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Evidence: Eyewitness Testimony

If you have an interest in detective stories or courtroom dramas, you know that the most powerful testimony is the one that is given by an eyewitness. In an evidentiary system such as ours in America, this type of testimony is presumed to be reliable. In fact, an eyewitness account is so respected by a jury, it will trump almost any other evidence presented. (Read Luke 1:1-4)

Isn’t it just like God to make sure that there were reliable witnesses to testify of His Son’s mission on the earth?

In our scripture reading today, Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke, The Acts of the Apostles, and the Bible’s sole Gentile author, used his skills as a physician and historian to examine the accounts of those who were first hand witnesses to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not just those individuals who were merely present at the events, but those who were part of the inner circle, who walked with Him, ministered with Him and even learned from Him prior to His ascension to the Father. (Read Luke 24:46-48)

Because history hinges mostly on first-hand accounts, the numerous individuals interviewed gives further credence to the historical accuracy of the Person of Christ and the events in His life. Additionally, you will not find Jesus referred to as a myth in rabbinical writings. Though He is discounted and His ministry is rejected, Jesus is acknowledged as a real person who lived at a real time in history, and who had a real impact on history.

This brings us to a very important point in our defense of Christ: With all of the evidence (and we can only touch on a small number of those in a week’s reading plan), the burden of proof does not fall on the Christian. Instead, it falls on those who choose to deny it.

If you are unfamiliar with the phrase “burden of proof,” let’s return again to the courtroom to find out what it means.

A legal burden of proof is used in a trial to disprove a certain position based on evidence. One cannot simply say, “He didn’t exist because I don’t’ believe He did.” Nor can one pull together a handful of opinions to support the argument. This person must produce the evidence to convince others. If the position is not factually supported, clearly offering evidence to displace the commonly held position, then it has no basis and is of no value.

Of course, since Jesus is a religious figure and not only a historical one, there are other agendas at play when denying His existence. And like our video clip illustrates, some refuse to believe no matter how much evidence is presented. For these, we pray.

As you go out today, be confident in the account of Jesus Christ, and remember the purpose of Luke’s gospel: “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” Luke 1:4 (NKJV)

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the early believers who responded to the call You gave them to share their eyewitness testimony so that the foundational principles of our faith would be recorded for future generations. As we enter into conversations with those who question our faith, we pray to be ready to give an answer with confidence and assurance that the testimony of Christ is true.

In Jesus name, amen.