Eyewitness
When I see something with my own eyes, it is really difficult to convince me that what I saw didn’t happen. I will confess that when something traumatic happens, it’s hard on the eyewitness to comprehend all that just happened.
I’m reading through John’s account of Jesus’ life. I’m near the end where Jesus is handed over to be crucified. The scene is pretty brutal, but there is much prophesy that is fulfilled. John was Jesus’ dear friend (the disciple that Jesus loved) according to John. In fact, John is with Jesus’ mother at the crucifixion. I can’t begin to imagine the emotions surrounding Jesus’ death. His day in court was a joke. He was falsely accused and mocked. Pilate obviously had no backbone and hands Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus gets thirsty and they give Him some sort of vinegar mixture and He releases His Spirit – He dies. The executioners (aka Roman Soldiers) were being rushed by the Jewish leaders because this was on Friday (aka preparation day). Check this out….
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.)36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.” (John 19:31-37 NLT)
I’m grateful for John’s eyewitness account of Jesus’ life. His account portrays another side of Jesus that can be missed in the other gospel accounts. I have not seen Jesus in a physical sense, but I’ve seen Him with my own eyes of faith. I know what He’s done for me. I know what He’s done for others. My faith is stronger today because of the things I’ve experienced and seen since I’ve been following Jesus. I want to be an eyewitness of the things of God that I’ve seen, heard and know.
Pressing On!
Dwayne