¹⁴We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

What would constitute sufficient proof that God sent Jesus to be the Savior? Scholars can verify with a high degree of historical certainty that an individual named Jesus, who was also called “the Christ,” lived in the first century. No one doubts that the followers of Jesus spawned a revolutionary movement out of the Jewish religion that has become the greatest moral and religious driving force in the world. Further, we can be surer of His life and death than any other event in world history. The historical data on His life far exceeds any ancient figure, whether Julius Caesar, the pharaohs of Egypt, or any of the figures from ancient Eastern cultures.

But what is the proof of the Christian assertions about the life of Jesus Christ, that it was God who sent Him to be the Savior? The answer to this question begins with the testimony of those closest to Jesus when He walked on the earth. They “have seen and testify” to their assertion. They heard His teachings firsthand; they witnessed His responses to skeptics. They listened to how Jesus viewed Himself within the Jewish religion, which was monotheistic to the core. His detractors knew precisely how He was presenting Himself:

The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “. . . I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (John 10:24, 31–33)

Jesus’ enemies knew exactly what He was saying. If their accusation was false, that is, if Jesus was not God and was not claiming to be God, He would undoubtedly have denied the charge. His silence at this juncture speaks volumes of clarification about Jesus’ own belief about Himself. His followers understood this truth and made it central to their propagation of the message of Christ.

Jesus Himself commissioned the apostles as His authoritative witnesses of all He did and taught (Acts 1:12, 2:42, Matt: 28:18–20). They taught (in Trinitarian terms) that Jesus was God the Son, sent by the Father to be the Savior. And John puts his authoritative stamp on this assertion. We must never waffle on this truth.

Lord, I believe wholeheartedly the truth that You came as God in the flesh.