A number of years ago Josh McDowell wrote a book, Evidence
that Demands a Verdict, making quite an impact on many college campuses as
this writer, Christian Apologist and evangelist, used secular evidences and
other historical sources to refute the claims of critics and skeptics. Since, he has written sequels and many other books
(120 he has authored or co-authored) pressing the claims of Christ round the
world.
His central point is in the title, “Evidence that demands
a verdict”. You, as the jury, do not
have the option to think, “Now he makes a compelling case” and then go on your
way without rendering a verdict.
No. You must make a verdict.
Compelling evidence of the reality of Jesus was presented to
Saul who became the Apostle Paul. He
recounted the elements of this experience to King Agrippa. Paul spoke of how he had been fiercely
persecuting the followers of Jesus and was engaged in this business when he was
on the road to Damascus and now I’ll let Paul speak. “While
thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from
the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven
brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I
heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting Me? It is hard
for you to kick against the goads (of conscience)’”
“So I said, ‘Who are
You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus,
whom you are persecuting. But rise and
stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister
and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I
will yet reveal to you. I will deliver
you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send
you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an
inheritance among those who are sanctified (set apart) by faith in Me’”(Acts 26:12-18).
Paul’s response to this powerful experience was, “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision. . . (Acts 26:19). At this point Paul continued to exhort King
Agrippa challenging him to act on the evidence presented him, “’King Agrippa, do you believe the
prophets? I know that you do believe.’ Then
Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’” (Acts
26:27, 28).
How sad.
Another person who
was slow of heart to believe the resurrection of Jesus, the cornerstone of the
Christian faith, was Thomas. Jesus had
previously appeared to the Disciples but Thomas was not with them and almost
vehemently said he would not believe unless certain conditions were met. Almost on cue, Jesus appeared in the room
where Thomas and the Disciples were and challenged Thomas to touch Him in the
ways necessary to compel Thomas’s faith.
As a result of physically touching Jesus, Thomas believed saying, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)!
“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
20:29).
No one has to believe, but all of us having had indisputable
evidence presented to us, may believe, but all of us upon hearing a
presentation of the Gospel which says that Christ came to save sinners, that’s
you and me, must render a verdict. “Yes”
or “No”, which will it be?
