Why Christ? – HolyWord.com

Was the Resurrection real? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? That may be the most important question you or I will ever ask.The answer makes all the difference. I can say the Resurrection is real, but it took me a while to realize it. Here we'll look at some of the proofs of why we can trust the Resurrection is real. I'll start out by saying I did not know if the Resurrection of Jesus was real at first. The first question I struggled with was whether or not God was truly real and what that meant in my life. The two are related. For you it may not happen in the same order as me, which is alright. I'll give you some information that helped me and you can decide which you place your trust in. Previous Questions If you have questions about whether God exists, click to our articles on 'Why Do I Need God' . If you have a question as to whether Jesus was a real person and if the crucifixion was real click to our article 'Was Jesus a Real Person'. For this article we will concentrate on how can we know that Jesus is God and that He Resurrected from the dead... How Important Is This Question? How important is the question that Jesus rose from the dead? It is paramount. There are many religions in the world. If we simply go by the oldest religions it narrows the options down to a few. If we go by men claiming to have visions, there are a lot of those. One key difference in Christianity is that is Jesus claimed to be God. If he is God, then our choice is clear to follow him. Here is what we will cover... Did Jesus Claim to Be God or the Son of God?Does Jesus talk about His Resurrection?Jesus Performed Miracles that Men Cannot Do.Where is Jesus Recorded as Rising from the Dead?Would You Die for a Lie?The Messiah was Foretold in the Old TestamentLargest # of manuscripts in the worldJesus Promised His Church would always exist Did Jesus Claim to Be God or the Son of God? This is a question that resurfaces from time to time. Jesus doesn't say it all the time and doesn't say it to everyone, so then some people will question if He ever claimed it? The resounding answer is Yes Jesus claimed to be the son of God and claimed to be God. He says it in several different ways, sometimes with Old Testament symbolism, sometimes clear and direct, but it is there... Here are a few instances... PARMA, ITALY - APRIL 16, 2018: The ceiling freso of The Holy Trinity in church Chiesa di Santa Croce by Giovanni Maria Conti della Camera (1614 - 1670). 1. The high priest and the others who were placing Jesus on trial all understood that Jesus was equating himself to be the Messiah, the son of God. While they did not believe in Jesus and called it Blasphemy, there is no mistake of Jesus' claim here. 1. Mk 14:60-63 (The Messiah, Son of God)60 The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” 61 But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” 62 Then Jesus answered, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’”63 At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. 2. Here is another instance of Jesus claiming to be the Messiah... John 4:25-26 (The Samaritan woman)25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” 3. John 8:24, 42 (I AM) 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me. In the Old Testament, God the Father speak to Moses with the term "I AM". God is not past, present, or future, but all at once. He uses a term that transcends time. Jesus uses the same term for Himself. 4. Exodus 3:1414 God replied to Moses: I am who I am. Then he added: This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. Just so that we don't think it is an accident of word placement in a sentence, Jesus says it multiple times in various contexts... 5. John 8:28 (I AM)28 So Jesus said (to them), “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. 6. Just so there is no doubt, Jesus uses 'I AM' in a context that can not be mistaken. John 8:58 (Before Abraham, I AM)57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”* 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” 7. John 18:7 (I AM)7 So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go. Does Jesus talk about His Resurrection? 1. While Jesus is in the Temple, He points to Himself as the true Temple of God and hinting at the Resurrection to come. Jerusalem John 2:18-22 (Rebuilding the Temple in 3 days)19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. 2. Jesus foretells of his own death for 3 days.Mt 12:39-40 (son of man, dead 3 days)39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. He reminds them of the third day Resurrection more than once... 3. Mt 16:2121 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. After the Resurrection, Jesus visits the Apostles and reminds them of what was said... 4. Lk 24:44-45 (Jesus reminds the Apostles)46 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 5. To prepare the people for His Resurrection, He raises Lazarus from the dead after 4 days; a day longer than the point Jews thought a soul could remain in the body. Lazarus Raised from the Dead John 11:21-27 (Lazarus raised from the dead)21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” ...40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. 