Thursday, September 9: Have you seen Him?

In any court case, an eyewitness can sway the jury, especially if his testimony is believable. When there are multiple eyewitnesses, regardless of minor differences in points of view, it can become an open-and-shut case. As modern-day Christians, we certainly are in a different place than the disciples who walked with our Lord, yet with our spiritual eyes, we still have been given the gift of sight. Yet we, who believe, trust their words and visions of the resurrection of Jesus.


26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29


Jesus did not berate Thomas for his “seeing is believing” mentality, instead choosing to give Thomas that physical evidence desired. Yet Jesus called attention to the blessing of all modern-day Christians, who did not physically see the risen Savior walking the earth. If Thomas was the only person to see Jesus after His crucifixion, especially with the fact that we could not cross-examine him, we might not believe as readily. Instead, God gave us many eyewitnesses, according to the words of Paul:


3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-8


With the list of those to see the risen Savior including the brother of Jesus, in addition to His closest disciples, we can rest assured that it was not a case of mistaken identity with someone who looked like Jesus! Also notice that Jesus did not choose only His close friends to appear to, as Paul was last on the list. Paul believed Jesus to be a blasphemer, who earned His death by claiming to be God. Convinced by his contact with a post-crucifixion Jesus, Paul became the leading spokesman in the spread of Christianity. Additionally, the resurrection of Jesus was not the only miracle witnessed. That list was a lengthy one that included healings as well as restoration of life to the dead. Those witnessed miracles included participation of Moses, Elijah and God the Father at the transfiguration (Mark 9, Luke 9 and Matthew 16).


16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
2 Peter 1:16-18


We live almost 2,000 years after the events witnessed by our Christian forefathers. Though we cannot cross-examine them, we can determine the veracity of their testimonies based on the relevance of their changed lives. Were the disciples willing to die for their beliefs in the risen Savior? Certainly, and other than John, each of the disciples died a martyr’s death. Confronted with recanting their testimonies as eyewitnesses, or suffering a painful death, the disciples chose death. If it was only one person, we could ascertain that mental instability could be in effect, but over 500 saw the risen Savior.

Through the Holy Spirit, God has given us the ability to see His miracles on a daily basis. We as believers have entered into a relationship that differs only slightly from that of early Christians, as all of us can see the miracle of the lives He has changed. Those miracles encompass each person who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you desire to see Jesus, He will reveal Himself to you. If you have seen Him, are you living a life that would honor Him? Your changed life could be the evidence that someone else sees to lead them to Jesus. Your life is the eyewitness testimony!


Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
Acts 2:22