Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:38-40 NIV)
This entire week, we have been looking at the people around Jesus and how they simply did not believe that Jesus was alive after they had seen him die, taken down, and buried in the tomb. Even though Jesus told them ahead of time, they struggled to believe that he really was alive.
Today, it is quite common to find people who struggle with believing that Jesus died and, later, was alive. That’s not completely because of the eye witnesses. In fact, the doubt of the eye witnesses back then actually makes the story more believable. They needed to be convinced…and they were.
No the struggle we have today tends to be more because of the claims Jesus made about himself.
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37 NIV84)
The high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62 NIV)
He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. (Luke 21:8 NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18 NIV)
"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58 NIV)
Jesus claimed to be a king, the Messiah (Christ), the one given all authority in heaven and on earth, and the great “I AM” (God). These are bold claims for someone to make about themselves. Either he was lying, he was a lunatic, or, as the eyewitnesses obviously believed, he is Lord. All these teachings and claims about himself were to be proven as true with one miraculous sign:
The Jews then responded to him, "What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." They replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:18-22 NIV)
When Jesus arose from the dead, God was confirming that Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God was confirming that this was the long-awaited and prophesied-about Messiah. God was confirming that, like any true prophet, he spoke on behalf of God. God was confirming that this was God’s Son. God was confirming that this was God in the flesh.
"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. (John 13:19 NIV)
How about you? Who do you think Jesus is?
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