A Clever Story?

"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." The apostle Peter wrote these words, and this is a claim that brings great encouragement to believers. It’s also a direct challenge to skeptics of the Christian faith. Peter says, “I’m telling you what I’m telling you about Jesus because I was there. I and the other apostles were eyewitnesses, and we are relating to you what actually happened.”

Now, when someone makes a claim like this, you have to make a decision about the person. Do you trust them, or not? There’s an old piece of advice that says, “Consider the source.” That’s what we’re going to do today. Peter says “we were eyewitnesses.” Is this someone whose word you can trust?

Well, let’s see. According to Scripture, being painfully honest was one of Peter’s personality traits. In the Gospels, you will find him frequently confessing the many times he had been terribly, totally wrong. When Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water on the Sea of Galilee, Peter admitted he was wrong, thinking Jesus was a ghost. Then he tried to walk on water himself and failed. He didn't have to tell you all of that story, but he did. That's not the kind of thing a person who is trying to control the message wants to share.

Then there’s the day Jesus was transfigured. Peter, James, and John were on a mountaintop with Jesus. There, quite unexpectedly, they saw Jesus speaking with some Old Testament Prophets, dead Old Testament prophets. Peter watched as Jesus' clothes became as white as light and His face shone like the sun; he listened when the Father in heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him." A cleverly invented story? Let me ask, why would Peter confess that he and the others fell to the ground in terror? Why would he confess that he didn’t know what he was talking about with the tents and everything, other than honesty?

There was the day Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Savior and then tried to talk Him out of giving His life as a ransom to save us. Later, Peter admits how, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was crushed by this world's sins, he didn't pray but fell asleep. When soldiers arrested Jesus, Peter fought and then ran away. When Jesus was being tried, Peter went to see what was happening and then denied His Lord three times. You can be sure Peter is the kind of guy who really tells the truth, to the extent that he doesn’t mind looking like a complete screw-up.

So when Peter says Jesus was crucified, you can believe him; when the apostle reports Jesus rose from the dead, you can believe that too. You see, when the disciples write of Jesus' resurrection, they admit, that when this, the greatest event in history occurred, they were in hiding. They acknowledge they didn't believe the resurrection accounts of the women; and two of them (Peter being one), had to go and take a peek at Jesus' empty for themselves. You can believe Peter and the other disciples when they talk about the resurrection because they come clean and admit they, themselves, were skeptical! They had nothing to hide and were transparent in their reporting of the facts, even when the facts were completely embarrassing.

So if you agree that Peter is a trustworthy and genuine eyewitness, then let’s consider his claim. He says that Jesus is Lord and Christ, who came with power and majesty. And this power and majesty is shown in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Ultimately it all boils down to this: Did Jesus really die on the cross and did He really rise from the dead?" Peter told the truth about himself; is he telling us the truth about Jesus, too?

As far as Jesus dying, let me say this: the Romans crucified tens of thousands of people, sometimes thousands at a time. History records not a single incident of anyone accidentally surviving. In the case of Jesus, not only did the Romans whip Him, and crucify Him, they also stabbed Him in the heart. Remember, when the Roman soldier made that spear thrust, he was trying to make absolutely percent sure Jesus was dead. Understand, when the Bible says blood and water came out of Jesus' wound it is describing a medical condition. This separation of blood platelets from the serum which carried them only takes place after someone has been dead for a while.

 Jesus was dead. The soldiers who crucified Him knew He was dead; Jesus' mourners knew He was dead; His enemies were convinced He was dead. Everyone was in perfect agreement: it was Jesus' lifeless body that was placed into that borrowed tomb.

So what is left? Only this: did Jesus rise from the dead or did He revive? Let's get rid of the revival idea by saying: Someone who has been whipped, beaten, crucified, and stabbed with a spear doesn't get around like Jesus did on Resurrection Sunday. So, did Jesus rise? He did. He absolutely did. It wasn't a Jesus-ghost who ate with the disciples. It wasn't a figment of imagination that cooked them breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It wasn't some author’s bright idea to have Jesus say, "Touch me, put your hand into My side." Jesus rose. For forty days He showed His disciples He was alive. The disciples of Jesus, including brutally honest Peter, would have no reason to tell you this—unless it was true. And they paid dearly for reporting what they had experienced. Who gives up their life for what they know is a lie?

Jesus really lived, He really died, and he really rose. The Bible reports these as facts, attested to by credible eyewitnesses. And if you put the weight of your heart on these facts, you can live your life knowing that you have God’s approval. You can live life knowing that he delights in you, because your sin and shame and guilt has all been paid for in full by Jesus’ death. If you put the weight of your hope on these facts, you can die in peace, because eternal life with Jesus has been promised to you, and resurrected life with Jesus is coming.

Peter didn't follow a cleverly devised story, and neither do I, as we make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the truth. Now, will you believe it?

Adapted from a sermon by Rev. Ken Klaus