Jesus - Historical Figure or Hoax?

Well what have I been up to today? I was supposed to be having a day off but I ended up visiting a school and talked to boys and girls about the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. I am reading a brilliant book about Jesus, at the moment. It's called 'More than a carpenter' by Josh McDowell. It's well worth a read.

The Lord Jesus Christ is no ordinary person. I make this statement in the present tense because the Lord Jesus is not just a figure of history but he is, today, still alive in heaven. I don't mean alive in the way we might think about a relative who has died and hope is now in heaven (as a Christian I believe people who have turned from their sin and accepted Jesus as their Saviour will be in heaven when they die but this is not my point at the moment). I mean that Jesus is alive, physically in heaven. Your response might be - impossible and unbelievable! 

The record of the life of Christ is all highly improbable if you ignore the key ingredient, God. I agree that believing that Jesus was more than a man, lived an absolutely faultless life, could do miracles, somehow became accountable for sin and evil and died to pay the price to deal with it on a cross outside Jerusalem and finally three days after his death came back to life. Add to that he lived on earth for forty days after his suffering, death and resurrection and physically rose from the earth and passed through the sky and space into the presence of His Father, God in heaven itself. On a purely rationale level this sounds like I am stretching facts and calling it truth! 

BUT WHAT IF......

A careful analysis of the facts points to Jesus being the Son of God!

The evidence points to it being statistically impossible for the historical predictions (the bible calls them prophecies) being fulfilled accurately being mere coincidence!

It was impossible to deceive so many historians and eye witnesses on a such a grand scale!

The probability of it being the truth is higher than the probability of it being a lie?

I believe that this is the truth of the matter. I believe that the evidence to the authenticity of the bible is there if you care to look for it. I believe there is no other honest conclusion that you can come to about who Jesus is if you are prepared to genuinely look at the facts.

In support of this the bible clearly states: 'these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life in his name', John 20:31. 

Visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk for more information. 

Books

Books have been published and produced for hundreds of years. Some people predicted their demise with the advent of modern technology, such as Kindles and other electronic devices for reading. 

However, as a visit to a bookshop makes clear, books are still being produced in large quantities in hard copy, both hardback and paperback. There are still vast numbers of people who love to hold a book and turn the pages, and many also find looking at a screen a numbing and difficult experience.  

Reading is vital for education and the gaining of information. The Apostle Paul, right up to the end of his life, maintained his reading regime as he asked, in the last letter he wrote addressed to Timothy, that books be forwarded to him and also the parchments (2 Timothy 4.13). The Apostle John, in a statement of hyperbole or exaggeration to make a point, said, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21.25). He indicates that we only have a sample in the Gospel accounts of the wonders and miracles performed by Jesus.  

To survive you must read!

In Western culture we almost take the ability to read for granted! It is unimaginable failing to educate people to a basic level where they can read and write, among many other skills. The ability to read is such a basic requirement for making your way through life.

The fact you understand what I am talking about in this blog means that you can read! Well, being honest, it means that you can translate the squiggles and strokes on the page or screen into words. If I am incapable of writing well or of expressing my ideas then you may read the words but have no idea what I'm trying to say. So reading with understanding is vital. 

Robert Burns and all that

During this last week of January many Scots people go out of their way to remember Rabbie Burns, the 18th century Ayrshire poet, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall. His life and his old Scots poems are remembered fondly on his birthday, withBurns’ competitions in schools and Burns’ Suppers in the evenings giving him and his poems publicity once again. There are hundreds of them - my favourite is “The Cottar’s Saturday Night”, and from “To a Mouse” I often quote “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley”.

 

Other famous writers from previous centuries are of course worth reading and remembering, such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Sir Walter Scott for example. Some contemporary authors are also widely read, according to people’s choice. But what you read and how it affects you is important, whether fiction or history, poetry or prose.

 

It's also important to remember that authors write for many different reasons. Some write to entertain and amuse, others to educate, inform and inspire, while others may write to deceive, mislead and spoil. So it is wise to choose your reading carefully!