FALSE HISTORY

John 19:31-35
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.

"History is written by the winners." This common mantra is repeated endlessly by many postmodern philosophers--some of whom are historians who believe that it is rare to find truly accurate historical accounts. They tell us that the "winners" controlled the flow of information and published whatever accounts were favorable to them--in other words, mere propaganda. For instance, it appears that many ancient Egyptian pharaohs typically ordered that their memorial hieroglyphics highlight great "victories," which were actually humiliating defeats.

It's true that historical accounts need to be carefully assessed, because many, in all likelihood, include both truth and falsehood. Good historians will be certain to examine all competing accounts and then consider them in the light of the present. Nazi historians, for instance, could make all the claims for ultimate victory they want, but the present tells the story: They lost.

History can also be assessed by examining the character and consistency of the witnesses. Such is the case for faith in the truthfulness of the Bible. Here, though, is a case of "losers" writing the history. Regardless of the overwhelming forces arrayed against the early followers of Jesus, who were unmercifully tortured by the winners, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus and the love of the Father were unstoppable forces.

One of those ancient persecuted "losers" was the apostle John, a tender and loving disciple of Jesus. In John 19, we hear a declaration of his that sounds a lot like a firm "yes" to the typical trial question: "Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" In this account, John asserts the truthfulness about the crucifixion of Jesus. Later, he and Peter and Paul, who were actually killed by the so-called winners, attest to Jesus' resurrection and ascension.

Two thousand years and millions of believers later, the historical fact about Jesus' victory over death is affirmed as none other. --Dean Ohlman

destination
points

* How carefully have I studied the history of biblical faith?
* Could belief in Jesus' resurrection have continued if it were not empowered by His Holy Spirit and lived out in the lives of His faithful followers?
* What have I observed of the sometimes twisted logic of modern historians?

LINKS:
10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead
http://www.rbc.net/rtb/8rsn

bottom line: Present reality affirms past reality.

soul journey