Jesus Christ—Fact or Fiction?
By: Charles F. Strong
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Jesus Christ—Fact or Fiction?
by Charles F. Strong
www.bibleone.net
The authenticity of Jesus Christ has been in the past, is today and will
always be a hot topic of inquiry for skeptics, both those who are sincere and
those who are not. And there are certain facts regarding Christ that pose
questions even for Christians and truth-searchers of every type. Such questions
as:
· Can we know for sure if He ever existed?
· Did He claim to be God, and if so, what is the significance of
this fact?
· Was He really born of a virgin?
· Did He really rise from the dead, and if so, what is the
importance of this event?
· Aren’t there contradictions in the resurrection story of Christ?
· What is the importance of the death of Jesus Christ on the
cross?
This article will endeavor to answer these questions, maybe not to the
complete satisfaction of the skeptical mind, but it should at least give rise to
plausible thought on which to build for the honest truth-searcher, and will
clarify for the Christian the person and work of His Lord and Savior.
Can we know for sure if Jesus Christ ever existed?
There are many who claim that Jesus never existed, that He was only a
mythical character. But those who make such a claim are not historians, and, if
sincere, are ignorant of the facts. The world has more information about the
life of Jesus Christ than just about any other person of the ancient world. His
birth, life, death and resurrection are revealed in much more detail than most
ancient figures whose existence is taken for granted by historians. Consider the
following:
1. The New Testament contains 27 separate documents that were written in
the first century A.D. by eyewitnesses of the life and works of Jesus Christ
and which chronicles firsthand testimony to what they had seen and heard.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
concerning the Word of Life—the Life was manifested, and we have seen, and
bear witness, and declare to you that Eternal Life which was with the Father
and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to
you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is
with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)
2. The existence of Jesus Christ is recorded by the Jewish historian,
Flavius Josephus, who was born in A.D. 37.
Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call
him 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.
He was (the) Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal
men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the
first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third
day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other
wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from
him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities, XVIII, III)
3. The Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (A.D. 112) referred to Jesus
Christ and the Christians in Rome when he wrote about the reign of Nero (Annals,
XV; 44). He further, in his Histories, referred to Christianity
when mentioning the burning of the temple of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which
record was preserved by Sulpicius Severus (Chronicles, 30:6).
Additionally, the Roman historian Seutonius (A.D. 120) referred to Jesus or
His followers in “Life of Claudius” (A.D. 112) in his Epistles, X,
96.
4. Writings from Jewish Rabbis (circa A.D. 40-180) in the Talmud and
other Jewish writings refer to Jesus Christ, i.e., His “hanging” (on a
cross) on the eve of Passover, His identification along with the names of
five of His disciples, certain healings in His name and scoffing at the
“claim” that He was born of a virgin—implying His birth was probably
“illegitimate.”
5. Almost all major religions—those for and against Him—acknowledge the
existence of Jesus Christ. For hundreds of years His existence was widely
accepted as George Washington’s existence is accepted today. It is only in
recent history that His existence has been seriously challenged. The
enormity of early manuscripts referring to Jesus Christ is far and above any
record of anyone who has ever lived upon earth. These manuscripts exceed
24,000, the earliest were written within 25 years of Jesus’ death. No work
of antiquity approaches the Bible’s documentary credibility, including
all works that are accepted as historical fact. For example:
Major Existing Manuscripts
Early Records From
Event to First Existing Manuscript
Gallic Wars—Julius Caesar
10
1000 years
History—Pliny the Younger
7
750 years
History—Thucydides
8
1300 years
History—Herodotus
8
1300 years
Iliad—Homer
643
500 years
(Second most prevalent writing)
The New Testament
24,000+
25 years
For the serious (genuine) truth-searcher in this matter, the following
masterful work by Josh McDowell is recommended, which contain a much more
complete list of references of ancient writers, both Christian and
non-Christian, who mention Christ and His followers, not to mention a mountain
of other evidentiary proofs pertaining to Jesus Christ: The New Evidence that
Demands a Verdict, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999.
To deny the existence of Jesus Christ in light of historical evidence is
indication of either serious ignorance; or, more likely, the predisposition of a
totally biased mind regarding the subject. Even the renowned Encyclopedia
Britannica with approximately 20,000 words uses more space regarding Jesus
Christ than it does for Aristotle, Cicero, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Buddha,
Confucius, Mohammed or Napoleon Bonaparte.