42 I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Jesus talks about His Resurrection often. For his disciples who are not yet aware of what He will do, these words must have been confusing. After He actually rose from the dead, the words made more sense. Jesus Performed Miracles Jesus backed up His words with miracles. A mere man cannot do all these... 01 Turns Water into Wine. Jn 2:1-1102 Heals an Official's Son. Jn 4:43-5403 Drives Out Evil Spirit Mk 1:21-27 Lk 4:31-3604 Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law Mt 8:14-15 Mk 1:29-31 Lk 4:38-3905 Heals Many Mt 8:16-17 Mk 1:32-34 Lk 4:40-4106 A Surprise Catch of Fish Lk 5:1-1107 Heals a Man With Leprosy Mt 8:1-4 Mk 1:40-45 Lk 5:12-1408 Heals a Centurion's Servant Mt 8:5-13 Lk 7:1-1009 Heals a Paralytic Mt 9:1-8 Mk 2:1-12 Lk 5:17-2610 Heals a Man's Withered Hand Mt 12:9-14 Mk 3:1-6 Lk 6:6-1111 Raises a Widow's Son Lk 7:11-1712 Calms a Storm Mt 8:23-27 Mk 4:35-41 Lk 8:22-2513 Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs Mt 8:28-33 Mk 5:1-20 Lk 8:26-3914 Heals a Woman Mt 9:20-22 Mk 5:25-34 Lk 8:42-4815 Raises Jairus' Daughter Mt 9:18-26 Mk 5:21-43 Lk 8:40-5616 Heals Two Blind Men Mt 9:27-3117 Heals a Man Mt 9:32-3418 Heals a Man Jn 5:1-1519 Feeds 5,000 Mt 14:13-21 Mk 6:30-44 Lk 9:10-17 Jn 6:1-1520 Walks on Water Mt 14:22-33 Mk 6:45-52 Jn 6:16-2121 Heals Many Mt 14:34-36 Mk 6:53-5622 Exorcises a Demon-Possessed Daughter Mt 15:21-28 Mk 7:24-3023 Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man Mk 7:31-3724 Feeds 4,000 Mt 15:32-39 Mk 8:1-1325 Heals a Blind Man Mk 8:22-2626 Heals a Man Born Blind Jn 9:1-1227 Heals a Boy With an Unclean Spirit Mt 17:14-20 Mk 9:14-29 Jn 9:37-4328 Shows Temple Tax in Fish's Mouth Mt 17:24-2729 Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac Mt 12:22-23 Mk 11:14-2330 Heals a Woman Who Had Been Crippled Lk 13:10-1731 Heals a Man Lk 14:1-632 Cleanses Ten Lepers Lk 17:11-1933 Raises Lazarus from the Dead Jn 11:1-4534 Restores Sight to Bartimaeus Mt 20:29-34 Mk 10:46-52 Lk 18:35-4335 Withers the Fig Tree Mt 21:18:22 Mk 11:12-1436 Heals a Severed Ear Lk 22:50-5137 Another Surprise Catch of Fish Jn 21:4-11 Jn 10:17 (My Father and my Life)17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” 19 Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one possessed; surely a demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?” Where is Jesus Recorded as Rising from the Dead? Jesus Christ walking after His resurrection. Figure in sun lights. Sunning shine in forest. Let's look at the eye-witness accounts. Keep in mind it would be unreasonable to expect any witnesses outside of Christianity to report Jesus as rising from the dead, because in the very act of declaring the Resurrection to be true, that person is called a Christian. None of Jesus' Apostles would have labeled themselves 'Christian'. The term did not exists until later when the Church expanded to Antioch. They were all people like you and me, who needed enough reason to believe. Some of them, like the Apostle Thomas, took longer to believe, but He eventually did. The Apostles believed Jesus was God and witnessed that He rose from the dead, Resurrection Witnesses Jesus appears to the Woman Matthew 27:65-66, 28:1-1065 Pilate said to them, “The guard is yours; go secure it as best you can.” 66 So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard. 1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. 5 Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”8 Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Mary Magdalene, Mary, & Salome walking up to the bright empty tomb of Jesus Christ early Sunday morning, Showing Golgotha in the background. The Appearance to Mary Magdalene. Mark 16:9-11 9 When he had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. Peter and John at the tomb John 20:3-103 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned home. Two on the Road to Emmaus CATANIA, ITALY - APRIL 7, 2018: The detail of painting of Jesu supper with the disciples of Emmaus in church Chiesa di San Placido by Michele Rapisardi (1858). Luke 24:13-3513 Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. 24 Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. 30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” 33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Appearance to the Disciples Luke 24:26-48 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. Thomas TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 13, 2017: The The painting The Doubt of St. Thomas in Church Chiesa di Santo Tomaso by unknown artist of 18. cent. John 20:24-2924 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Jesus Appears to 7 at Sea of Tiberius John 21:1-21 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Jesus Appears to 11 at Galilee Sunset on Lake Kinneret near the town of Tiberias, Israel Matthew 16-2016 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” The Ascension Acts 1:3-53 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father* about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.” 