Miracles & The Existence and Ressurection of Jesus

Miracles are not breaking the laws of nature. “All things being equal, things will follow the normal laws of nature” If God transcends time and reality then he absolutely has power to enact miracles, even through the processes of our world.

We’re going to focus on the world’s biggest miracle and the man who was at the center of it.

Existence of Jesus

How rare it is to even have mention of people from ancient history.

Millions of people existed in antiquity that we will never know about

Reliability of the Gospels

Alexander the Great 300 years Plutarch and Arian biography example

We have over 10, maybe 15, sources, biblical and extra biblical for Jesus

Extra Biblical Sources

Tacitus

Roman historian

A.D. 55-120

Known by many scholar as the greatest historian of ancient rome

Suetonius

Roman historian from the early second century A.D.

Chief secretary of Emperor Hadrian

Josephus

Jewish-Roman historian from the 1st century A.D.

Thallus

He wrote a history of the eastern mediterranean where he mentions darkness covering the sky in Judea and many other places. While his writing itself has been lost to history, in A.D. 221 Julius Africanus wrote that Thallus spoke of Jesus crucifixion and its connection to the eclipse and darkness.

Pliny the Younger

Roman author and administrator who served as the governor of Bithynia

He lived in the late first century A.D. and early second century A.D.

Persecuted Christian and reported back to the governor about what the Christians said about their worship. (They had stopped buy things to offer to idols and had converted to Christianity so it was hurting the local economy).

“That they were wont, on a stated day, to meet together before it was light, and to sing a hymn to Christ, as to a god, alternately; and to oblige themselves by a sacrament [or oath], not to do anything that was ill: but that they would commit no theft, or pilfering, or adultery; that they would not break their promises, or deny what was deposited with them, when it was required back again; after which it was their custom to depart, and to meet again at a common but innocent meal, which they had left off upon that edict which I published at your command, and wherein I had forbidden any such conventicles. These examinations made me think it necessary to inquire by torments what the truth was; which I did of two servant maids, who were called Deaconesses: but still I discovered no more than that they were addicted to a bad and to an extravagant superstition. Hereupon I have put off any further examinations, and have recourse to you, for the affair seems to be well worth consultation, especially on account of the number of those that are in danger; for there are many of every age, of every rank, and of both sexes, who are now and hereafter likely to be called to account, and to be in danger; for this superstition is spread like a contagion, not only into cities and towns, but into country villages also, which yet there is reason to hope may be stopped and corrected. To be sure, the temples, which were almost forsaken, begin already to be frequented; and the holy solemnities, which were long intermitted, begin to be revived. The sacrifices begin to sell well everywhere, of which very few purchasers had of late appeared; whereby it is easy to suppose how great a multitude of men may be amended, if place for repentance be admitted.”

Talmud

Toledoth Jesu

anti-Christian jewish document. Positis the idea of a grave robber to save face so people wouldn’t think Jesus had risen from the dead.

Lucian

A second century Greek satirist who didn’t think much of Christians

Mara Bar-Serapion

Lived sometime between the 1st and 3rd century A.D.

Early Extra Biblical Christian Sources

Clement of Rome

A.D. 35-99

Bishop of Rome

Wrote to the same Corinthians church that Paul did and we have that letter.

If you choose not to believe in Jesus you must doubt virtually every major figure from antiquity that you believe in.

Resurrection of Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:1-9

This passage contains an early creed dating back to within 5 years or less of the crucifixion. Some scholars actually place it within 6 months of the crucifixion.

Paul journeys to meet Peter and James in about A.D. 36 and probably heard it from them or from others in his time there.

This would have been useful to teach illiterate people in the church the basic truths of Christianity.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

* Historical Method (5 elements) * Historical claims are stronger when supported by multiple, independent sources. * Talk about the many sources for Jesus and vs Alexander the Great and the time between the lives of the person and the writings. If you don’t believe in the historical Jesus then you can’t believe in the majority of all of the persons of ancient history. * Historical claims which are also attested to by enemies are more likely to be authentic since enemies are unsympathetic, and often hostile, witnesses. * Historical claims which include embarrassing admissions reflect honest reporting rather than creative storytelling. * The disciples mention embarrassing stories of disbelief and mistakes in the Gospels. Why do so if it’s all false? You don’t see Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Buddha, or others doing this. * Historical claims are stronger when supported by eyewitness testimony. * Historical claims which are supported by early testimony are more reliable and less likely to be the result of legendary development

Nazareth Inscription

Now, add to those facts the finding of the Nazareth Inscription. This major archeological find comes straight from Nazareth (Jesus’ hometown). The inscription is dated AD 41 and is a later rescript of an edict put out by the Roman Emperor Claudius. The edict contained in the Nazareth Inscription lays out a warning from Claudius that anyone who removes a body from a tomb will be punished greatly (even possibly put to death).44 Within ten years of the resurrection, we have a Roman emperor aware of the events surrounding resurrection and the events are serious enough, in his eyes, to warrant an edict calling for the death of people removing bodies from tombs. It doesn’t say that grave robbery involving valuables will be punished, but rather the actual taking of a body. For Romans and Jews, the resurrection would have been an embarrassment that would have forced them to explain it away to keep their dignity in the situation. It’s no surprise that after such embarrassment, a Roman Emperor would have made such an edict. The Nazareth Inscription pushes forward even further the fact that the grave of Christ was empty. This means that we have to conclude that either the disciples stole the body and lived for a lie, or that Jesus actually rose from the dead as the Bible says.

12 facts

1. Jesus died by crucifixion. 2. He was buried. 3. His death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope. 4. The tomb was empty (the most contested). 5. The disciples had experiences which they believed were literal appearances of the risen Jesus (the most important proof). 6. The disciples were transformed from doubters to bold proclaimers. 7. The resurrection was the central message. 8. They preached the message of Jesus’ resurrection in Jerusalem. 9. The Church was born and grew. 10. Orthodox Jews who believed in Christ made Sunday their primary day of worship. 11. James was converted to the faith when he saw the resurrected Jesus (James was a family skeptic). 12. Paul was converted to the faith (Paul was an outsider skeptic).42

Minimal Facts

Jesus of Nazareth died by crucifixion

Not only do we have immense biblical attestation from the documents in the New Testament, but we also have a number of extra biblical sources mentioning the crucifixion.

Extra biblical sources

Josephus

Tacitus

Lucian

Mara Bar-Separpion

Even criticizes the fact that Jesus died as foolish which goes to show how humiliating and looked down upon crucifixion was. Definitely not something you would expect a Messiah to do.

Talmud

Jesus’ disciples believed that he rose and appeared to them

The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed

James, the half-brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed

What would it take for you to believe that your sibling was the son of God?

The tomb was empty

You could walk over and check this.

Competing Theories

Must have a theory that makes sense of these facts

Hypnosis Theory

Swoon Theory

The biblical story of the resurrection makes the most sense of the facts.

Resurrection of Jesus helps lead to the spread of early Christianity

We return to 1 Corinthians 15

We have hope because of the resurrection

* “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”-‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-4‬

Miracles & The Existence and Ressurection of Jesus

Prayer

Intro

Nazareth Inscription

Jesus of Nazareth died by crucifixion

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