fulfillment of four to seven hundred year old prophecies found in Isaiah 40 and Malachi 4. Yet, he constantly spoke of Jesus who was coming after him yet greater the John himself could ever be. ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ (John 1:30) Jesus was to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and “the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:33) John boldly called Jesus the “Son of God.” (John 1:34) Thousands of Jews heard that acclaim from a man they trusted and respected above all others. That was good evidence, but there was more.

The miracles Jesus did were the second – and even more persuasive – evidence of Jesus’ uniqueness (John 5:36). He healed the sick, made the lame walk, caused the blind to see, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. These works were amazing then. They are still amazing today. Craig Keener’s two volume and well-researched masterwork, Miracles, is my favorite on the subject, but many scientific studies have shown a connection between prayer and healing. I have had the privilege myself of seeing many immediate, medically unexplainable healings in response to believing Christian prayer. Jesus did and does show his divinity through what he does.

God the Father also gave evidence of Jesus as his one and only Son (John 5:37-38). At a few key times, God spoke from heaven to people around Jesus to give witness to his glory and power. At Jesus’ baptism a voice from Heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) On the mountain while Jesus was transfigured, God said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  (Matthew 17:5) Later in the day on Palm Sunday, God’s voice came in the presence of Jesus when he was speaking to some Greeks who were curious about him. (John 12:28) Of course, God has given other nonverbal yet unmistakable evidence of Jesus through the dramatic life change he has made in those who have believed in him. I know I fall on that list.

The final source of evidence Jesus points to is found in the Scriptures – what we call the Old Testament (John 5:39) Hundreds of scriptures written hundreds of years before Jesus’ coming could only have been fulfilled by him. We can start in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, but the list expands quickly. Jesus’ point remains true. He was not random. He was not an imposter. He was not a legend. He was and is the only savior of the world. Hopefully, you will not be like those Jesus spoke those words to: “You refuse to come to me that you may have life (in spite of the evidence).” (John 5:40) Come to Jesus. He is. This is the best life you can have.