Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PROOF?

 PROOF?

It seems that one of the most difficult endeavours is that of trying to change the outlook of a person when that individual is determined not to accept any evidence which is contrary to his/her preconceived ideas. Even when the evidence is essentially irrefutable, such a person will often hold to the contrary view. For example, there are still those who maintain that the earth is flat in spite of the obvious evidence to the contrary. There are those who still deny the holocaust, denying the multiple graves that have been exposed and the many first-hand witnesses who have told their stories. And, of course, there are still many who believe vaccines cause autism or other similar side effects.

Such thinking is not new. Many, including the church, believed the earth was the centre of the universe and that the sun rotated around the earth, holding on to such beliefs long after Galileo and Copernicus showed otherwise. Mankind can be very stubborn to the acceptance of evidence and truth.

Today, most still accept that evolution is the truth in spite of the many holes in its theory. They refuse to consider what the Bible puts forward as an alternative - that the “…invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, ever His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, KJV)

Similarly, many refuse to accept the divinity of Christ because, they say, He never declared Himself as such. But yet, is there not evidence in the Bible to the contrary? In the book of Mark, apparently the oldest Gospel, the following is recorded:

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 

“Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 

(Mark 14:61, KJV)

Blessed was a title often used by the Jewish people to refer to God. And so God was often called “blessed for ever” and so as Blessed became a title of God it also applies to Christ. Thus, Jesus answered the question from Mark in a direct manner by using references to the Old Testament books. He replied “I am” using the name God used for Himself in Exodus 3:14 when He said to Moses : “I Am who I Am.” He then went on to say: “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power” (Mark 14:62).

This latter part of what Christ said refers to a portion from the book of Daniel: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him” (7:13). As well, from a portion  of Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

 

Jesus answered the high priest in a way that utilized the scriptures to which the Jewish people were familiar to literally confirm that He was who He claimed to be.

Even though the evidence is there, many people still refuse to acknowledge and accept it; but it is something that we all should think carefully about.