How Much Evidence Do You Need?

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” — John 1:29-34

So we don't know how well John the Baptist (JB) and Jesus know each other. We know they were cousins, but we don't know how much time they spent with each other as children. We know that JB spent all his adult life wandering in the desert. So I have always assumed they did not know each other well. But they did meet up right before Jesus went into the desert for 40 days because JB baptized him in the Jordan River. But given this minimal contact, it appears that JB knows all kinds of things about Jesus. But they are not things that he did (in the past). They are things he was going to do (in the future). For example:

1. That he is the "Lamb of God." An allusion to his sacrificial offering on the cross.
2. He would "take away the sin of the world." Awareness of his mission to deal with sin.
3. That he held "rank." The awareness he was high-ranking royalty from heaven.
4. That he was "before him." Understanding that he was eternal and existed before JB, even though JB was born first.
5. That he was "being revealed to Israel." Understanding that his ministry was beginning.
6. That he was anointed by "the Spirit." Understanding that there was a unique Spiritual blessing on him.
7. That he would "baptize with the Spirit." The awareness that he would initiate a new baptism soon.
8. That he was "the Son of God." Fully aware that he was the Messiah.

These eight declarations are both incredible and significant. We see these declarations with a lot of hindsight about Jesus's life; therefore, we might read right past them. But JB had not seen any of this. He would never see most of it because, in the not-too-distant future, he would be beheaded. This means he never saw his ministry, any of his miracles, his crucifixion, his resurrection, his atoning sacrifice that would take away the sin of the world, or the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. He never saw one of these events, yet he made eight proclamations about specific details of who Jesus was and what he would do. Do you know what that is? That's prophetic. And for the author, John the Apostle, that's pretty solid evidence that God has come.

So we haven't left chapter one, and we have seen all kinds of evidence from John. We have listened to arguments from logic, science, nature, eyewitness testimony, prophecy, and divine revelation. But eventually, all the evidence presented presents us with a single question. Do you believe? You have to make a choice. Either you believe, or you don't believe.

So a couple of centuries ago, Blaise Pascal, a well-known mathematician, encouraged people to come to a decision about God. It came to be known as "Pascal's Wager." The wager went like this.

1. If you chose to believe and God did exist, then you gain everything. (Eternity in heaven)
2. If you chose to believe and God did not exist, then you lose nothing.
3. If you chose not to believe and are correct, then you lose nothing.
4. If you chose not to believe and are wrong, then you lose everything. (Eternity in hell)

The point of this wager is that we all have to make a decision when it comes to Jesus. We either believe or not that he exists or not, which results in three potential outcomes. Losing nothing. Losing everything. Gaining it all. So make a decision because no decision is a decision when it comes to Jesus.

ASK THIS: Is there someone you know who has yet to make a decision?

DO THIS: Pray for them.

PRAY THIS: God, thank you for all the evidence of your glory.

PLAY THIS: Evidence.