Did Jesus Christ claim to be God, and if so, what is the significance of this
fact?
Among religious leaders who have had significant impact on earth, Jesus
Christ alone claimed to be God in human flesh. [Please note that this writer
does not consider Christianity to be a “religion,” rather he sees it strictly as
a “union” or “relationship” with the person of Jesus Christ; for “religion”
implies meritorious works in order to achieve the approbation or approval of
God, whereas, in Christianity this is achieved only “by grace through faith” in
Jesus Christ] In all major religions the teachings—not the teacher—are
all-important. Islam stresses the revelation of Allah, not Muhammad who is only
a prophet. Buddhism emphasizes the principles of the Buddha and not Buddha
himself. The same is true of Confucianism and Hinduism (which has no one single
identifiable founder).
In Christianity the person of Jesus Christ is preeminent over any of its
teachings. It is not that the teachings of Christ are unimportant, but the
identity and nature of Jesus was and is vastly more important. The center of
Christianity is the person of Jesus Christ. The claims of Jesus Christ are many
and varied, as follows:
· He existed before Abraham (John 8:58)
· He was equal with God the Father (John 5:17, 18; Philippians
2:6-11; Colossians 2:9)
· He was the image of God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3)
· He could forgive sins, which only God can do (Mark 2:5-7;
Isaiah 43:25)
· He is the Creator of the universe (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16,
17)
· He is the Sustainer of the universe (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews
1:3)
· He claimed to be and was declared to be God manifest in the
flesh (John 1:1, 14; 8:19; 10:25-33; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 1 Timothy
3:16; 1 John 5:20)
· He claimed that to see Him was to see God the Father (John
14:8, 9)
· He received worship, homage reserved only for God (John
4:20-24; Acts 8:27; Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; Matthew 8:2; John 9:35-39;
Matthew 14:33)
Jesus Christ and Jehovah of the Old Testament shared the following titles and
actions:
ü Creator
Isaiah 40:28—John 1:3
ü Savior
Isaiah 43:11; 45:22—John 4:42
ü Raise the dead
1 Samuel 2:6—John 5:21
ü Judge
Joel 3:12—John 5:27; Matthew 25:31-46
ü Light
Isaiah 60:19, 20—John 8:12
ü “I AM”
Exodus 3:14—John 8:58; 18:5, 6
ü Shepherd
Psalm 23:1—John 10:11
ü Glory of God
Isaiah 42:8; 48:11—John 17:1, 5
ü First and Last
Isaiah 41:4; 44:6—Revelation 1:17; 2:8
ü Redeemer
Hosea 13:14—Revelation 5:9
ü Bridegroom
Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16—Revelation 21:2
ü Rock
Psalm 18:2—1 Corinthians 10:4
ü Forgiver of sins
Jeremiah 31:34—Mark 2:7, 10
ü Worshipped by angels Psalm 148:2—Hebrews
1:6
ü Addressed in prayer
Copious OT references—Acts 7:59
ü Creator of angels
Psalm 148:5—Colossians 1:16
ü Confessed as Lord
Isaiah 45:23—Philippians 2:11
Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be or He is the greatest and most
influential imposter that has ever lived on earth. Considering the fact that
Jesus Christ was not in a position of public importance—He was not a king or
prominent leader, but only a lowly carpenter from a small town with only a
3-year ministry—and that a major (intensive) historical effort was made to
eradicate all writings about Him, not to mention the significant number of
accurate manuscripts that have survived in spite of the absence of a printing
press and the existence of a small “world population” during and following His
days, it is akin to miraculous that both His record and His “movement” have
survived these thousands of years and have had such major impact upon mankind.
An overpowering statistical proof for Jesus Christ is found in the hundreds
of Old Testament prophecies concerning Him that came true 100% of the time. A
well-known once-atheist by the name of Ralph O. Muncaster finally came to
totally accept the Bible as God’s Word and Jesus Christ as God in the flesh
largely due to the overwhelming proof of fulfilled prophecy, a product of
the Bible that is found in no “religion” (major or small) on earth—for only God
knows the end before the beginning. Mr. Muncaster embark on his concentrated
effort (investigative study that lasted over many years) to disprove the Bible
and the claims of Jesus Christ. But during it he found that the hundreds of
prophecies in the Old Testament that came true in every single detail in the
person, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was undeniable and
compelling (proof-positive) evidence that Jesus Christ was truly who He claimed
to be. Readers are encouraged to read Mr. Muncaster’s book, A Skeptic’s
Search for God.
