Ever noticed how Jesus did most of his miracles in front of his enemies?
Most people who are out to make a name for themselves gather together a bunch of "yes" people who agree with whatever their leader says. American politics works this way.
Jesus did just the opposite. He'd gather an audience of enemies (religious leaders who knew the Law and the Prophets) and put on a show. They couldn't stand his audacity--being so messianic.
He'd heal a blind man and then the religious leaders would quiz the man and his parents and witnesses to try to find a reason to discredit Jesus. At the end of the interview there was a blind man who could see, or a lame guy who could walk, or a dead man who was alive.
I'd like to see an American president go before his enemies and do works of such pure, personal goodness the opposition would have to concede something impressive had transpired. It wouldn't be that difficult, but it doesn't appear in the news very often.
I'm not talking about passing legislation or photo ops. I'm talking about personal, consistent hands-on service to others. Not theoretically, or institutionally, but personally. Jimmy Carter's Habitat work and other services impress me--and I'm a Republican, mostly.
Jesus did this sort of thing all the time--right before his opposition. They were speechless, clueless witnesses. They knew the prophecies, but couldn't put the pieces together. How could a reader of Isaiah's "suffering servant" passage watch Jesus and miss the striking similarities? How could they discount his warnings regarding the fall of Jerusalem?
In the end, Jesus' miraculous story was validated by his enemies, not his friends. That says something remarkable to me.
Sure, the Apostles were on board, but an insider's credibility is suspect. When an enemy watches something unbelievable and tries to explain it, their motives may not be great, but they are pure (antipathy). What the Jesus Legacy has that other religions don't is witnesses outside the circle of faith. These witnesses had nothing to gain and much to lose.
So, it seems Jesus' strongest historical witnesses were not believers, but unbelievers.
Jesus' lives because those who wished he hadn't couldn't prove he didn't.
