A lot of people have this burning question: can they really trust the Bible and its message? For some, the message of Christ on earth is just an ancient myth. Some even wonder if Jesus had existed at all, or if it was just an elaborate hoax or legend from the first century.

 

Today’s verse was written by someone who knew Jesus well. Peter met Jesus that day when he was still a fisherman at the Sea of Galilee. He thought that the rest of his life would involve fishing for his income. Jesus invited him and his brother, Andrew: “Come! Follow me!” They left their old lives, their fishing boats and nets, and went on a journey with Jesus that would change the course of history. For three years, Jesus taught his disciples about the principles of the kingdom of God, which differ so much from the kingdoms of this world. He showed them the love of God the Father. They would hear the most beautiful sermons on grace and on how love really would conquer all. They witnessed the kind way in which Jesus treated people, even those figures cast out of society like the lepers, tax collectors and prostitutes. They saw how Jesus healed the sick, forgave the sinners and brought hope to the downtrodden in life. They would become eyewitnesses of his death on the cross, when he was executed in a brutal manner on that Good Friday in old Jerusalem. Real people experienced real events in actual places in history; they did this with Jesus.

 

We read the first-hand testimony of someone who saw Jesus alive after he died. Peter saw the power of God when he did the impossible – raising Jesus from the grave on the third day. It would be an exciting experience to read the eyewitness report of the apostle John in the Gospel of John, chapter 20. It is this event that Peter refers to: the power of Jesus by conquering death, rising in majesty and ensuring the future of all who believe in him. Today’s verse also holds the hope-filled message that Christ will come again in majesty. He promised us in John 14:2-3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

 

Peter built his life on this message that Jesus is the Son of God and our Lord, who came to die for us and was raised to eternal glory. He believed so strongly in Jesus and his message of God’s kingdom that he was willing to die for him. Eventually, he died on a cross in Rome for the sake of his faith; he did not renounce his faith ever again. The fact of the matter is: you don’t die for a falsehood. You do not risk a gruesome death on a cross for a legend. But when you know Jesus as the light of the world, the one who changed your life, then you would be willing to lay down your life for him. Because you know him!

 

Peter said that they saw him, they knew him and he changed their lives! Peter has written it down for the church of all ages and invites us today so that you may also know Christ and trust him with your life!

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all the eyewitness reports we find in the Bible of people who knew you and walked with you. They were so convinced of the truth of your message that they were willing to die for you. Thank you for being the living Lord today. Help me build my life on a living relationship with you. Amen