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How can we tell if this person really is…?
- Superman [Can he fly?]
- Doctor Who [Does he have two hearts?]
- Popeye [Does spinach make him super strong?]
- Buzz Lightyear [Can they breathe with their helmet up?]
Is there a way we can be sure that Jesus is the Christ? That Jesus really is the King who can save people from their sins.
Is there a test we can do? The answer is ‘Yes’!
In the Old Testament, God told His people what the Christ, the Messiah, the King who would rescue His people was going to be like.
God said that He would do amazing things like healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and other miraculous signs. Did Jesus do these things? Yes He did! But there have been other people who have been able to do miraculous things as well. Can we be sure that Jesus and not them is the Christ?
Yes, because God also said that the Christ would die on a cross. Did Jesus die on the cross? Yes He did! But there could have also been another person who did amazing things that died on the cross. How is Jesus different to them?
There is another test which make it clear for certain that Jesus is the King who saves. Peter reminds the crowd of this on the Day of Pentecost. Quoting Psalm 16, Peter says: “David said about him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’” (Acts 2:25-28)
The big test that will prove that Jesus is the Christ is the ‘Did He come back to life?’ test! Did Jesus rise from the dead? Yes He did! Peter says: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” (Acts 2:32)
Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is the only man to rise from the dead and who is still alive today. This is why we can be sure that Jesus is the Christ. The resurrection is the proof that Jesus is able to save people from their sins by His death on the cross.
We can be certain that if we trust in Jesus’ rescue, our sins will be forgiven; that God will not punish us, and have the hope of eternal life in the new heavens and new earth face to face with our Saviour.