The most convincing evidence that Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be
resides in the historical fact of His resurrection, which will be discussed
later. But if indeed Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, God in human flesh,
this makes Him the most important personage that has ever existed upon the face
of this earth. Furthermore, if indeed He was God in the flesh, it makes His
purpose for coming to earth and His activity upon it the most important
consideration (issue) for every single person to understand and act upon. And
finally, if indeed Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, the most grievous error
any person can make is to ignore Him and the grace-gift of eternal salvation
that He so freely offers to everyone.
Was Jesus Christ really born of a virgin?
The Bible is clear in stating that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. Seven
hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah said, “Therefore
the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and
bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah
7:14) This prophecy was fulfilled and portrayed in Luke 1:26-37:
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. . . . Then the
angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and
shall call His name JESUS.” . . . Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this
be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow
you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son
of God. . . . For with God nothing will be impossible.”
There are several reasons for the necessity of the virgin birth, as follows:
· It was predicted, as above (Isaiah 7:14)
· Christ, as the second person of the God-head, always existed;
therefore, He could not have had an actual beginning via a normal birth (John
1:1-3, 14; 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15, 16)
· It was critical that Jesus Christ become flesh without the
involvement of man’s seed, which is how the sinful nature is passed down to
every human being, so that He would have a sinless nature. It was necessary
that He be without sin in order that He could be the perfect sacrifice for
sinful man.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth". . . . who
Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to
sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (1
Peter 2:22, 24)
And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him
there is no sin. (1 John 3:5)
· It was necessary for Jesus Christ to be born without the
involvement of Joseph so that He could have legal right to the throne of
David (Isaiah 9:6, 7; Luke 1:32), as predicted in prophecy.
According to the prophecy of Jeremiah 22:28-30, there could be no
king in Israel who was a descendant of King Jeconiah, and Matthew 1:12
relates that Joseph was from the line of Jeconiah. If Jesus had been sired
by Joseph, He could not have inherited the throne of David, since Joseph was
a relative of the cursed line.
The virgin birth is recorded as a historical fact in the Bible by Matthew who
was an eyewitness to the events in the life of Christ, and by Luke who was a
doctor who presented many things in the life of Christ from the viewpoint of
Mary, Christ’s earthly mother. The passage within the books of Matthew
and Luke are authentic, with no evidence at all of any later additions to
the text. The doctrine of the virgin birth has been believed and supported by
the church from its beginning. Ignatius (early second century) wrote to the
Ephesians and said, “For our God, Jesus the Christ was conceived in the womb of
Mary, according to a dispensation, of the seed of David but also of the Holy
Ghost.” The virgin birth of Christ is a historical fact.
Did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead, and if so, what is the importance
of this event?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. It
stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “If the Resurrection is
not historic fact, then the power of death remains unbroken, and with it the
effect of sin; and the significance of Christ’s Death remains uncertified, and
accordingly believers are yet in their sins, precisely where they were before
they heard of Jesus’ name.” –W. J. Sparrow-Simpson.
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do
some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there
is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is
not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes,
and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God
that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do
not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if
Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then
also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (1
Corinthians 15:12-19)
Jesus Christ is certified or proven authentic in His nature and work through
three basic credentials. They are (1) His miracles and teachings, (2)
fulfilled prophecy in and by His life, and (3) His resurrection. All three are
extraordinarily important; but, the resurrection is preeminent—the “crown jewel”
of the three. For it best stands as certifiable proof that Jesus Christ
was who He and Scripture said He was, Deity in human form—God in human flesh.
And this fact is of paramount importance to the Christian Faith, for if Jesus
Christ was not this then He could not have paid the penalty-price for the sins
of the world and there would be no salvation from eternal damnation for mankind.
The very truth of Christianity is based on the historic and bodily
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All three of the above listed credentials confirm Jesus Christ as
truly unique from the founders of the world’s major religions, but it is His
resurrection that officially validates this uniqueness.
