The Apologetics of Jesus

So, I started a new book that is awesome. It is called The Apologetics of Jesus by Norman Geisler. It talks about the greatest Apologist who ever lived and that is Jesus himself. Apologetics comes from the Greek word Apologia which means defense. It is used a few times in the New Testament, like in Phillipians 1 where Paul says that he is appointed for the defense, or Apologia, of the gospel. We know that 1 Peter 3:15 commands us to set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts, and to ALWAYS be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have. This is what Apologetics is aimed at doing; equipping believers for their effectiveness with sharing truth with a world that wants nothing to do with it, for the most part. Since there is no salvation in no one else but Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; John 10:9), then we should consider the Word going out of the utmost importance. What's a better way to prepare than to learn from the Master Himself, Jesus? That's what Norman Geisler is aiming at with this book.

The first chapter talks about Jesus' Apologetic use of testimony. The passage that he looks at is in John 5. Jesus heals a paralytic man on the Sabbath and this is scoffed at by the Jewish scribes and pharisees. Jesus defends himself by bringing testimony to the table. This is key in a Jewish context because a man's testimony was not very strong in a court room setting without the use of 2 to 3 witnesses (Deut. 19:15). In this particular chapter Jesus brings 5 different testimonies to the table. He talks about his being unified with the father, the works that he does (miracles), the testimony of John the Baptist, the testimony of Moses, and the testimony of the scriptures (OT). The word testify (testifies, testimony) is recorded 10 times. Now lets analyze more in depth each of these witnesses in a more detailed manor.

1. Jesus unified with the Father

The hypostatic union of the father and the son comes out strongly in this text. What I mean by hypostatic union is that Jesus and the father are of one essence or substance but still very distinct in their active role within the trinity. You can read it for yourself below but Jesus claims equality with the father pretty boldly in this passage. He says that His father has been working all this time and that so is He. He also says that the He only does what He sees the Father doing. Lastly, He even claims that the Father has given Judgment into His hands. The father will not Judge mankind, but rather the son. Check out the passage for your self.

17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

2. The Works of Jesus

This is the miracle that He did to receive this line of questioning from the pharisees. He gave the ability to walk to a man who has never walked before in His life. If that isn't good enough for the pharisees then I don't know what is. Instead of praising God for such an awesome display of His majesty, they are instead bickering because it was done on the sabbath and it violated their scriptures.

3. The Testimony of John the Baptist

Jesus makes it clear that He doesn't hold human testimony in very high esteem but instead He accepts the testimony of the one who sent Him. The Jews acknowledged John as a prophet of God for a short time, and Jesus makes it clear that John was the one that came before Him, in physical birth and time in history, and he has correctly testified to the truth. John was the voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way for the one to come.

4. The Testimony of Moses

Jesus is bold here in declaring that the accuser of the Jews is actually Moses. This man that they hold in such high regard actually wrote about Jesus. Jesus did not come to abolish The Law given to Moses but to fulfill it(Matt. 5:17).

5. The Testimony of the Scriptures (OT)

Once again Jesus rebukes the scribes and pharisees by telling them they have searched the scriptures for the wrong reasons. They are hopeful in receiving eternal life by the way of the scriptures, however, Jesus adds that the scriptures actually testify of Him and they point to Him.

Lastly, Jesus points out that they do not have the Love of God in their hearts. He even says that they refuse to believe, and it's because they continue to harden their hearts toward truth and instead they suppress it in unrighteousness(Rom 1:18). I encourage you to reread John 5 and see the amazing defense that Jesus provides for His claims to be equal with God. This passage is so encouraging and I pray for boldness and zeal for those who love to share their faith, and reach out to that which was lost, sinners whom are loved by God.