The Evidence

The Evidence

John 10:34-42, NLT

Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” 39Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42And many who were there believed in Jesus.

Setting the Scene

Jesus answered his accusers by challenging them to check the facts. At least three different kinds of evidence had been given to convince people about Jesus: (1) Verbal proof convinced some, such as the people who said, “No man has ever taught like this one!” (See, for example, Mark 1:22.) (2) Character proofs convinced others who spent time with Jesus and observed his life. (3) Signs and miracles demonstrated his power over time, space, and the laws of nature. Jesus recognized that some who might not be convinced one way might be open to other evidence. He invited his listeners to consider his miracles if they found his words too difficult to believe. After all, the prophets said the Messiah would do great works (Isaiah 35:4-6). The purpose of all this evidence was to help people “know and understand” that he and the Father are one.

On those with minds already made up, the evidence had no effect. But many considered the evidence and “believed in Jesus.”

Getting Personal

When do you tend to doubt what you’ve been taught about Jesus and God?

What evidence is most helpful to your faith?

In what ways do the facts about Jesus help you as you share the truth about him with others?

Although salvation comes by faith alone, having faith does not mean leaping into the dark or believing despite the facts. Jesus told his accusers to use their minds and to consider the evidence. Today, we have the advantage of even more evidence for the truth of Jesus’ claims—the Resurrection, the eyewitness accounts in the New Testament, and twenty centuries of changed lives. God wants us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2), not close them. He wants us to study and know his Word (2 Timothy 2:15), and to compare Bible teachings with what the Bible says (Acts 17:11). The evidence is there. We can know and trust our Savior (2 Timothy 1:12).

Talking to God

Thank God for all you are learning about Jesus through his Word. Ask God to strengthen your devotion to Christ as you study his clear teachings and claims, his amazing works, his sinless life, his death in your place, his resurrection, and his work in countless lives.