Evidence of Jesus: Part 2

The Search for Evidence

From last week's discussion, we delve deeper into the evidence for Jesus, particularly the evidence supporting Jesus as the promised Messiah to the Jews. We aim to provide hardcore, objective evidence to substantiate this claim.

Was Jesus the Messiah?

In our previous discussion, we established the belief that a man named Yeshua, regarded as the Messiah, existed. The question now is, what evidence supports his identity as the Messiah? One aspect to explore is Old Testament prophecy. While the prophecies alone do not necessarily prove his Messiahship, they become significant if a man named Jesus fulfilled them. The fulfilment of certain prophecies and the existence of eyewitness testimony, especially when abundant, can strongly indicate that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Historical Records

Josephus

When looking at historical records, Josephus is a central figure. He wrote about Jesus, describing him as a wise man, a doer of wonderful works, and a teacher. Josephus noted that Jesus drew many Jews and Gentiles, was condemned to the cross, and appeared alive on the third day, fulfilling divine prophecy. Christians, descended from Jesus, were still present in his day. Despite being a devout Jew, Josephus's account is regarded as reliable history, as it is consistent with other historical facts from 70 AD.

Tacitus (or Tacitus)

Apart from Josephus, there are other sources like Tacitus—or as some might say, Cetus—another Roman historian. He provides corroborative evidence for Jesus's existence outside of Christian texts. Although there's a debate about pronunciation, what remains essential is the contribution of these historians in piecing together the historical evidence of Jesus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while debates over pronunciation and interpretation continue, historical sources like Josephus and Tacitus provide compelling evidence for the existence of Jesus and his impact as perceived by contemporaries. These accounts, along with fulfilled prophecies and eyewitness testimonies, form a reasonable basis for viewing Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Exploring Biblical Prophecy and Historical Evidence

I'm sticking with Decetus, though the Latins got it wrong, and I got it right. Hillan's safe. No one's from the orbit, so we have to play air again. I haven't looked at these sources in a while, so I'm a bit rusty. These sources are easily found; you can read about them, and even a brief Google search can help.

Trustworthy Testimonies: Josephus, Paul, and the Gospels

When looking at the testimonies of the Gospels, they themselves can't be trusted entirely. However, what Josephus wrote directly confirms many of the claims of the Gospels. The letters of Paul are very good, especially First Corinthians, with the creed in there, which is also very important historically.

Josephus and the Messiah

The bottom line is that Josephus is the primary external biblical factor suggesting that Jesus was the Messiah. Do we have anything else besides that to appeal to as Christians?

Biblical Prophecy and Its Implications

Let's delve into biblical prophecy. I'm a bit rusty on this topic as I haven't discussed it in a while. Isaiah 53 is a very significant scripture, but Jews often disagree about it being a messianic prophecy, similar to Psalm 22.

Psalm 22 and Its Foreshadowing

In Psalm 22, there's something very interesting. When I read it, it describes exactly what happened to Jesus hundreds of years before his time. It even describes crucifixion before it was ever invented. Crucifixion was invented by the Persians in 400 BC, and Psalms was written before that. David describes, "They nailed my hands and my feet," and "They divided my garments among them," which are very remarkable premonitions.

Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53 talks about the Lord's suffering servant, how he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. These prophecies align directly with the life of Jesus, making it difficult to claim all these things were coincidences.

Understanding Skepticism

Some might say that those who wrote the Gospels created a narrative to fit Old Testament prophecies decades after Jesus' life and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., but that's just internal evidence supporting internal evidence.

External Validation of Gospel Claims

The issue with that line of thinking is the possibility of Josephus not confirming the reports. Confirmation from non-Christian sources, like Josephus, strengthens the claims of the Gospel. Paul's letters are crucial here, too. Even as a Christian and early founder of the church, Paul was not a Gospel writer. His writings claimed essential elements of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The Importance of Internal Change

May I add a personal note? While I do appreciate the fulfillment of prophecies and the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, what matters most to me is the internal evidence I have—how Christ changed my life. This internal transformation is the most critical piece of evidence. If someone transitions from being a proud, arrogant sinner to a humble person through this internal change, that holds significant weight.

Walking by the Spirit: Individual Experience vs. Objective Truth

Introduction

For some, walking by the Spirit as a Christian is a more compelling evidence of faith than any other measure. It's believed that personal experiences cannot be easily dismissed or manipulated by skeptics, making them integral to one's faith journey.

The Importance of Context in Debates

In debates, especially with atheists, knowing the historical and scientific context of your faith is crucial. Subjective experiences alone may not suffice in these discussions, and an appeal to historical and scientific evidence can strengthen one's argument. Without this context, there's a risk of being dismissed or embarrassed during debates.

Role-Playing Faith and Skepticism

The Believer and the Atheist

To explore this further, consider a scenario where believers share their personal experience with Jesus, citing it as life-changing. Skeptics, however, may argue that truth is not subjective and must be based on scientific and historical evidence. They might suggest that what believers perceive as divine intervention could simply be neural or emotional responses.

Objective Truth vs. Subjective Experience

Critics also point out that other religions, such as Islam, have followers who claim transformative experiences. How does one reconcile these experiences with one's faith? For instance, Malcolm X’s vision of Muhammad that changed his life poses a challenge to the exclusivity of Christian experiences.

Seeking Objective Grounds

The discussion boils down to whether one should base their beliefs on scientific and historical evidence or personal experiences. For the skeptic, objective truths serve as a stable foundation, whereas believers find their experiences to be irrefutable evidence.

Conclusion

Debates on faith often reveal the tension between subjective experiences and the demand for objective evidence. While believers may find strength and transformation through their faith, skeptics assert that belief should be grounded in verifiable truths. This ongoing dialogue reflects the complexity of reconciling different perspectives on truth and faith.

Join Us Next Week

We'll be continuing our exploration with a Q&A session next week. We welcome your comments and questions—join us then!

Note: There was a playful mention of Richard Dawkins in the transcript, hinting at the continuing relevance of debate between believers and atheists.