1. Did Jesus really exist?
TeenSS Sunday June

2. 1. Common ways people think of Jesus

3. 1. Common ways people think of Jesus
Jesus didn’t exist
Jesus was a normal guy
Jesus was a political leader who tried (unsuccessfully) to start a movement
Jesus was a nice religious guy, who taught people about God and how to love each other

4. What our church believes
“Redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death (as our Representative and Substitute), of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.”
In other words we believe:
Jesus is God’s Son
Jesus is the only way we can be saved from sin

5. 2. Evidence outside the bible Jesus existed

6. 2.1. Tacitus (The Annals 15.44)
1st century Roman historian (56-117AD)
But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumour, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.

7. 2.2. Suetonius Roman historian a bit later than Tacitus (70- 130AD)
As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome.
(Life of Claudius 25.4)
Punishment by Nero was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.
(Lives of the Caesars 16.2)

8. 2.3. Flavius Josephus
Jewish historian writing for the Romans ( AD)
He was a Pharisee
He writes under Roman authority and is therefore careful not to offend the Romans
He makes a lot of statements that verify generally and specifically the historical nature of the Old and New Testaments

9. 2.3. Flavius Josephus
Jewish historian writing for the Romans ( AD)
He was a Pharisee
He writes under Roman authority and is therefore careful not to offend the Romans
He makes several statements that verify generally and specifically the historical nature of the Old and New Testaments

10. 2.3. Flavius Josephus
But the younger Ananus who, as we said, received the high priesthood, was of a bold disposition and exceptionally daring; he followed the party of the Sadducees, who are severe in judgment above all the Jews, as we have already shown. As therefore Ananus was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought it before the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law-breakers, he delivered them over to be stoned.
(Antiquities of the Jews, )

11. 2.3. Flavius Josephus
Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness.
(Antiquities of the Jews, )

12. 2.3. Flavius Josephus
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 among 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.
(“Testimonium Flavianum”, Antiquities of the Jews, )

13. 2.4. Thallus
This event followed each of his deeds, and healings of body and soul, and knowledge of hidden things, and his resurrection from the dead, all sufficiently proven to the disciples before us and to his apostles: after the most dreadful darkness fell over the whole world, the rocks were torn apart by an earthquake and much of Judaea and the rest of the land was torn down. Thallus calls this darkness an eclipse of the sun in the third book of his Histories, without reason it seems to me. For....how are we to believe that an eclipse happened when the moon was diametrically opposite the sun?
(Julius Africanus, Chronology 18.1)

14. 2.5. The Talmud
On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (of Nazareth) and the herald went before him for forty days saying (Yeshu of Nazareth) is going forth to be stoned in that he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led astray Israel. Let everyone knowing anything in his defence come and plead for him. But they found naught in his defence and hanged him on the eve of Passover.
(Babylonian Sanhedrin 43a)

15. 2.6. Others
Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan on how to deal with Christians (~112AD)
Trajan’s reply to Pliny not to worry about it
Lucian ( AD), a sarcastic criticism of the crucified Jesus and Christians who worship him
Early Christian writings pre 150AD, eg Irenaeus, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, etc

16. 2.7. What do we get? Jesus existed Jesus was worshipped by Christians
Jesus introduced new teachings in Palestine and was crucified for those teachings by Pilate at the request of the Jews
Christians say Jesus rose from the dead
The existence and executions of James the brother of Jesus and John the Baptist

17. 2.8. Want more? For more, we need to get the word of the bible…
The witnesses:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
1 John 1:1-2

18. 2.8. Want more? The careful historian:
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:1-4

19. 3. A note about bias
The problem…

20. 3. A note about bias
If a Christian source says something about Jesus…

21. 3. A note about bias If a Christian source says something about Jesus…
Well then, that’s because they’re Christian. It’s biased.

22. 3. A note about bias
If a non Christian source says something about Jesus…

23. 3. A note about bias
If a non Christian source says something about Jesus…
If what they say is so convincing, well then, why aren’t they a Christian?

24. 3. A note about bias
The Christian can’t win

25. 3. A note about bias The non-Christian who becomes a Christian ← 1930
1998 →

26. 3. A note about bias
Next week…

27. 4. The bible’s picture of Jesus
Jesus said:
He and his message was from God (John 7:16)
God was his Father (John 5:17)
He was the only way to God (John 14:6)
God had appointed him the judge (John 5:21)
He was without sin (John 8:46)
To reject him is to reject God (John 15:23)

28. 5. So what?

29. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1

30. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1 Three choices: Liar (con artist) Lunatic
(crazy guy)
Lord
(what he says he is)

31. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1 Jesus said:
He and his message was from God (John 7:16)
God was his Father (John 5:17)
He was the only way to God (John 14:6)
God had appointed him the judge (John 5:21)
He was without sin (John 8:46)
To reject him is to reject God (John 15:23)
The way to work it out is to see what he did

32. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1
24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
(John 10:24-26)

33. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1
But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father
(John 10:38)

34. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
(John 14:11)

35. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1
2 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
(John 3:1-2)

36. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #1 Three choices: Liar (con artist) Lunatic
(crazy guy)
Lord
(what he says he is)

37. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #2
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

38. 5. Stuff CS Lewis says #2 In other words, either:
Christianity is not true
GO HOME.
Christianity is true
It is the most important thing in your life
There is no in between.