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Internal evidences from Jesus' birth are developed through interrogation of those associated with his birth. These events support Jesus' claim to represent God and answer man's needs. A study of these Bible evidences leads to increased confidence in Jesus as the son of God and man's savior.
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Copyright
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Composed of chapter 4 in Jesus Meets Our Needs: Jesus died...for me! © 1993 by Rod MacArthur. All rights reserved. Used by permission of the publisher.
Copyright © 1993 by Rod MacArthur
ISBN 0-938855-19-0
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MacArthur Publishers, Inc.
Tacoma, WA 98446 USA
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"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." Matt. 1:18
The evidence provided by Jesus’ birth is more astounding than that provided by John’s in chapter 3. As in the last chapter, we examine various people’s testimony; this time about details regarding Jesus’ birth. The remarkable claims made about Jesus being the answer to man’s needs are supported by the marvelous events surrounding his birth.
Preliminary Considerations
Human credulity is a curious thing. A man might easily accept some mean little piece of unconfirmed gossip and never question it. But give him a clear and undeniable body of evidence, if it points to a conclusion he dislikes, he will resist it.
So we ask, "Why does anyone believe a matter to be true?" Several answers exist, the chief being, he sees it happen; as we say, "I’ll believe it when I see it." A second is: he draws conclusions from application of natural laws, called deductive reasoning. Finally, he accepts what others who saw it say about it.
This is how every man comes to accept anything he holds true: he sees it himself, others tell him, or he draws conclusions. If there is a fourth mechanism, what is it?
Accepting what another says really requires accepting his testimony. But why should a man accept another’s testimony? Is it true simply because he affirms it to be? Two important criteria judge a testimony’s reliability: the quality of the witnesses as well as their number and diversity. The more trustworthy a witness, the easier it is to accept his testimony. Also the more unusual the event, the harder it is to accept, and the more witnesses it requires to confirm it.
Let’s examine the Bible regarding its ability to provide evidence. Recall from chapter three that the New Testament writings are historically accurate. History involves specific people in definite places participating in identifiable events at clearly established times. Luke began with accurate research and presented the historical connections throughout his work. He recorded history. The gospels relate the testimony of people who saw the very information we are interested in. Let’s analyze the evidence soberly.
Luke and his fellow writers didn’t actually see all details they recorded. They functioned like court stenographers who took depositions from various witnesses. One might say Luke accurately reported what his witnesses said they saw or experienced. So did Matthew, Mark, and John.
It is our job to evaluate the witnesses’ testimony and reactions, whether or not they support the claims concerning Jesus. Modern man can never observe those events personally, since he can’t go back in time. And the laws and principles of nature can neither verify nor disprove Jesus’ claims, since his claims lie beyond the realm of nature. Nor can a man draw any conclusions from those laws, positively or negatively, on which to build a belief system. Today he depends on the testimony of people who were there and who witnessed the events personally or who had access to the facts when they happened.
The only reliable evidence a man has, and the only source from which to draw trustworthy conclusions is the testimony of those witnesses. This chapter considers testimony from several unrelated individuals who experienced things both before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. Their remarkable actions and statements support Jesus’ claim to be the answer to every one of man’s spiritual needs. Please see fig. 4-1.
Fig. 4-1: Six pieces of testimony to consider
Mary’s Testimony
Two events occurred a short time before Jesus’ birth that interest us, namely encounters that first Mary, then Joseph, had with the angel Gabriel. By interviewing each of them, we extract facts and details as grist for our analysis.
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26–38
"Mary, you say an angel visited you. What happened; did he talk with you?"
"He hailed me with the strangest greeting—called me `favored one’—and said the Lord was with me. Then he told me I had found favor in God’s eyes and that I was going to conceive and bear a son whom I should call `Jesus.’ He said Jesus would be great, that he would be called God’s Son, and that he would have the throne of David."
"Didn’t that strike you as unusual since, like your cousin Elizabeth, you are of the tribe of Levi, whereas David was from Judah?"
"All I knew about that at the time was what the angel said. Jesus was to have the throne of David and reign forever over an unending kingdom. Later, when Joseph took me as his wife in spite of my pregnancy, I knew the child would be considered of Joseph’s lineage, which was from David. Jesus would have a legal claim to David’s throne"
"These are almost incredible statements, how did you respond?"
