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Was there a Jesus?
We've all seen the Christmas ornaments and decorations showing a baby in a manger
named Jesus. At Easter there may be a rerun of an old movie about the life of
Jesus. If we don't hear someone praying to Jesus, most certainly everyday we hear
someone cursing with the name of Jesus. Jesus has been held responsible for the
group called Christians. Was there a real Jesus?
Ask yourself these questions?
- How do we learn about history?
- What are some facts we know about history?
- What are some disputed claims about history?
- What is the earliest thing you remember? How do you know anything happened
before then?
- How do you know something happened if you weren't there?
History and news comes to us from reports by other people. Even when news
is "live," we are relying on someone else to hold the microphone, or point the
camera in the right direction. We keep track of news, which becomes history,
through newspapers, magazines, recordings, video, books, computers, etc. Many
copies are made at the same time, and exact copies can be made later. There
may still be different interpretations of the facts, and some people may stress
or leave out different facts than others. When reports conflict with each other,
or other evidence, we can be sure one is wrong. When all the evidence agrees,
for history we must accept it. As new information is uncovered, our knowledge
of history is altered or confirmed.
Let's look at some of the historical evidence for Jesus.
The Bible contains four different biographies of the man named Jesus. Several
of the authors hung out with Jesus for several years. Each reports the facts
slightly differently, but for the most part they agree with one another. Other
events, places, people, titles, etc. concerning Israel where Jesus lived at
that time are supported by other historical evidence. Other books in the New
Testament were also written by people who claimed to have known Jesus, or knew
people who had. They consistantly say the same thing, and claim to be true.
In addition to the Bible, there are other books of history written around
the same time that claim there was a man named Jesus. They may not agree with
His claim to be God, or look favorably on His followers, but they recognize
Jesus lived.
"But not all the relief that could come from
man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements
which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy
of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence
to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with
the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were
hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to
death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but
the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only
through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome
also." -- Cornelius Tacitus, 80-84 A.D. Annals
XV, writing about the reign of Nero
"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise
man, if it be lawful to call thim a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,
a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to
him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles."
-- Flavius Josephus, early 2nd c., Antiquities xviii
"...the man who was crucified in Palestine
because he introduced this new cult into the world ... Furthermore, their
first lawgiver persuaded them that they were all brothers one of another after
they have transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping
that crucified sophist himself and living under his laws."
-- Lucian, 2nd c., The Passing Peregruis
(These, and more quotes, may be found in "Evidence that Demands a Verdict,"
by Josh McDowell, Campus Crusade for Christ, copyright 1972, Chapter 5)
To reject the historical Jesus is to bring all history into question. For their
is more historical evidence for a man named Jesus than even more recent events
of history. Check it out.
Check these out
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied
by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?"
they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does
miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother
of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters' here with us?"
-- Mark 6:1-3 (NIV) |
"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept
by Jesus Christ." -- Jude 1:1 |
"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elija; and still others,
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 'But what about you?'
he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter replied,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." -- Matthew 16:13-16
(NIV) |
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To
the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings." -- James
1:1 |
"I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preasched
isnot something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor
was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely
I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing
in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for
the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth
and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that
I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did
I go up to Jersualem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I
went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after
three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed
with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles -- only James, the
Lord's brother." -- Galations 1: 11-20 (NIV) |
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