Witnesses

 

2 Peter 1:16

“For we do not follow cleverly devised myths when we make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

What is the value of eyewitnesses when trying someone for a crime or giving testimony on something of historical value, like the Holocaust or being a witness to the resurrected Christ?  It seems as if two criteria’s must be met:

1.The witness must be credible.

a. Veracity. If it turns out that a witness is not overly concerned about truthfulness, this casts doubts upon his further credibility.

       b. Testimony under coercion. The frankness of testimony may be limited if a witness is subjected to direct or indirect pressure that makes him deem it advisable to configure his testimony accordingly.

2. Testimony must be plausible.

1. Internal consistency. Testimony must be free of contradictions and in accordance with the rules of logic.

Correctness of historical context. Testimony must fit into the historical context established conclusively by higher forms of evidence (documents, material evidence).  Note: these were taken from; The Value of Testimony and Confessions Concerning the Holocaust

Our first witness might be Dr. Luke, and if you open the Bible to Luke 1:1-3 & 24:48 you may read that his narrative of the things that have been accomplished and were recorded so that Theophilus, who it is believed was a Gentile Christian, would have a true record.  Luke is explaining Jewish words and customs.  Luke’s main theme is Christ, and that he was one of the eyewitnesses from the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry.

Our next witness is the Apostle John who also said, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched...we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard" (1 John 1:1,3).  After Jesus resurrection, Jesus appeared 12 times to different group sizes ranging from just one person to 500 people.

1) Mary Magdalene (Mark 16.9-11; John 20.11-18),

2) The other women at the tomb (Matthew 28.8-10).                                                                                      3) The two travelers on the road (Mark 16.12,13; Luke 24.13-34).                                                                 4) Ten disciples behind closed doors (Mark 16.14; Luke 24.35-43; John 20.19-25).                                     5) All the disciples, with Thomas, excluding Judas Iscariot (John 20.26-31; 1 Cor. 15.5).                            6) Seven disciples while fishing (John 21.1-14).                                                                                             7) Eleven disciples on the mountain (Matthew 28.16-20).                                                                              8) A crowd of 500 “most of whom are still alive” at the time of Paul’s writing (1 Cor. 15.6).                                                                                                                                    9) “Then to all the apostles” (1 Cor. 15.7) which includes the Twelve plus all the other apostles.
10) Jesus appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24.44-49).
11) Those who watched Jesus ascend to heaven (Mark 16.19,20; Luke 24.50-53; Acts 1.3-8).
12) Least of all Paul (outsider, skeptic) with others present and as though he was not living in the proper time (1 Cor. 15.8-9; Gal. 1.13-16; Acts 9.1-8, 

Those are the eyewitnesses, and the Creator has allowed everyone who has lived on planet earth to serve on that Jury, your verdict will not change history, but it will decide your eternal destiny.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice