God Exists: Convincing Evidence - Part 3

Hi there!

In conversations with un-believers about my faith in Jesus, the single most common response I hear is that Jesus was not a real person and never existed. Or, another oft rebuttal is that Jesus was just a man and never claimed to be God. I must acknowledge that even prior to my conversion to faith in Christ Jesus, I never once considered that Jesus was the product of a myth. I simply took for granted that a man named Jesus did in fact live. I even knew that He claimed to be divine!

In continuation of this blog series on cognitive validation of the Christian faith, I find it most necessary to verify the actual existence of the man Jesus. Considering He is the primary focus of the scriptures, it seems appropriate to present the evidence of His earthly life. It is of the utmost importance that ALL believers in Jesus know and understand the historical evidence.

1 Peter 3:15 – “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

In short, as the New Testament is a continuation of HIStory and Jesus is central, it must be cognitively validated that Jesus did in fact exist. The following information, as found (in part) by visiting Cold Case Christianity, is the evidence that convinces me.

Non-Christian historians agree that Jesus lived.

• The historical record of Thallus (52 A.D.)
• The historical record of Pliny the Younger (61-113 A.D.)
• The historical record of Suetonius (69-140 A.D.)
• The historical record of Tacitus (56-120 A.D.)
• The historical record of Mara Bar-Serapion (70 A.D.)
• The historical record of Phlegon (80-140 A.D.)
• The historical record of Lucian of Samosata (115-200 A.D.)
• The historical record of Celsus (175 A.D.)

Jewish historians agree that Jesus lived.

• The historical record of Josephus (37-101 A.D.)
• The historical record of the Jewish Talmud (400-700 A.D.)
• The historical record of the Toledot Yeshu (1000 A.D.)

Jesus claimed to be God.

• He prefaced his statements as though He was God (Matthew 5:18)
• He identified Himself with God’s own name “I am” (John 8:49-58)
• He talked as though He was equal with God (John 14:6-9)
• He said that He and God were One (John 10:25-30)

Jesus demonstrated that He had the nature of God

• He demonstrated Omniscience (John 4:16-30), Omnipresence (Matthew 28:20), and Omnipotence (John 11:38-44; Mark 6:48)

Jesus was worshipped as God by those who knew Him

• The wise men at His birth (Matthew 2:10-12)
• The leper at his healing (Matthew 8:2-3)
• The synagogue ruler (Matthew 9:18-26)
• The disciples in the boat (Matthew 14:32-33)
• The mother of James and John (Matthew 20:20-21)
• The blind man at his healing (John 9:35-38)
• The women at the empty tomb (Matthew 28:8-10)

Jesus fulfilled Old Testament messianic prophecies.

• The Messiah will appear after the Jews return to Israel (Jeremiah 23:3-6)
• The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
• The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3)
• The Messiah would enter Jerusalem while riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9)
• The Messiah would suffer and be rejected (Isaiah 53:3)
• The Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13)
• The Messiah would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7)
• The Messiah would be wounded, whipped, and crucified (Isaiah 53:5)

Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment with your thoughts or questions!

Cheers, 

Patrick