All but four of the major world religions are based on mere philosophical
propositions. Of the four that are based on personalities rather than on a
philosophical system, only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its
founder. Abraham, the father of Judaism, died about 1900 B.C., but no
resurrection was ever claimed for him.
Wilbur M. Smith says in Therefore Stand: “The original accounts of
Buddha never ascribe to him any such thing as a resurrection; in fact, in
the earliest accounts of his death, namely, the ‘Mahaparinibbana Sutta,; we
read that when Buddha died it was ‘with that utter passing away in which
nothing whatever remains behind.’” (Smith, TS, 385)
“Professor Childers says, ‘There is no trace in the Pali
scriptures or commentaries (or so far as I know in any Pali book) of Sakya
Muni having existed after his death or appearing to his disciples.’ Mohammed
died June 8, 632 A.D., at the age of sixty-one, at Medina, where his tomb is
annually visited by thousands of devout Mohammedans. All the millions and
millions of Jews, Buddhists, and Mohammedans agree that their founders have
never come up out of the dust of the earth in resurrection.” (Childers, as
cited in Smith, TS, 385) (The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict
by Josh McDowell)
Although there have been efforts throughout the centuries to deny the
historic fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; fortunately for mankind, the
resurrection of Christ is one of the most well-attested historical events in the
ancient world. Consider the following listing of facts taken from Ralph O.
Muncaster’s What Is the Proof for the Resurrection?, Harvest House
Publishers, 2000:
1. Empty tomb
The tomb was empty on the third day following the death of Christ (Matthew
28:1-11; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20, 21). Those who opposed Christ at
that time would have done anything to find the body and silence the
resurrection story forever, but this could not be accomplished.
The empty tomb is even more significant in light of the Roman guard
compliment assigned to guard the tomb (in order to prevent theft of body,
which would have inflamed the resurrection story). Such a guard would have
consisted of 16 soldiers, with a disciplined rotation for sleeping at night
(every four hours, four would switch). The guards all faced the rigid Roman
penalty of crucifixion if they slept outside of the assigned shift or
deserted their post—to believe that all guards fell asleep, especially in
light of the penalty for sleeping “on the job,” is entirely unreasonable.
A two-ton stone was rolled in front of the tomb, which contained Pontius
Pilate’s seal and by law could not be disturbed without the guard’s
approval—to do otherwise meant crucifixion upside down.
To believe, as is often advanced, that the disciples stole the body while
the guards were asleep and protected by the priests from the governor (a
story necessary because no one ever could produce a dead body of Christ) is
a theft hardly possible in light of (1) all 16 guards would have risked the
death penalty, (2) the state of shock, fear and disarray of the disciples
indicates that it is entirely unreasonable that they could have quickly
created such a plan and flawlessly executed it, and (3) the disciples would
not have motive since if Christ was not the Son of God as He claimed,
stealing the body would create a lie with no apparent benefit, and death
for no purpose for the disciples.
2. Prophecies of the Old Testament
Since the foundation of the resurrection of Christ centers on His claim
as God in the flesh and since the undeniable rock-solid evidence, prior to
the resurrection, that this was true is seen from Old Testament prophecies,
which in themselves are proven as God-given because only God can know the
“end from the beginning,” the numerous fulfilled prophecies concerning
Christ in the Old Testament validates the reasonable conclusion of the
resurrection.
Of the 469 prophecies in the Old Testament, 467 have been verified (no
record of the other two). But the one’s pertaining to Christ (who He would
be, what He would do, when He would come and where He would be born, etc.)
all came true as predicted; and because these came true, there exists others
that will (reasonably believable) come true, which can only be if the
resurrection of Christ is true.
3. Prophecies by Jesus Christ
Jesus Himself prophesied precise details of His death and resurrection,
such as:
· His betrayal (Matthew 26:21; mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21,
22)
· His betrayer (Matthew 26:21-25)
· His disciples deserting Him (Matthew 26:31-35)
· Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:33, 34; Mark 14:29, 30; Luke
22:31-34)
· His crucifixion (John 3:14-16; 12:32-34)
· His death and resurrection on the third day; first time (Matthew
16:21-28; Mark 8:31—9:1; Luke 9:21-27; second time (Matthew
20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34); third time (Matthew
26:2-5; Mark 14:1-9)
· His after-resurrection reuniting with His disciples in
Galilee (Matthew 26:32)
4. Paul’s transformation
A particular strong proof of the resurrection is found in the Apostle
Paul, who was a dedicated and highly educated Pharisee and leading executor
of Christians, who gave up wealth, power and comfort upon personally seeing
the resurrected Christ. He subsequently, even in light of extreme
persecution, founded many local churches throughout the land and wrote most
of the New Testament. As a side note, several other “hostile witnesses”
(Sanhedrin members and even the natural brothers of Jesus) later became
believers after the resurrection.
