Avalon Chronicles #45: "Knowing Jesus"

Avalon Chronicles #45: "Knowing Jesus"

by Allen B. Clark              allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com      www.combatfaith.blogspot.com

     It is written in I Corinthians 13:11(KJV), "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." One childish thing I did not put away was a song I learned in Sunday School (second grade Sendai, Japan, Army of Occupation military base), "Jesus loves me-this I know, for the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong-they are weak, but he is strong." Just a few years ago I learned the connection of this song to West Point, my alma mater. It was published in 1860 and written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827-1915). She lived on Constitution Island across the Hudson River from West Point. I saw her gravesite several years ago in the West Point cemetery.
     Even though I sang this song as a child, as an adult I have strived to really know Jesus, to put away childish notions and become strong as Jesus has inspired me to be. It has been a daily struggle with all the earthly distractions. His words I have always heard and another recollection from those early Sunday School lessons relates to the parable about the house that fell after being built on sand rather than a rock foundation.
The basics of building a house was obvious, but the broader sense about one's entire life being built on a firm foundation was tougher to apply practically on a daily basis.
     We know Jesus several ways; childishly, historically, experientially, and, most importantly, soulfully. Historically, the case for Jesus, the Christ, is expressed in ancient times in several references. An unauthenticated description of Jesus, was in, "...an apocryphal letter ascribed to Publius Lentulus, a friend of (Pontius) Pilate, written to the Roman Senate." (quoted in Halley's Bible Handbook, 67th printing 1989, Zondervan, pg. 532.) The first line is the essence of the letter, "In this time appeared a man endowed with great power." Harry Halley continues, "Whatever his personal appearance, there must have been something about his countenance and bearing that was Majestic, Commanding, Divine." Indeed, He had "great power," into which we may tap and appropriate if we build our lives on His foundation, and cease playing games like building with breakable and weak materials. Historically, as an ardent student of American history, I "knew" Patrick Henry, George Washington, Robert E. Lee, General Douglas MacArthur, and President Dwight Eisenhower, but it was more challenging to "know" my Savior and Lord, Jesus.
     In Antiquities of the Jews the eminent Jewish historian Josephus wrote, "Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, ---a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and  many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day." (pg 379).
     And what about these prophecies? Again the historical record for those of us who know that He was much more than just a "good man" or a "prophet" himself, concludes that multitudes of prophecies were fulfilled by Him. There were ONE HUNDRED (100) Messianic prophecies made about Jesus in the Old Testament before He was born, lived, performed His earthly ministry, and died as related in the New Testament and they were ALL fulfilled just as made, some written as early as 1200 years before Jesus' birth. (Rose Publishing, Inc. 2002 brochure.)
     English Anglican Archbishop Ussher related in the Annals of the World (mid 1660s) writings of Tertullian and Eusebius, "Tiberius was informed from Palestine, by Pilate, about the matters involving Christ. Tiberius proposed to the Senate that Christ should be considered one of the gods. The Senate opposed this, but Tiberius did not change his mind and threatened that, 'It would be dangerous for any to accuse a Christian.'"
     If I were an attorney making a case before a jury, I have to admit the evidence above should convince  that jury, that there was an historical Jesus. If He was endowed with great power, if He was wise, if He was a doer of great works, and if those, to whom He appeared three days after His death and Resurrection, knew all these things about Him, then I will be stronger and will be strengthened, because, as He was to them, He became to me!