Articles
Yes, Jesus Really Existed
For those who are prejudiced against the Bible record, the headline is somewhat inaccurate in that Jesus still exists, but the aim of this short study is to show there is ample evidence from outside the Bible record that a man named Jesus lived in the first century in the Middle East [Israel, in particular], and that He was known to be called the Christ.
First, we have the historian Josephus (A.D. 37-100) who, when writing of the governor Pilate, inserted this: “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 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 at this day.” [Antiquities, Book 18, Chapter 3, para. 3.] He would also mention Him again when writing of how the High Priest “assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James.” [Book 20, Chapter 9, Para. 1.]
The Roman historian Tacitus (A.D. 56-120) also named Jesus as the leader of those whom Nero severely persecuted, “called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus” [Annals].
Then there is the Roman governor Pliny the Younger (A.D. 62-11), who wrote, “They (Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god.” [Epistles 10.96]
Even in the Babylonian Talmud, a written record of the various rabbinical opinions on every aspect of the Law and their lives for the Jews [definitely not favorable to Jesus], when the matter of crucifixion is discussed, the commentary notes that the ‘acceptable’ method differed from, “the Supplicum, which the Romans inflicted upon Jesus, who was nailed to the cross whilst alive, with his hands on the cross, and left hanging on the gallows all day.” [Sanhedrin, p. 304] Historian Joseph Klausner, in noting the various references to or insinuations about Jesus in the Babylonian Talmud, noted, “There are some reliable theories regarding the fact that his name was Yeshua (Yeshu) of Nazareth; that he practiced sorcery (that is to say that he performed miracles, as was common in those days) and seduction and led Israel astray.” [Jesus of Nazareth, p. 44.]
In addition to these secular records, we have the writings of men who were believers who also mentioned Jesus as a real person, including Clement (ca. AD 70-96), Ignatius in a letter to Smryna (ca. AD 110), Polycarp (ca. AD 110-140), Justin Martyr in his First Apology (ca. AD 155-157), and Quadratus (ca. AD 117-138), who wrote an early defense of Christianity to the Roman Emperor Hadrian. To deny the reality and historical fact of the man named Jesus — the same one found throughout the New Testament — is to demonstrate a denial of the historical record, mental incapacity, or blatant dishonesty.
But the Bible record is even more thorough and convincing, if one is willing to hear from eyewitnesses, including those who literally walked with Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him (cf. 1 John 1:1); denial of eyewitness testimony without a credible or reasonable foundation for such a rejection, reveals our unwillingness, rather than some lack of proof or evidence. But don’t take my word for it; look for yourself.
When John neared the end of his record of the life, teaching, and works of Jesus, he noted, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30, 31). This being true, then just the things recorded in the book of John are sufficient to cause one to believe the testimony regarding Jesus and the claim of Jesus, even though not everything was recorded that Jesus said and did.
The Bible record is written by many who saw Him and heard Him, but there were many more who did not write anything, but were eyewitnesses. Paul records that the gospel message’s foundational points are that Jesus “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Let us note that over 500 people were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus after He had been put to death by crucifixion and then raised from the dead; but at the very least, we have over 500 eyewitnesses to the existence of Jesus. I am confident that having over 500 eyewitnesses to anything would qualify as ‘overwhelming evidence.’ To claim there is no evidence to the existence of Jesus is flatly dishonest and denies reality.
Let it also be said the Bible is God’s written record of His will and, particularly relevant to this study, the life, teaching, and works of Jesus — all of which point to the truthfulness of His claim to be the Son of God, the Christ, and Savior of the world. John again notes, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son” (1 John 5:9, 10). What God said about Jesus is that the claim to be His Son was true (cf. Matt. 3:17; Matt. 17:5), and gave evidence and testimony to this by the works He did through Jesus (Acts 2:22), and by raising Him from the dead (Rom. 1:4). God would not have vouched for Jesus if He wasn’t real, and certainly not if Jesus was not who He claimed to be!
The strength of this testimony lies in the fact God — the one testifying about Jesus within the Bible record — “cannot lie” (Titus 1:1, 2)! In fact, “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18)! One cannot find testimony more trustworthy and credible than that from one of whom it is said is incapable of lying! And God cannot lie because of His character, and who He is by nature. To that point, the psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways” (Psa. 145:17). One who is righteous in all His ways cannot lie because that would be an act of unrighteousness.
The fact of Jesus’ existence is really one that cannot be honestly disputed, and the Bible record not only gives credence to His existence, but also to His claim. God has given us this written record “that you may believe,” but He is not going to force, compel, or coerce anyone into believing if they are unwilling. Truly, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17), and “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Are we willing to accept the evidence, though not eyewitnesses ourselves?
If a jury can make a reasonable conclusion from eyewitness testimony and credible evidence, so can we. — Steven Harper