5. Personal witnesses
Jesus Christ in His resurrected body appeared to the following witness:
· Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)
· Other women (Matthew 28:9)
· Cleopas and one other on the road to Emmaus (Luke
24:15-30)
· Eleven disciples and others (Luke 24:36-50)
· Ten disciples, Thomas absent (John 20:19)
· Eleven disciples, including Thomas (John 20:26-29)
· Disciples at the sea of Galilee (John 21:1)
· Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5)
· 500 brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6)
· Eleven disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:17)
· James (1 Corinthians 15:7)
· Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:8)
6. Proliferation (explosion) of manuscripts
The Christian record is by far the most documented series of historic
events of all time with existing early manuscripts exceeding 24,000—the
earliest being written within 25 years of the death of Christ, this in spite
of concerted efforts since His death to eradicate all such records. These
documents (manuscripts) were passed on down through the centuries by skilled
scribes who followed a set of extremely exacting set of rules designed to
insure transmissions of sacred documents without error.
Although critics of the Bible attempt to cast doubt on it by saying it
was under the control of the Roman Catholic Church, which supposedly had
“opportunity and motive” to change Scripture to meet its purpose,” there are
two indisputable sets of records that mankind has in its possession today
that were not historically controlled by the Christian church and
which verify the authenticity of the message contained in the words of the
Bible of today—the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
7. Rapid growth of believers
The truth and life of Christ has caused the rapid formation of an
enormous body of believers that has survived the most focused and intensive
persecution of all time.
8. Non-Christian evidence
Non-Christian historians and writers have recorded facts about Jesus
Christ, His disciples, and the resurrection—Thallus (circa A.D. 52);
Josephus (circa A.D. 64-93); Cornelius Tacitus (A.D. 64-116);
Pliny the Younger (circa A.D. 112); Hadrian (circa A.D.
117-138); Suetonius (circa A.D. 120); Phlegon (circa A.D.
140); Lucian of Samosata (circa A.D. 170); and Mara Bar-Serapion
(circa A.D. 70)
9. Disciples’ martyrdom
Eleven of Christ’s disciples, who certainly knew the truth of the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, willingly and even joyfully died in
support of these historical (actual) events. Martyrdom for a belief is not
unique, but what kind of person would die for a known lie? The answer
is only someone who is insane, which may be true of one or possible two of
this group, if one wished to argue the points, but would certainly be most
reasonably untrue of all eleven. For them to continue lying, if in fact
Christ did not rise from the dead, would serve no purpose since Jesus’
ministry would then be moot. Yet history records that they willingly died
cruel deaths for their beliefs via stoning, crucifixion, beheading, and
other brutal methods.
10. Historical martyrdom
Underneath Rome lie some 900 miles of carved caves where over seven
million Christians, executed for their beliefs, were buried. Other believers
hid and worshiped in these caves during the height of Christian persecution.
The earliest known inscriptions in the walls were dated A.D. 70. Some early
occupants probably communicated directly with eyewitnesses of Jesus. Since
about A.D. 400, the Catacombs were buried and “forgotten” for over 1000
years.
In 1578 they were rediscovered by accident. Today they can be seen as
silent memorials to many who died rather than curse Jesus or bow down to an
emperor’s statue. Christian martyrs differed greatly from other world
martyrs in that historical facts were the foundation of their
beliefs—facts verifiable at the time—not just ideas. (What Is the
Proof for the Resurrection by Ralph O. Muncaster)
11. Jewish record
Even those who were violently opposed to Jesus provide historical
evidence, including hundreds of prophecies, prophetic feasts, and references
in writings such as the Talmud.
