We frequently hear the phrase 'fake news'. Now we are extremely dependent on trustworthy journalists to do the research in a world where there is lightning speed communication.
There are many reasons why I continue to trust in the New Testament(Injil) accounts of the crucifixion, death on the cross, and resurrection of Jesus. What are some reasons:
1. Many prophecies about Jesus that were fulfilled in the Easter events. Isaiah 53:7 states "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter..." These prophecies about the suffering of Jesus were given 700 years before his birth.
But they were fulfilled hundreds of years later in verses like Matthew 27:30-31, written by a follower of Jesus. "They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again...Then they led him away to crucify him..."
2. During his lifetime Jesus did not have many followers. A Muslim friend told me recently that the number of followers after Jesus left was very small. On the contrary, after his resurrection and ascension the number of followers exploded. On one day we are told that 3000 people were added to the church. Wow. If the death and resurrection was fake news, people would not have taken the risk of great persecution and consequences.
3. Isa al Masih's students who wrote the Gospels(Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John) were tortured before being killed yet not one of them denied what they had written. It's highly improbably that these men would be willing to be tortured to death to defend a lie! Would you be willing for that? I don't think so. This was one of the deciding factors in Lee Strobel(Case for Christ) coming to faith in Christ.
4. Non-Christian historians like Josephus and Tacitus wrote about the death of Jesus, thereby confirming the record in the Gospels.
I confirmed this with an Arab friend who knows the meaning of "mutawaffika". The root of this word is "tawaffa". This word means "to die" or "to cause one to die". Never should it be translated, "to take"(to be taken up). This is confirmed again in 19:33: "...blessed was the day I died, and blessed was the day I was resurrected."
The answer to the question is "Yes, Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected 3 days later." Therein lies the 'Good & True News', my friend. And now Jesus is alive to offer mercy for Christians, Muslims and all of humanity. Receive this gift from God.
Dear God, Thank-you for the fulfillment of scripture that a Saviour would be born and would fulfill the requirements of purification by his perfect sacrifice--himself. Amen
