THE SUPERNATURAL BOOK

I know that there are billions of human beings in the world today that do not believe the Bible is the work of God, and I also know nothing I can say will change that. I have quoted Scripture to offer proof in the past, but that is as useless as quoting Mark Twain to prove Tom Sawyer lived. I have offered the scientific evidence of Bode's Law which demonstrates that our solar system is laid out in a mathematical design, which would then in turn, necessitate there be a Designer. And I have offered my own personal testimony as a former atheist who, having believed the Word and experienced salvation, have an ongoing relationship with the Creator that has on occasion, included hearing God speak to me. So I am sure that what I am about to share will probably have the same result. Nevertheless, I pray some reading it will become intrigued if not convinced.

There were three men present at the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ whose lives were forever change when they understood Who it was that occupied the center cross. The thief on the cross next to Him who was apparently a Jew because he acknowledged "the King of the Jews" future kingdom (Lk. 23:38-43); the Roman Centurion who having initially mocked Him later recognized Him as "the Son of God" (compare Lk. 23:36 w/ Mk. 15:39); and Simon of Cyrene (Matt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21; Lk. 23:26). One might ask what evidence is there that Simon was converted by what he saw, and what significance do these three play in proving the Bible is supernatural. Let me try to explain.

In Acts 11:20, Luke tells his readers that there were men from Cyrene preaching Jesus Christ at Antioch. In Acts 13:1, he tells us that Simeon (Simon) was nicknamed "Niger," which means "black one." That is because Cyrene was a city in North Africa, and Simon was a black man. Antioch was fond of giving men nicknames, and they even gave the Church the name "Christians" (Acts 13:26). They had also named Joseph "Barnabas," and Saul "Paul." Simon's wife, the mother of Rufus, was a nurturer of Paul when he spent a year at Antioch (compare Mk. 15:21; Rom. 16:13; Acts 11:26). Although the Word does not specifically say that Simon was saved at the cross of Jesus, it is very unlikely that it did not play a major role in his conversion. So, the three changed by that horrible event were the thief, the soldier, and the black man.

I am sure some reading this are wondering what is so miraculous about these three. The answer is that they represent the lineage of the three sons of Noah. From Genesis 10:1-32, we understand that Japheth's offspring settled in what we would call, Euro-Asia (the Roman Centurion's area); Japheth's offspring lived in the area known as the Fertile Crescent from where Abraham came (the Jew on the cross); and Ham's offspring occupied Africa (Simon was from Africa). While I realize the skeptic will say these connections are based upon very flimsy evidence, those of us who know the Lord have absolutely no problem recognizing this "coincidence" as further proof of the Bible's authorship. Praise God.