The Historical Jesus

The question is not so much the existence of the historical Jesus, but rather, was Jesus who He claimed to be.

January’s Awakening, Day 3

At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.

 —Flavius Josephus, Jewish Historian, “Epitome from the Universal History of Agapius” 

The doubts which have been cast on the historical reality of Jesus are, in my judgment, unworthy of serious attention.

 —James Frazer, non-Christian writer 

No serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non-historicity of Jesus.

 —Otto Betz 

            This is certainly not a dissertation or treatise on the historicity of Jesus, but meant only to prompt your heart and mind to solidify your faith in who Jesus is to you. There is sufficient evidence outside of our Gospel accounts concerning the person of Jesus to place Him with certainty in history. But that evidence only concerns the man. Jesus claimed to be much more than mere man, and that’s what most skeptics or those refuting the claims of Jesus would have issue with. That is where your faith must take its leap and embrace not only Jesus the man, but Jesus our God. History can only assert His humanity. Faith must assert His divinity, and certainly trusting the Gospel accounts of His miracles and statements and resurrection should be sufficient evidence to take that step of faith.

            When someone asks you why you believe in Jesus, you should be prepared to give a reasonable response as to the reality of the historical man, and why you have faith to believe He is also your God.