Verification from Jesus
Throughout the history of man, there have been certain ones who have denied that certain events recorded in the Bible ever took place. Take for instance the great flood that happened during the life of Noah. There are so very many people that refuse to accept that a worldwide flood ever took place. Then, how about the account of Jonah. To some, this is nothing more than the equivalence of a “fairy tale”. There is also the account of Solomon and his great wealth. Some might even be willing to deny that such a man ever existed who had the wisdom and wealth that he had. These are just some of the things that critics might deny. However, I firmly believe that each of these records is historically accurate. There are numerous resources in the field of apologetics that help to verify Biblical accounts, but that is not arguments that I choose to help substantiate my belief. I am going to rely on the testimony of the Son of God. While I know that some will not change their minds simply due to what Jesus said, I trust my Lord in all things. I know that Jesus told the truth in every situation. He never lied! “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). So, I submit the following verifications from Jesus.
First of all, did Jesus ever say anything that gave validity to the history of the flood that covered the face of the Earth? In the Old Testament book of Genesis is where one will find the record of the flood. Specifically, the event is chronicled in chapters six through eight. When reading those chapters, one will learn of a man named Noah and his family. Noah was given vital information about the impending flood that would “…destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die” (Gen. 6:17). Noah was commanded to build an ark to save enough animals and human beings to repopulate the Earth after the flood. Noah obeyed every command about the ark that God gave (Gen. 6:22). After entering the ark, Noah and his family were safe while the flood overwhelmed the entire planet. “And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered” (Gen. 7:19-20). That was an amazing occurrence, and as has previously been noted, some do not accept it as truth. Jesus did! Our Lord plainly stated, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:37-39). Jesus verified the truth of the flood, Noah, and the ark!
Then there is the account of Jonah in the Old Testament book that bears his name. Jonah was a prophet of God that was sent to preach unto the inhabitants of the Assyrian capital city of Nineveh. Jonah did not want to do such at first. He tried to avoid his responsibility by boarding a ship that was to travel to Tarshish. God would not allow Jonah to get away without consequences. The Bible records that Jonah was cast into the sea, and that “…the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17). After praying to God, “…the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). Unfortunately, this account may have those that deny such as well. However, Jesus verified it to be true. Our Lord said, “…An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:39-40). Again, Jesus spoke of the events as having been historically true.
Then there is the account of the king named Solomon. It might be hard for some to believe that such a wise and wealthy man ever existed. In First Kings chapter 10, verse one, we find, “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.” After arriving, listening, and viewing, the queen stated, “…It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (1 Kings 10:6-7). The queen was very impressed by what she saw and heard, but did it really happen? Jesus said, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, be-hold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Matt. 12:42). Again, there is something that may be very difficult for some to believe, but Jesus verified it as being the truth.
Friend, you may not believe what the Bible says, but there is one thing for sure, Jesus did! I refuse to accuse my Lord of lying. If He said it, then that is enough verification for me.
~ Corey Barnette