Fig. 4-2: Mary's testimony about Jesus' birth
"At first I wondered how it could happen. I pointed out that I was still a virgin. Though I was pledged to Joseph, he and I weren’t living together and I had not had relations with any man." (See fig. 4-2. This corresponds to Gabriel calling Mary favored. Also note her thoughts on this matter. Though an angel told her of the birth, she was only considering a natural process. She did not immediately jump to a miraculous conclusion.)
"How did the angel respond to that? How did he solve the problem of needing a male for you to conceive a child?"
"The angel said the Holy Spirit would come to me and over shadow me. Therefore, the baby would be the Son of God. He also told me about my cousin Elizabeth who was in her sixth month of pregnancy." (Remember, Elizabeth went into seclusion; Mary had no natural way of knowing Elizabeth was pregnant. The fact that she went to see Elizabeth verifies the story Gabriel told her: otherwise how could Mary have known to go?) "I was to conclude from Elizabeth’s extraordinary pregnancy that God could do anything—including a virgin birth!"
"What did you say to this? You were going to have a child before marriage. Surely, it must have caused you some second thoughts."
"You’re right. I had reason to be concerned, but I wasn’t. I was willing to be God’s bondservant." (This decision involved at least three potentially negative results. First, Mary faced public humiliation, [proper women did not let themselves become pregnant during espousal or outside of marriage]. Second, she could have lost a good husband under the charge of adultery, [We’ll see later that Joseph did consider to put her away]. Third, she faced the stigma of being a divorced woman. Weighing Mary’s godly nature and the adverse power of these potential consequences, how persuasive was the evidence that prompted her to comply?)
"So you agreed to have this baby. Is there anything else we should note about your response?"
"As soon as the angel left I went to see Elizabeth, where I stayed for three months." (Note again that Mary’s departure to see Elizabeth shows two things, at least. First, the only way Mary could have known about Elizabeth was from an extra-natural source. Remember, Elizabeth had gone into seclusion immediately. Also, since Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months we conclude there was fulfillment of her expectations. Elizabeth was pregnant, and so was Mary! Further, her prolonged stay eliminated the possibility of contact with Joseph—or with any other man, as Elizabeth could testify—eliminating an apparent explanation for Mary’s pregnancy.)
What about you?
Consider several unusual things about Mary’s story: a visit by an angel, a Levite bearing a king (kings could only come from Judah), and a virginal conception. Yet this is her story. Also, consider the evidence that persuaded her: God would intervene just as he had done for Elizabeth. Finally, consider Mary’s response: she was willing to do what God had appointed no matter what it cost her; and she acted immediately on what God told her by going to see Elizabeth. If she were so persuaded to accept the incredible statements, won’t you also accept God’s promises and act on them?
Joseph’s Testimony
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matt. 1:18–25
Let’s interview Joseph next. "What happened when Mary returned from Elizabeth?"
"When I saw her, I knew something was going on. She was pregnant and I knew the child wasn’t mine. Mary and I did not have relations before Jesus was born, but she was pregnant. When I asked her, she told me the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit."
"How did you respond to this? Did you believe her?"
Fig. 4-3: Joseph's testimony about Jesus' birth
"I doubted Mary and decided to divorce her." (See fig. 4-3. This strongly suggests two things: it was not his baby, and he didn’t believe her story.) "At that time, after much thought, it seemed to me to be the only righteous thing to do. I couldn’t just cover-up her sin, nor did I want to indict myself as her cohabitor. Still, I wanted to treat her gently and not expose her to public ridicule."
"I see you took her anyway. Why didn’t you put her away?"
"As you know, my settled conclusion was to divorce her, but God appeared to me in a dream and told me not to be afraid to take her. He also said the conception was of the Holy Spirit." (See what this meant to Joseph. He knew assuredly that Mary had not been unfaithful, though his considered actions show he felt otherwise earlier. It also meant that God was working something special in Mary. As her faithful companion, Joseph was also part of God’s work.)
"Were you told anything in particular about the child?"
"Yes. I learned that Mary would have a son whom I was to name Jesus. The angel was very specific and clear about the name—Jesus (that is, Jehovah saves)—because he was destined to save his people."
Consider Matthew’s explanation in the narrative at Matt. 1:23–24. By referring to Is. 7:14, Matthew reminded us that a virgin was to bear a son who would be called Immanuel. Immanuel means God with us; and clearly, the only way a virgin could have a child is if God interceded. Thus, by interceding, God came to us, lived among us, and become our savior—Jehovah’s salvation, or Jesus.
