Hey Brother,
We all learn in different ways. Some of us learn through hearing, some are more visual, others learn through doing. Similarly, we also accept truth in different ways. I, for one, have a really hard time believing one eyewitness. There are very few people in this world whose story I will believe without doing my own research. We’re all different. God knows this about us (He knows everything after all), so it’s not surprising that He uses multiple methods to reveal both our need for a Savior and that Jesus is that Savior.
What are some of those methods? Well, some came through the Messianic prophecies. Old Testament prophets predicted a Savior, a Messiah, and Jesus then fulfilled those prophecies. I can imagine that, for the Jewish people, especially the scholars, seeing those prophecies fulfilled would have a great impact.
For some people, an eyewitness account means everything, so we were given the eyewitness accounts of the Apostles and other people who saw Jesus during His ministry and after His resurrection. Peter discussed his eyewitness account in II Peter 1:16-17:
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
That’s a pretty big deal! Peter witnessed the majesty of Jesus at the transfiguration. Imagine being alive during Peter’s time and hearing him tell you his eyewitness account. But some of us (raising my hand) have already admitted to not being so trusting of eyewitnesses. Peter knew that. God knew that. So Peter continues by pointing out a better source in II Peter 1:19-21:
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Peter is pointing to the big picture reveal of Scripture. If you don’t trust his eyewitness, you can look at all the prophecies, all Scripture, and all the stories that point to Jesus. For me, that big picture story is the most impactful. It’s bigger than any one person’s eyewitness. It’s bigger than any one single story. It’s bigger than any one miracle. It’s bigger than any one prophecy. It’s a story, God’s story, told through generations and generations of people all coming together to show our need for a Savior and to reveal that Savior as Jesus.
This big picture of the Bible is especially relevant for us now. You see, we have the entire Bible. The Apostles didn’t have it. Most of them probably didn’t even have a copy of the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), because owning any book at that time was very rare. But we have it. We can look at that big picture story of the Gospel being told since creation. We can look at God’s story and see “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).
So, Brother, God wants you to know His Son. He wants you to know Jesus. Isn’t it amazing that He left multiple ways to communicate His truth to us?
What way ministers the most to you? Is it the eyewitness accounts of the Apostles? Is it the ancient prophecies fulfilled through Jesus? Or, is it the big picture story God told through generations and generations of people? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
-Kristopher Galuska
Family Radio Staff