The gap between the events in Jesus’ life and the books recording those events was not two or three centuries; it was only a few years. The last of the New Testament writings were completed while eyewitnesses to the reported events were still living.
What sense would it make for evangelists of the faith in the first century to hang their whole case on the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the events in Jesus’ life, if it could be shown that no such things ever really happened?
The Bereans in Acts 17 had the right idea. They listened eagerly as Paul argued that Jesus was the Messiah, but as they listened they were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” The Scriptures were their final arbiter.
What distinguished Zacchaeus from so many others who crowded around Jesus was not that he was lost, for every person Jesus ever met fell into that category. But Zacchaeus recognized that he was lost — he knew he needed the forgiveness of his sins.
The “gospel” is the greatest of all proclamations: not one concerning Caesar, but the very King of the universe. God is establishing the kingdom predicted by the prophets, offering the forgiveness of sins to everyone who will submit to His Son.
Revelation 22:17 invites us to drink of the “water of life” in eternity. But only in the here and now can we accept God’s invitation. When this life is over, it will be too late for us to decide that, yes, we would like to enjoy the water of life.
Our “salvation” from sin must be seen from a different perspective. Proposals by the world’s greatest teachers won’t be enough. We need a grace that only God can supply, and it is God who has said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
Life in Christ is a sequence of ever stronger commitments, but all it begins very simply. Whether we say it out loud or not, at baptism our hearts are entering into this pledge: “From this day forward, I will follow Jesus faithfully, so help me God.”
God seeks those who will respond gratefully to the gospel and be eager to live in a reconciled relationship with Him. But if He is to have a people who are His possession, what will their character be like? What kind of heart does the Lord look for?
In the first century when many synagogues claimed to follow Moses, and many persons claimed to be the Messiah. And there may be many churches near you claiming to follow Christ. You’ll want to worship where the Scriptures are followed most closely.