"Were there any other reasons for you to believe that this was more than just a dream?"
"Yes. I had two obvious reasons to believe the angel. First, his story matched what Mary had told me. Initially I declined to believe her explanation, so I don’t believe this was an induced dream; it went contrary to my senses. I concluded the matter was from God. But more than that, Mary’s pregnancy clearly coincided with what the prophets said would happen. It fulfilled a promise through Isaiah about a virgin bearing."
"So what did you do?"
"I did what God said. I took her home as my wife and kept her a virgin until the son was born. We called Him Jesus."
What about you?
Joseph’s testimony was thoughtful and forthright. Why did he decide to put Mary away? What changed his mind? How much collusion existed between the two? Based on Joseph’s actions can you accept the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus? If so, then also accept that Jesus is "God with us," our savior.
Shepherds’ Testimony (near Bethlehem)
The credibility of two caught in an unsavory circumstance is at first glance, suspect—and so is their testimony. We are tempted to reject what Mary and Joseph said since it looks so much like they covered up for their mistake with self-serving lies. Of course, deeper consideration shows the truth of their tale, but so does the evidence of independent testimony.
At the time of Jesus’ birth, two events occurred involving people unknown to Mary or Joseph that helped support their testimony. First, when the angels announced Jesus’ birth, the shepherds carried their story into Bethlehem with undeniable joy. Later, when Jesus was brought to be circumcised on the eighth day, Simeon spoke openly of what God told him. Let’s see how these two events agreed with Mary and Joseph.
It was customary for shepherds to spend the night in the fields with their sheep, just as frontiersmen of the American west did with their cattle. On the night of Jesus’ birth several shepherds were so engaged. Consider their story.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:8–20
"What were you doing that night?"
"We were doing what we always did, telling stories around the fire as we watched our sheep. We had camped out on the surrounding pastures to guard our sheep from predators and thieves."
"Did anything unusual happen?"
"Did it ever! We saw an angel and a glorious light; and we were terrified."
Their being terrified raises intriguing thoughts: first, consider David or Jacob as shepherds, or consider the Good Shepherd, and compare them to these shepherds. Thieves, wolves, lions—what customary danger would terrify an experienced shepherd? And if something alarmed him so badly, why would he leave his sheep?
"What did the angel do?"
"First, he spoke comfortingly, calming us. Then he told us of good news: in Bethlehem of the House of David, a savior was born that day; Christ, the Lord. This was truly good news; our people had waited hundreds of years for the Christ to appear. We were eager to see him. Then he gave us a sign:" (imagine any baby, let alone king, dressed like this!) "a baby wrapped in cloths" (not clothing), "in a manger" (not in a cradle in a house or an inn).
Notice how this information narrowed their search and assured the baby’s identity. The shepherds only needed to look wherever a manger might be found. Once they found a baby dressed so shabbily, they could know for sure that he was the one the angels announced.
"Was there anything else?"
"Suddenly we saw a host of angels singing and speaking of heaven’s peace toward men who please God."
"How did you respond?"
"We all went to Bethlehem." (Deserting their flocks in the field gives strong support to their story. Why else would they leave their sheep in jeopardy? What could motivate them to completely abandon their flocks?) "We hurriedly looked for and found the baby with his parents, just like the angel said. We told everyone who would listen what we had heard and seen and did."
"How did people receive your story?"
"Everybody was amazed. Then, we went back to the sheep."
They didn’t laugh at the shepherds or their story, but believed them. If those townsfolk were so impressed—and they had nearer and clearer access to the facts—it strongly suggests: The shepherds’ testimony was believable.
Fig. 4-4: Shepherds' testimony about Jesus
What about you?
The shepherds’ testimony is simple and plain, just like the men themselves. But it has riveting details. The shepherds were afraid, yet they left their sheep alone. What was so compelling? They looked for highly unusual circumstances—a baby in cloths in a manger—to see the king; but they found him. And everybody to whom they told this tale believed it with wonder. How will you respond? According to the shepherd’s report, this child is the source of God’s favor to those who please him. Do you believe it?
Simeon’s Testimony (in Jerusalem)
Meet next an old man; righteous and God-fearing, a man who was eager to see what God would do for his people. His name was Simeon and he had his drama to add.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:25–35
"You met a new, young family in the temple. Why were they there?"
"They had come to present their first-born son to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice of purification which Moses required in Leviticus. It was the baby’s eighth day, so they were doing just as the law specified."
