On the morning of July 2, 1881 Charles J. Guiteau shot President James A. Garfield in a Washington D.C. train station. Immediately he was apprehended as doctors rushed to tend to the wounded President. These trained doctors proceeded to probe Garfield’s wounds with their unwashed fingers and unsanitized surgical instruments. Over the next eleven weeks this practice would continue and, unsurprisingly, infection set in resulting in the President’s death on September 19, 1881.

When Charles Guiteau was finally brought to trial his appointed lawyers entered an insanity defense. But Guiteau would contend with the court that he was not guilty, saying, “The doctors killed Garfield, I just shot him” (http://www.pbs.org).

It is interesting how some people refuse to recognize the truth. Garfield’s chief physician, Dr. Doctor Willard Bliss boasted, “If I can’t save him, no one can” (Mark A. Lombardi, The Garfield Observer). Most today acknowledge this as an empty boast.

When John spoke of Jesus as the embodiment of truth, a truth that will endure through all generations, it was not an empty boast (John 1:14). Jesus also makes that claim, a claim He can easily back up (John 14:6). You can trust Him. You MUST trust Him (Acts 4:12)!

– David Bragg