Questions Concerning Jesus: Is Jesus a real person?

Questions Concerning Jesus

Series Introduction

        There are a lot of beliefs out there that call the person of Jesus into question: Is He real? Is He the Son of God? Was He really crucified? And others. In this series of articles, I hope to put to rest; once and for all, the dispute of Who Jesus is and what He did while upon this earth.

Is Jesus a real person?

Introduction

        One of the challenges many Christians face is proving Jesus to be, not only the Son of God but also, a real person. There are those who believe that the bible is nothing more than a series of stories, created by men, in which Jesus is just one character of many. In this article, I hope to show that Jesus was indeed a living and breathing individual who walked this earth.

Old Testament Vs. New Testament

Jesus is spoken about in the Old Testament some 300 times in prophecies foretelling of his coming, his ministry, and his crucifixion.

Here are some examples:

        This is a prophecy of Jesus’ birth; born of a virgin. In Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.  (NKJV).

It is fulfilled in Luke 1:34-35, “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.’”  (NKJV)

        Another example can be found in Ps. 22:16-18 about Jesus’ crucifixion—

“For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” (NKJV)

This is fulfilled in John 19: 33-34, 36-37—

(John 19:33-34) But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.  (NKJV)

(John 19:36-37) For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."  (NKJV)

Historical Jesus

        Now, some might say that you’re simply using the bible which we don’t believe in. How do we know he actually walked the earth? To answer this challenge, we turn to historians who wrote of this time.

Justin Martyr

And again in other words, through another prophet, He says, “They pierced My hands and My feet, and for My vesture they cast lots.” And indeed David, the king and prophet, who uttered these things, suffered none of them; but Jesus Christ stretched forth His hands, being crucified by the Jews speaking against Him, and denying that He was the Christ. And as the prophet spoke, they tormented Him, and set Him on the judgment-seat, and said, Judge us. And the expression, “They pierced my hands and my feet,” was used in reference to the nails of the cross which were fixed in His hands and feet. And after He was crucified they cast lots upon His vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. – Justin Martyr, First Apology 35

And that it was predicted that our Christ should heal all diseases and raise the dead, hear what was said. There are these words: “At His coming the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerer shall be clear speaking: the blind shall see, and the lepers shall be cleansed; and the dead shall rise, and walk about.” And that He did those things, you can learn from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. – Justin Martyr, First Apology 48

This reference reveals several key things:

1.       Christ performed amazing miracles.

2.       Christ died on a cross with hands and feet pierced with nails.

3.       His clothing (vesture) was divided and gambled away.

4.       It affirms the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.

Josephus (AD 37-100), was born into a priestly Jewish family. He was a Pharisee and a historian for the Roman empire. 

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 surprising feats – 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 that 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 to this day.* – Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3

This reference reveals several key things:

1.       Jesus was known as a wise man and was highly regarded.

2.       Apparently, Josephus is referring to Jesus’ miracles.

3.       Jesus was a teacher of truth for many Jews and Gentiles.

4.       Jesus was killed on a cross by Pontius Pilate.

5.       Jesus appeared alive the third day after being killed.

6.       Predictions by the prophets came true in Christ.

7.       Jesus is the Christ or Messiah.

Conclusion

        From these examples, both in scripture and in history, that Jesus was indeed a real person who walked this earth for a time and was witnessed by many; both inspired and not. This should also prove then that the bible is more than just a collection of stories written by men. It is the inspired word of God and a history of those who were chosen of God.

        In future articles, we will concern other questions concerning Jesus. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them below.