These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. Lev. 12:7b–8
"You took the child from his mother. Why did you do that? What was so compelling?"
Fig. 4-5: Simeon's comment about Jesus
"I had been desiring the Lord’s Christ to come and God had promised me I would see his Christ before I died. The promise was fulfilled right before my eyes on this occasion. While these young people were following the custom of the law, the Spirit came upon me. I took the baby in my arms and thanked God because I had seen his Christ. Then I told his mother our people would be divided because of this boy. They would either rise or fall in their standing with God, depending on how they accepted her son, Jesus. I told Mary she would be deeply hurt by people’s response; but that their hearts would be revealed as either good or bad, according to how they responded."
"There was another woman there, did you notice her?"
"Yes, she was an old woman called Anna who had been serving devotedly in the temple for many years." (So she was well known to all the devout). "She overheard what I said and began to excitedly spread the glad news to everybody in the Temple, anyone who would listen."
What about you?
Simeon’s testimony has the air of believability about it simply because someone who was there, Anna, who was not at all associated with the drama, believed it and gladly spread it. She lived much closer to the events than you or I and so had a much more accurate basis on which to make a decision. Anna accepted Simeon’s announcement without hesitation: that people would stand because of Jesus, and that motives of hearts would be exposed. Right now your heart is under the microscope. Are you being honest with the evidence?
Magi’s Testimony
The final bits of evidence from the birth of Jesus actually came some time after he was born; maybe even two years later. Wise men from Persia who came to worship the new king had quite an adventure. And Herod had a hand in matters. He took rash steps that were far from politically expedient.
Under the next head we discuss Herod’s actions, and what power his treachery gave to his testimony. But here we ask, "Who were these magi who came forward to be interviewed?" They were wise men from the east, probably Persia, who also had their story about the birth of Jesus.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ "
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matt. 2:1–12
"Why did you come to Jerusalem?"
"We saw a star in the east so we came to worship the `king of the Jews’ who had just been born."
How did they know what the star signified? Luke didn’t tell us directly, but he gave us a clue. The fact that they came and saw what they saw, coupled with the expressed fact of a revelation in Matt. 2:12, suggests that there was similar communication regarding the star. They knew the star would lead to the king. Perhaps they were given this information just like they were told not to go back to see Herod — in a dream.
"Whom did you see in Jerusalem, and why?"
"We just started asking around in the city, `Where can we find the newborn king of the Jews?’ That started quite an uproar. Herod even looked into it. First, he inquired of the chief priest and scribes to discover that the Messiah (the king we sought) was to be born in Bethlehem. Then Herod called us in secretly and asked us when we first saw the star. After we told him, Herod sent us to Bethlehem and asked us to search carefully to find the child. We were to return and tell Herod where he was (so Herod could worship, too)." (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ.)
"What did you do? Did you find the Messiah?"
Fig. 4-6: The Magi's testimony about Jesus
"Yes! We followed the star to Bethlehem until it stood over the child’s exact location. We rejoiced and fell down and worshipped him, and gave him rich gifts."
"What did Herod say when you told him all this?"
"Oh, we were warned in a dream not to return to Herod so we traveled home by a different route. We didn’t see him, but we heard he reacted violently."
What about you?
There are a few haunting questions that you must answer. For example, why did the Magi come to Jerusalem? If not for their stated reason, then why? Why did they stir up the entire city? Were they honestly looking for a newborn king, or were they just trying to stir things up in Jerusalem? And why did they go home a different way? If not because they were told to by God, what other motive will explain their actions? And why doubt their explanation?
Also, we need to note how they were able to reach their objective. They went to the wrong city. Jesus wasn’t born in Jerusalem, he was born in Bethlehem. By inquiring of the scriptures Herod told them where to go to find the Christ. He asked the Jews,"Where will the Christ be born?" and then directed the Magi to Bethlehem. So even he accepted the possibility that this Jesus whom they found might be the Christ for whom they searched.
The question is, what do you believe about it? Is Jesus the Christ? If he is, he is God’s answer to your spiritual needs.
Herod’s Testimony
Finally, let’s interrogate Herod. Though he acted horribly after the Magi’s visit, those actions showed his response to the Magi’s evidence. Let’s see what Herod believed, and why.
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matt. 2:16–18
"King Herod, when the Magi started asking around town about the `King of the Jews,’ why did you ask where the Christ was to be born?"
