by Wendy Elizabeth Middleton
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11
Witness for the defense
There are four gospels. Each has expert testimony concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew and John were with Jesus throughout his ministry. Matthew was a tax collector, an analytical man. He testified to the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. John was more empathic, he wrote concerning the great love of God fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah.
Mark and Luke weren’t with Jesus throughout his ministry. Mark was an associate of Peter’s. Peter testified and Mark wroth it down. Luke was an associate of Paul’s He was a physician, a learned man. Luke gathered eyewitness testimony and wrote detailed instructions on the way of salvation.
All four gospels agree on one thing: Jesus is Emanuel – God with us.
Witness to His authority
Matthew speaks of Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled the Old Testament predictions concerning the Messiah.
The Messiah was promised:
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14
The Messiah came:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
I am with you always. Not I maybe, but I AM. Not sometimes, but always.
Witness to His ministry
Mark speaks of why Jesus came
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
A ministry of service, to which we are called, and not just one or two of us are called, but many, as many as believe.
Witness to His mission
Luke speaks of why Jesus had to come
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
He came to find us and bring us home to be with him. He shines a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope; He reached into the muck and the mire and gathered us to him. He came to us, who had no hope and gave us hope eternal.
Witness to His sufficiency
John speaks of the sufficiency of God’s Grace. Jesus did the work of salvation. All that is left is for us to believe.
These were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31
The testimony of the Holy Spirit
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 15:26
Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. He is our constant companion, our helper, our comforter and our encourager. It is the very power of God that gives us the strength to accomplish the purpose of God in and through our lives.
When the devil says, “You can’t” the Spirit says, “I can.” When the devil says, “You aren’t good enough.” The Spirit reminds us that, “I came to earth to get find you. I died to save you. I choose to live with you. You are that precious to me!”
The testimony of the apostles
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose form the dead.
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14
The Messiah came:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
I am with you always. Not I maybe, but I AM. Not sometimes, but always.
Witness to His ministry
Mark speaks of why Jesus came
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
A ministry of service, to which we are called, and not just one or two of us are called, but many, as many as believe.
Witness to His mission
Luke speaks of why Jesus had to come
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
He came to find us and bring us home to be with him. He shines a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope; He reached into the muck and the mire and gathered us to him. He came to us, who had no hope and gave us hope eternal.
Witness to His sufficiency
John speaks of the sufficiency of God’s Grace. Jesus did the work of salvation. All that is left is for us to believe.
These were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31
The testimony of the Holy Spirit
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 15:26
Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. He is our constant companion, our helper, our comforter and our encourager. It is the very power of God that gives us the strength to accomplish the purpose of God in and through our lives.
When the devil says, “You can’t” the Spirit says, “I can.” When the devil says, “You aren’t good enough.” The Spirit reminds us that, “I came to earth to get find you. I died to save you. I choose to live with you. You are that precious to me!”
The testimony of the apostles
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose form the dead.
Acts 10:41
Not everyone has seen Jesus face to face, but those who did see him after he rose from the dead ate and drank with him. Ghosts do not eat, only the living eat. They knew him before he died; there was no mistaking who was with them after the resurrection.
The testimony of the believers
And we cannot be silent. We are so filled with the joy of His presence that we cannot keep still. The Gospel is the most exciting news we have ever heard. Meeting Jesus, spirit to Spirit, is the best thing that has ever happened to us and we can’t wait to pass it on.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
But the rewards are great
Wendy
Not everyone has seen Jesus face to face, but those who did see him after he rose from the dead ate and drank with him. Ghosts do not eat, only the living eat. They knew him before he died; there was no mistaking who was with them after the resurrection.
The testimony of the believers
And we cannot be silent. We are so filled with the joy of His presence that we cannot keep still. The Gospel is the most exciting news we have ever heard. Meeting Jesus, spirit to Spirit, is the best thing that has ever happened to us and we can’t wait to pass it on.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
But the rewards are great
Wendy
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