This essay is about how, when it comes to God, most of unsaved humanity doesn't have an EVIDENCE problem, but a SPIRITUAL one of a CLOSED heart to God / Jesus. And after some of the evidences are generally summarized, we'll look at one of the ultimate examples of this, in the Bible's passages relating Jesus being crucified alongside two common thieves.
God has provided humanity many amazing evidences of His existence - from the stunning discovery that every living creature's DNA has a stunningly sophisticated coding that determines what kind of animal, fish, bird or man it will become. And the Big Bang itself - which revealed to scientists that a previously non-existing universe - in which no time, no matter - NOTHING whatsoever existed. And, a mere moment later, a spectacular early universe exploded into existence - not chaotically or with useless random elements, but with stunning precision and breathtakingly designed building blocks working in incomprehensible harmony together, as it began to build a universe on a scale that is truly unimaginable!
And, especially since the time of Jesus' time on earth, extraordinary evidences as to WHO He was / is began to first spread across ancient Israel. He did many incredible miracles, even noted by secular / non-Biblical historical sources. And, especially, per the extensive eyewitness testimony of Jesus' disciples, despite constant danger of death for publicly testifying to having experienced seeing the risen Christ. Which is astounding when one considers that, immediately after Jesus crucifixion, His disciples were in hiding in great confusion and terrible fear, knowing the Jewish authorities might well immediately hunt them down to have the very same brutal fate inflicted upon themselves as well. It's important to realize that Jesus' disciples had NO motive whatsoever to attest to a lie (of Jesus' Resurrection) that, A) could well have gotten them ruthlessly killed and B) that they absolutely knew the TRUTH of - as they unquestionably KNEW whether or not they'd actually seen their risen Savior. And in the process of being killed and resurrected from the dead, Jesus also fulfilled MANY detailed, long-before-given prophecies - ESPECIALLY that of Isaiah 53 - see here how the Dead Sea Scroll evidences prove this prophecy was written long before Jesus' birth into the world (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtfCaswFwCI). And yet, a lack of EVIDENCE is NOT the reason why so many in Israel failed to believe in God / Jesus.
The problem most have, when it comes to God, both in ancient Israel and across society today is, people DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE! As they would rather just live their lives as they so desire, no matter what that might include. And because of this, even the most powerful scientific or other evidences will fail to convince one determined to avoid or deny God / Christ. And the recorded events surrounding Jesus Crucifixion make this abundantly clear. Long before the Crucifixion, and over a period of three years, Jesus did a large number of undeniable miracles. He provided many powerful evidences to the people that He was God's prophesied Son and that His teachings were of the Lord. And countless people saw His instant healings and miraculous works, and yet many STILL refused to believe. The religious leaders even suggested that Jesus did such miracles by the power of the devil. And what we see, even today, is how people, every year, have learned of more and more extraordinary scientific evidences that reveal God MUST exist. But yet it doesn't make them want investigate or seek Him out - as most are in denial and don't want to even contemplate His "possible" existence.
Think about this - as what should absolutely grab people's attention, that powerful evidences exist to prove the answer to one of the greatest debated questions across time - DOES God exist? And today, with so many undeniable and increasing scientific evidences, understanding, at the very least, that God MUST exist - is either ignored or argued against by most. In fact, the atheist forums are obsessed with denying (shock of shocks) the CHRISTIAN God's existence (as opposed to them arguing against a host of various religions' so-called gods). Of course, being immersed in whatever cult / false religious group also keeps people from seeking out understandings about the TRUE God.
The difference in the person who begins to contemplate God, His existence, or what to make of the claims about Christ and His Identity, and the one who fights hard to avoid the massive evidences, fulfilled prophesies, etc., is the difference between those willing to acknowledge to themselves what these many powerful evidences are suggesting, and those who FAIL to even sincerely or seriously consider them. And so, at its core, for most, the problem is NOT an evidence issue - it's a HEART issue - which is the very same problem that led Israel's religious establishment to seek Jesus' murder as opposed to sincerely evaluating the powerful evidences He provided or the tremendous wisdom His teachings made clear.
And so now, let's look at the Crucifixion scene itself to see how one so determined, will deny Jesus, no matter what evidences are presented them. Jesus was arrested on false charges of blasphemy - of equating Himself to be equal with God (which He WAS and IS!). After being interrogated and brutally beaten, the occupying Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, afraid of the Jewish leaders and a potential uprising, succumbed to the Jewish mob and religious establishment and sentenced Jesus to death - this, despite his belief that Jesus was innocent of any capital offense. Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha (Calvary, in Latin), in a location outside of the city of Jerusalem, where criminals were horribly crucified in humiliating, agonizing deaths. While the Romans didn't invent this horrific practice, they seem to have perfected it - maximizing the length of time one could be kept alive under unimaginable torture and agony. It was a death that was meant to send a strong message to anyone who might be foolish enough to risk the wrath of the Roman government.
So, at Golgatha, Jesus was raised up on a Roman cross. He was crucified alongside two common thieves - one on His left, one on His right. While these criminals alongside Jesus had seen their fate coming, it's interesting to assess what they likely knew of Jesus beforehand. At a time before photography, etc., these thieves would not have even recognized Jesus - in fact, even the mob that arrested Him depended upon Judas Iscariot to identify Him. However, the thieves were no doubt very familiar with Jesus' great fame and renown as a wise teacher, and especially, as a great miracle worker - as all of Israel had been talking about Him. And they certainly knew that Jesus was being crucified for identifying Himself as God's Son. They also likely knew that Pontius Pilate had tried to free Jesus, who publicly asserted he could see no capital offense warranting such a punishment ("Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him.").