"The Jews had long held the belief and expectation that one day God would raise up the Christ from the lineage of David. Not being a Jew myself, I had no idea what their scriptures taught. I just knew that I wanted no competition. So I asked where he was supposed to be born."
"What did you do when the Magi didn’t return?"
Fig. 4-7: Herod's brutal confession
"I became very angry: at their deceit, and because my plans had been thwarted. I decided I had to act to save my kingdom, so I killed all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were under two years old."
We are not told why he did that. Obviously it was not good for his public approval ratings; it didn’t do a lot to maintain peace and tranquillity in an often turbulent district. We can only guess, but isn’t it obvious? First, Herod believed the report of the Magi. Why else would he cause such unrest and turmoil among his citizens? Then he acted to secure the kingdom for himself and his offspring by removing the pretender.
What about you?
Herod did two things that show he believed that the newly born Jesus was the Christ. First, he appealed to the scriptures to locate the birth place. Why would he do that if the child the Magi were seeking was not the one described in Scripture? The circumstances of the Magi’s arrival in Jerusalem and their explanation of why they came at all, surely persuaded Herod. They were looking for the Christ; they found Jesus.
Also, Herod killed all those baby boys. Why would he do that, unless he believed that by so doing he could destroy any possible threat to his throne?
You have the same evidence as Herod, and you have seen the impact it had on him as he sampled it firsthand. How does it impress you? Is Jesus the one God sent to answer your needs?
Summary
Let’s take a final glance at the argument in this chapter.
First we heard Mary describe how she became pregnant, and Joseph tell why he didn’t divorce her.
Next we listened to the shepherds tell why they all abandoned their sheep to go into town that night. Simeon also told his tale of knowing he saw the Christ when he saw Jesus.
Finally we heard from the Magi and Herod. Why did the Magi go to Bethlehem? And why did Herod slaughter all those babies?
Either all these unrelated persons collaborated, for no obvious purpose, to verify an absurdity and to perpetrate a fraud; or these stories are absolutely true. One might imagine Mary and Joseph concocting a story to hide their guilt (though there are better stories: coerced by a Roman soldier, for example). But what is the motivation and opportunity to pull off such a fraud by the other testifiers?
What about you?
If the stories are all true, that would obviously account for the unswerving harmony found in them. Even more importantly to you, their truth proves that Jesus is the Christ, God’s answer to your needs. And that gives you hope.
The most important question is: "Are you persuaded by the events connected with Jesus birth?" What do you intend to make of it in your life?
Questions to Consider:
- List and discuss the three mechanisms any man has for accepting a fact as true.
- What parts of Mary’s story impress you and persuade you that Gabriel really visited her?
- Why did Joseph think to divorce Mary; and why didn’t he?
- Does the shepherd’s story of finding a baby king in Bethlehem persuade you? Why?
- According to Simeon, what impact would Jesus have on Israel? Why should you believe him?
- Please tell why the Magi went to Bethlehem. Why do you believe their story?
- Why do you think Herod killed so many innocent children?
This chapter is available at the website: gospelthemes.com where copies can be made to distribute freely as long as the chapter is kept intact along with all of its headers and footers and the copyright and publisher information and addresses.
This material is composed of chapter 4 in Jesus Meets Our Needs: Jesus died...for me! by Rod MacArthur. It provides a small sample of the wealth of information found in this book about Jesus' relationship to God and man. Would you like to know "what proof is offered to support Jesus' claims"? Would you like to study the evidence from the actual text of Scripture as it is arrayed and analyzed, and be challenged to decide for yourself if Jesus was who he claimed to be?
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Jesus Meets Our Needs strongly uses "internal evidences," i.e., the text of the Bible, to prove that Jesus' claims to reveal and represent God, to answer man's spiritual needs, and to offer man hope beyond the grave are reliable. In extracting the evidence which supports Jesus' claims, the reader is provided with a valuable by-product: the analytical process. Luke and John present the facts of the case; perhaps as dialogue, perhaps as narrative, or perhaps as direct instructions of Jesus himself. The raw data is then analyzed and the argument builds: The facts become the support for conclusions on which man can confidently rely. The author takes the reader through eight chapters that lead logically from the beginning questions through the birth, life and ministry of Jesus all the way to his death and resurrection. The entire work leads to the powerful conclusion: An examination of Peter's sermon in Acts 2, where for the first time in earth's history man was told how to be part of what Jesus did for him.
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