The first man to suffer martyrdom in defense of the Christian religion, founded by Christ Jesus, was Stephen. He was brought to judgment before the high priest for doing miracles, and was charged with stirring up the people. His defense was addressed to the unbelief of Israel by calling to remembrance how Moses "said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear" (Acts 7:37). And they stoned Stephen for making the words of Moses applicable to Jesus.
Why should there be such unbelief about the fulfillment of prophecy? Jesus said of this unbelief: "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me" (John 5:45, 46). Doubtless the unbeliever looks for a sign of his own making, instead of reading correctly the signs which God has already provided. Referring to these signs, Jesus said, "I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me" (John 5:36).
Here is an admission that the Father had assigned definite work to Jesus which he had to finish. The nature of that work Jesus made plain to the messengers of John the Baptist by recounting his own works of healing. (Matthew 11:2-6.) These miracles of Christian healing marked Jesus as the Way-shower to salvation, and these works of Christian healing provided proofs to the unbeliever that Jesus was God's anointed; for he said, "Though ye believe not me, believe the works" (John 10:38).
