With a lot of prayer, and a lot of tears, I just finished my most recent "According to John" article.

Sir, We Would See Jesus

I was recently asked to show "hard-core" evidence that Christ was real. That person wanted to "see Jesus" like the early disciples did. Now, unfortunately, as Jesus is in heaven that would be impossible, short of dying; and dying in sin would be the LAST thing someone would want to do. "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." But there is indeed hard-core evidence.

Some people say "you can't prove it scientifically." And that's true. Because science depends on repeatable events, and obviously you can't repeat the past. Which is the same reason you can't "see Jesus" exactly like the apostles did. But you can prove it, beyond a shadow of a doubt, through legal and historical evidence. I mentioned in an earlier article, and I intend to expand on it in a future article, that it could be proven by historical records, both within and without the Gospels (which themselves are reliable historical documents -- scholars today hail Luke as one of the greatest historians of the first century), that Jesus was a very real person, that He performed miracles, that He died on a Roman cross, that He was buried and rose on the third day, and that He was seen by many hundreds of people. This evidence was so powerful that when Paul was in chains, he appealed to King Agrippa to check out the evidence for himself.

But there's one final piece of evidence to present, evidence that proves He is still very real today: the evidence of changed lives. At this point some might object, "But that's subjective evidence, it can't be admitted." But it can be admitted if there is a definite pattern that relates directly to objective fact. If, for instance, someone said "I put a bologna in my shoe, and now it has given me the power to run the 440 in ten seconds," that would be a subjective statement. But its hard to argue with that kind of statement, expecially if he backs it up by doing what he claims.

A "personal testimony" is often a subjective argument for the objective reality of something. So there are really two questions to ask before we can dismiss a subjective claim out-of-hand: what is the objective reality that is claimed to cause the subjective experience, and how many other people have had the same experience because of the same reality?

Well with the guy with bologna in his shoe, the answer to the first would be: bologna in his shoe. Ask the second question, how many people around the world have put bologna in their shoe and been able to do track records, and the answer of course will be a resounding "None!"

But when we ask these questions of Christianity, we get entirely different answers. What is the objective reality behind the experience? The person of Christ and His resurrection. Which we know to be a very real fact. How many others have had this same experience from being related to the objective reality of Jesus? Answer: Millions, from all backgrounds, nationalities, and professions have had their lives elevated to new levels of peace, joy and victory by turning their lives over to Christ. In other words, there's an objective, real POWER behind this experience.

Does Christianity change lives, and society, for the better? Just look at India, where the condition of her people is directly related to the religion practiced, and you can find your answer. Abject poverty, disease and misery, and a populace that is apathetic to their plight, is the result of that system. But through Jesus Christ, many millions have been delivered from alcohol and drugs, their marriages saved, their lives healed and transformed because of the power of the Gospel. You want to see Jesus? You can see Him in their lives. That's real hard-core evidence; and that's POWER!

I know it is true in my own life. I have been through a failing marriage, mother, father and sister dying, stepmother throwing me out, villification for my Christian beliefs, being made a mockery of (because I remained a virgin until I married at 30), friends abandoning me (even "Christian" friends), poverty, joblessness, even homelessness and life on the cold, hard streets. My pastor nicknamed me "Job" after the Biblical character, as he had never seen anyone in his life face as much constant adversity as I had and couldn't imagine how anyone could endure it all alone. Now I know in my heart that I am really a pathetic, weak individual and could NEVER endure it all alone! When I try, I ALWAYS fail! But it is reliance on Christ's indwelling POWER that has sustained me through the darkest corridors of my life. Job's wife told him that he ought to just "curse God and die." But my response is the same as his: I will NEVER turn from Him and His love. "Though He may slay me, yet will I trust in Him! I know that my Redeemer lives!" Great is His faithfulness!

Now some people might point out the hypocrites they see in church as a rebuttal. But actually the hypocrites are the exception that prove the rule. The Bible pulls no punches when it says that men are fallen and sinful, even the best of us. Even the Apostle Peter acted hypocritically at one point, when he showed favoritism to Jewish believers over Gentile ones. But these people also fail to see the quiet widows in the background who volunteer for countless community projects and donate out of their hearts anonimously, who visit the sick, care for people they don't even know and spend hours on bended knees in prayer -- the ones that are truly letting people see Jesus through their lives while the hypocrites make all the noise.

Another part of this line of evidence is the indwelling of God in the believer. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit resides in those who accept Christ, and that their body becomes His temple. No other religion on the face of the planet has this hope. To the Buddhist and Taoist there is no god, or if there is he isn't relevant. To the Hindu, there are many gods, who are aloof from humanity. Islam's god is also removed from humanity, an absolute compassionless judge. But not only is Christianity unique in that it has a God who is Love, who cared for us enough to become one of us and die in our place, but it is also unique in that He chooses now to make his dwelling within us and empower us. And He chooses to hurt, to grieve, when we take His temple (and Him along for the ride) and use it for our own sinful lusts rather than for His glory.

If I am three thousand miles away from you and I call you on the phone, you can't see me. You may not have even ever met me face to face. Do you doubt that I am on the other end? No. Do you doubt that I am real in your life? No. Why? Because you can hear my voice, and because you can feel my emotions as we talk. And you know I can hear you and feel you as well. You know that you can still receive things from me. You know that you can give me joy and pride, or hurt me and make me grieve, by your actions and your words. And you know that one day we may meet face to face. All of this without ever actually "seeing" me.

Jesus is at your heart's door now; you can hear Him knocking, pleading to give your life hope, if you would just open yourself to Him. How's that for "hard-core" evidence?

Dedicated to my dear daughter Jami, whom I love in the Lord with all my heart.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Answers

Please keep my daughter* in your prayers. She just turned 16, and has had a troubled life so far. She comes from a broken home. She is full of hurt and anger. She has left her church, is questioning her faith, and is now living in sin. I am in tears, this is really hard for me. Thank you.

(*Jami isn't my "real" daughter; I met her 4 years ago online, my heart went out to her, and the Lord bound us together with a very deep love in our hearts as father and daughter in a very special way.)

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001