Go figure; I’m convinced (John 34-38), March 9, 2017

Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

 

  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. I don’t know if probability was a science in Jesus’ day, but it sure gives us something to think about today.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 10:34-38
    2. Jesus:  You know what is written in the Scriptures. Doesn’t it read, “I said, you are gods”? If the Scriptures called your ancestors (mere mortals) gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scriptures cannot be set aside—  what should you call One who is unique, sanctified by and sent from the Father into the world? I have said, “I am God’s Son.” How can you call that blasphemy?  By all means, do not believe in Me, if I am not doing the things of the Father.  But examine My actions, and you will see that My work is the work of the Father. Regardless of whether you believe in Me—believe the miracles. Then you will know that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.
  4. Devotional
    1. I don’t know when you last saw a hundred dollar bill, I don’t see them very often anymore with all the electronic transactions we do now days, but a few decades ago, they were pretty common. The problem with hundred dollar bills a few decades ago, though, they were not common enough that people could tell the real thing from the counterfeit.
      1. Good engravers, good parchment, good ink
      2. Public could be fooled
      3. Bank tellers handled enough they knew the difference quickly
    2. Started putting security strips in every denomination $5 and larger beginning in 1990
      1. Tried to thwart counterfeiters
      2. Micro-engraving around portraits
      3. Green-black ink in numbers seen at different angles
      4. Polyester strips with denomination printed on it
      5. Counterfeits look real enough, but when put to the test, they fail
    3. Jesus told those around Him to put Him to the test
      1. Scriptures supported His claims
      2. Tasks performed in the name of the Father supported His claims
      3. Miracles supported His claims
      4. Examine Him the same way you examine a US bill and you’ll see He meets all the requirements
      5. Nothing is missing when stacked against all the criteria of who the Messiah is supposed to be and what He is supposed to do
      6. What exactly are the odds? Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.
      7. The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”¹
    4. Is Jesus who He says He is? That’s the odds of only fulfilling 8 of the sixty He fulfilled, so get your pencil and go figure.  I’m convinced!
  5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.