For those who are involved in any way with missions, ministry, or discussion of biblical themes with a neighbor, there comes a time when the validity of scripture and proving the claims of Jesus will be brought up. It should be understood that our finite minds are inadequate to compare with the mind of God. We can relate personal experiences or reveal spiritual truths which have been learned, but proving validity of the claims of Christ is best done by an examination of his earthly existence. It is through the observation of the life of Christ, that he proves himself.
Getting back to basics, we should discover and observe the things he did. The first four books of the New Testament, the gospels, are an harmonious account of the life of Christ, from his earthly birth until his death, burial and resurrection. During the latter part of his life here we are given illustrations and examples of his dealings with people from various backgrounds and circumstances.
The immediate observation concerning the things he did takes us to look closely at his miracles. The first miracle he performed was turning water into wine at a wedding feast. While that act is certainly something to be noted, the majority of his miracles were prompted by his compassion for the hurting, the lowly, the outcast, and those with a need which had no earthly solution. Examples abound throughout the gospels such as the restoration of sight to the blind, feeding a multitude with five loaves of bread and two small fish, bringing his friend Lazarus back to life, and casting out demons. It becomes easy for us to understand how those who witnessed his miraculous events became believers. It can only be explained through the perspective of these witnesses who saw the actual visit of supernatural activity into the realm of the natural.
Also the way Jesus personified a kindness and a loving spirit when dealing with others is a proof of his claims. Sometimes in gentleness, sometimes with firm and deliberate confrontation, it was obvious he dealt with individuals and crowds and introduced them to the new law of love.
Striking proof can also be seen in the things Jesus said. Surely he spoke some of the most profound words ever recorded about life and how it should be lived. He related in down to earth illustrations the people could understand, the basic principles which brought inner success. The parable of the soil gave the people a glimpse of themselves while challenging them to inspect their own hearts and prepare themselves to receive the word. His sermon on the mount is filled with promptings of morality, prayer, attitude, and other basics which bring people toward the right way to live and relate to others. Surely, "no one ever spoke like this man." Then his ultimate proof of divinity, which powerfully proclaims him in terms of reality, is that Jesus himself spoke the answers about death.
In a blending of his action and his words from the cross, his supposed defeat in dying became the promised solution to mankind by his resurrection. No other religion or teaching could supply such a conclusive answer to the dilemma of death.
The contemporary proof of Jesus' reality comes in seeing how his words and his actions live today in the lives of his followers. His Spirit lives inside Christians as a guarantee of their eternal reward and empowers them through guidance, comfort, and even in being a help with those things we call the "big issues" of life.
If you wish to live eternally, there is no other name you can call on except the name of Jesus. He is above all, he is over all, and he is in all. He longs to make these proofs a reality to each of us through our relationship with him.
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