Of course, a braying crowd was there mocking Jesus. They mocked Him as Savior, as King, as being the Son of God. And, initially, the Bible records that BOTH thieves began mocking and blaspheming Him (Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32). So, amidst their own agony and anger at their terrible fates, the thieves, as did the taunting crowd, mocked Jesus to be a supposed God who would willingly suffer such a humiliating torture. Incredibly, the two thieves joined in with the very same crowd who were applauding the executions of themselves as well. But then something powerful and unexpected occurred! One of the thieves suddenly realized precisely WHO and WHAT Jesus truly was and IS. God had opened his eyes. This thief KNEW Jesus was innocent. He had seen and heard Him serenely and earnestly pray for His mocking tormentors and executioners - the very people putting Him through this agony. And that must have had a powerful impact. And because what God had shown that thief, in a moment of his greatest agony and despair, was used to cause him to open up his HEART to the evidence he had seen Jesus demonstrate. He then acknowledged his guilt before Jesus and admonished the other thief for not fearing God. He then acknowledged to Jesus His Kingdom to come and requested and desired Jesus remember Him in it - which Jesus assured He would.
And, of course, there was the unrepentant thief who symbolized and unrepentant and unbelieving world, as well as one of the two choices that Jesus eternally offers ALL - and yet, he catastrophically made the wrong choice - the one of unbelief, rejection, and ultimately, HELL! And yet, BOTH thieves saw the same evidences in from of them, as Jesus powerfully demonstrated. They both saw this renowned miracle worker, Whom had claimed to be equal to God, up upon His cross praying for people, as opposed to concentrating upon His own agony. They saw Jesus wasn't angry at his torturers or the taunting mob, but instead was showing them unbelievable compassion, love and deep concern.
The unsaved thief also saw his fellow thief come to belief in Jesus, through his faith. He saw Jesus have the exact same powerful impact upon the belief and faith of the saved thief as he had undoubtedly heard so many across Israel had testified to. He knew of the great good and hope Jesus had brought people across Israel and of his countless miracles and healings - even raising Lazarus from the dead. He knew Jesus was innocent - and instead of being angry, he observed His focus instead, was to show love and concern for His tormentors and the mob before Him. The unsaved thief was out of ALL hope for any good outcome, only awaiting a unthinkably painful end. But his pride and his denial of God would not let Him ask Jesus any questions - but wouldn't one think he at least would have been curious? Not to mention that, as Jesus gave up His spirit, the bible records there was darkness over the entire land (and eclipse) and Matthew 27 says there was immediately and earthquake ("And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.") And then, in the aftermath of these incredible things, Matthew records that, "When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Did the unsaved thief think all of these things were mere coincidences? Here we have a hardened pagan, a Roman centurion, a man who had seen many grim things, who not only had concluded this must be God's Son, but he was so amazed he actually exclaimed it in front of everyone there. They all must have been in great fear at that point! And yet, the unsaved thief never turns to Jesus, as he was determined to hideously die in both his flesh and spirit.
Remarkably, modern scientists have noted that an eclipse occurred at the likely time / day of Jesus' Crucifixion. On the NASA website, discussing eclipses of ancient times, it currently notes: "Eclipses also appear in religious texts. Christian texts mention that the Moon turned to blood after Jesus’s crucifixion – potentially referring to a lunar eclipse, during which the Moon takes on a reddish hue. Using this textual source, scholars narrowed down a possible date of crucifixion to Friday, April 3, 33 C.E. because a lunar eclipse occurred that day." And the Huffington Post, on it's website (May 25, 2012), reports that: "The International Geology Review investigated an earthquake that was said to have occurred the same date as Jesus' crucifixion. Biblical citations combined with geological research suggest the date may have been Friday April 3, 33 A.D."
The ultimate reality is BOTH thieves had the exact same evidences and identical experiences per what they had each observed of Jesus, as well what they already knew about Him. And so the ONE thief opened his heart to Jesus and pursued Him. But the OTHER, in his pride, refused to - and yet, a lack of evidence about Jesus was never his problem!
Lastly, the saved thief offers another important observation: It's never too late to come to Christ, to be saved! That miserable (saved) thief's expressed faith, dying in agony, with no good works or ANYTHING to have made himself acceptable to Jesus, nonetheless found His favor and promise of eternal life. As in showing and testifying of his faith in Who Jesus was / IS (God / Messiah / Savior!) this thief DID find acceptance and the promise of eternal life in bliss with Jesus forever! And note that NO one can ever be good enough for God to grant eternal life - as it's only through committing one's heart and mind to Jesus that God finds acceptable and desirable.
God makes salvation (for US) simple - so, don't make it complicated! God will provide the evidence of Himself He KNOWS you need, but not necessarily the evidence you DEMAND or insist you must have to believe. You see, God knows what evidence you LEGITIMATELY require to respond to His truths and wooing, vs. what you might exclaim you need. And He wants to show you more and more, so as to lead you into belief an faith. The question is, what are you doing with the evidences He has already made known to you. He knows when you have enough evidence to pursue Him further. And He also knows when you've had SUFFICIENT evidence that you've nonetheless refused to respond to - as for such people, a lack of EVIDENCE is NOT their REAL issue. Their real issue is often, and sadly, that they simply don't want anything to do with God. And so, God gives everyone free will - He will not force you to submit to Him in faith. But He DOES have eternal consequences for the one who permanently denies Him.
SEEK God and find your glorious ETERNAL life with Him!
Philip
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)