12. Archaeology
Evidence that the people in Jesus’ time believed in the resurrection is
found on caskets of bones (ossuaries) discovered in a sealed tomb outside
Jerusalem in 1945. Coins minted in about A.D. 50 were found inside the
caskets, dating the burial within about 20 years of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Markings are clearly legible, including several statements reflecting
knowledge of Jesus’ ability to overcome death. Examples of writings (in
Greek) of hope for deceased loved ones include: “Jesus, Help” and “Jesus,
Let Him Arise.” The caskets also contain several crosses, clearly marked in
charcoal. This is powerful evidence that early Christians believed in Jesus’
ability to triumph over death. It also ties the idea of victory over death
to the cross. (What Is the Proof for the Resurrection by Ralph O.
Muncaster)
Aren’t there contradictions in the resurrection story of Jesus Christ?
Skeptics like to point out apparent differences as being “contradictions” in
the four Gospel narratives pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But
these differences ultimately confirm the truthfulness of these accounts, rather
than refute them. If all four Gospel accounts gave verbatim the details of the
resurrection, immediate suspicion would arise as to collusion (conspiracy and
complicity) regarding the matter.
The truth is that none of the four Gospel accounts gives all the details of
what transpired. Regarding any event of history personally observed and recorded
by four witnesses, no series of records would produce “eye-witness” accounts
exactly the same, detail for detail. One would highlight specific elements of
the occurrence, leaving out others; whereas another would recall and emphasize
others facets of the event.
A close examination of each Gospel account of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ reveal that none of the details contradict any others but indeed they
correlate together to supply the larger picture. The variations the Gospel
writers chose to include in their resurrection narratives consist of details
that in no way jeopardize the overall story.
One of the seeming contradictions that bother people concerns the time
the women came to the tomb, related differently by John and Mark. Mark’s
account has the women coming to the tomb at the rising of the sun, while
John states that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb when it was dark.
This difficulty is solved when it is realized that the women had to walk
quite some distance to the reach the grave, since they stayed in Jerusalem
or Bethany. It was dark when they left the place in which they were staying,
but when they arrived at the tomb the sun was beginning to shine. Therefore,
Mark is speaking of their arrival, while John refers to their departure.
The area which has generated the most discussion concerns the angels who
were at the tomb of Jesus. Matthew and Mark relate that one angel addressed
the women, while Luke and John say that two angels were at the tomb. . . .
[This does not contradict because] one of the angels served as the
spokesman for the two . . . . There is no need to assume a discrepancy.
Though they report some of the details differently, the Gospels agree in
all important points. (Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About
the Christian Faith by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., 1980)
What is the importance of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross?
Whereas the resurrection of Jesus Christ concretely verified that He was God
in the flesh, it was on the cross that He presented Himself as the spotless
(sinless) Lamb of God and on which in one magnanimous and loving act of God’s
grace He made it possible for everyone who has ever and will ever draw breath
upon the face of the earth to have eternal life. It was for this act of love and
grace upon the cross of Calvary that God in the person of Jesus Christ left the
glory of heaven.
The facts are these:
First
God created you, loves you and wants you to personally know Him.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's
womb. (Psalm 139:13)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
Second
Because of your sins you are spiritually dead (separated from God).
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23)
For the wages of sin is death…. (Romans 6:23)
But your sins have separated you from your God…. (Isaiah 59:2)
Third
God does not want you to perish in your sin, but wants you to be saved (have
eternal life).
He [God] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish…. (2
Peter 3:9)
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved
and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3, 4)
Fourth
You can do nothing to save yourself, i.e., your works or any system of
religion won’t do it.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
(Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Fifth
Only Jesus Christ can save you.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Sixth
Jesus Christ provided for your salvation with His sacrifice and resurrection,
by which He took your sins and “became your sins” upon the cross to pay the
penalty for your sins (spiritual death) in your place.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God…. (1 Peter 3:18)
God made Him [Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians
5:21)
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried,
that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1
Corinthians 15:3, 4)
Seventh
You need to turn to Jesus Christ alone in faith alone for your personal
salvation. This means that you are in the same instance turning from anything
and everything else this world declares can save you (this is true biblical
repentance), such as good works, religion, other persons, education or any
philosophies. It is only by a genuine and conscious act of your will of
placing your total confidence (trust, belief, faith) in Jesus Christ and His
sacrifice on the cross that you can be saved. Once you make this decision of
faith in Christ you are "instantly" saved, given eternal life that can never be
taken away.
Yet to all who received Him [Christ], to those who believed in His
name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this
[salvation is] not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians
2:8)
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