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going* to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Jewish Pharisee Saul Converts MODENA, ITALY - APRIL 14, 2018: The painting The Conversion of St. Paul in church Chiesa di San Pietro by Domenico Carnevale (1524-1579). The Pharisees were directly opposed to Jesus. Their authority and the Levitical laws they were protecting were threatened by what he taught. In addition they believed Jesus was Blaspheming. Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee, and a staunch enemy of the Christians. He was biased against them and wanted to eradicate them. He only changed his mind because he encountered Jesus. Acts 9:1-5, 8-9, 17-201 Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. 9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 17 So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19 and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. 20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Jesus Appears to 500 Witnesses 1 Corinthians 15:3-93 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. and the Apostle John, sees Jesus glorified in a vision... Bible showing The Revelation Revelation 1:12-1812 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. 17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Non-Christian sources for the Resurrection? A skeptic may ask "How Come there are no Non-Christian sources for the Resurrection?". The answer is that as soon as someone confirms the Resurrection, everyone considers them a Christian source, so this is not really a valid question. From the Apostles, Paul, and 500 others, these are all people who didn't know Jesus was God at first and didn't believe Jesus was risen from the dead when they first heard. it. They were all non-Christians. We call them Christians today, but they all started out as non-Christian, mostly Jews. Would You Die for a Lie? Would you die for a lie? One might die for a cause they believed in, but given the opportunity to walk away freely for the truth or face death over a lie, we would walk away. Once Jesus was dead, the Apostles could have gone back to their lives as fisherman. Galilee was far from Jerusalem and people did not know them by name. Actually, that is what they did, they went back to fishing not expecting more. Seeing Jesus again changed their decision. After they saw Jesus risen from the dead and were with Him for 40 days, and after they were given the Holy Spirit, they were changed men, no longer afraid, willing to die for what they believed. Stephen - Died for preaching about Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem. Stoned to deathPeter - fearlessly preached in the Temple several times in front of the Sanhedrin who had formerly put Jesus to death. He did so again after being flogged and threatened. Tradition is that he was crucified upside-down in Rome during the persecution of Nero, agreeing with timeline and events described by the Roman historian Tacitus. Andrew - crucified by being bound (to prolong his suffering) in western Greece. James (brother of John) - Killed by the sword by King Herod Agrippa in Acts 12.John - fearlessly preached in the Temple several times in front of Sanhedrin who had formerly put Jesus to death. He did so again after being flogged and threatened. He was Imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. He was the only Apostle not to die by martyrdom, perhaps because he was charged at the crucifixion by Jesus' to look after Mary. Thomas - killed by the spear in India Matthew - killed by halberd in Ethiopia Philip - Scourged and crucified in Phyrgia PADUA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 10, 2014: The Martyrium of Saint Bartholomew the apostle by unknown painter of 18. cent. in the little chapel on Piazza del Santo. Bartholomew - flayed and beheaded in Armenia James son of Alphaeus - beaten and stoned to death Thaddeus Jude - crucified at Edessa Simon the Zealot - crucified in Britain I could see if one of them was martyred it might be an accident, or if they had stayed in Galilee perhaps someone would identify them as a follower of Jesus, but they died because they went out witnessing about Jesus to others. They continued preaching until they were met by opposition and each killed or imprisoned. They could have stopped at any time if they knew it was a lie. The Messiah Foretold The Messiah was foretold in the Old Testament. Christianity is not 2,000 years old, but a continuation of the Old Testament. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and source of the New Testament. In Genesis we have the first hint of Jesus in the Trinity. Notice that the wording is plural. 'Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness', It is the first hint of the Trinity. In Gen 3:15, when God delivers judgement to the Devil we get another glimpse of the future to come, 'I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers' The ultimate completion of Gen 3:15 is fulfilled in Mary and Jesus. We see that the Messiah will come from the Line of Judah, Jesse, and David. Jesus is.Judah Gen 49:10 10 The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, Until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience. Jesse Isaiah 11:1-2, 101 But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. 2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD 10 On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the peoples— Him the nations will seek out; his dwelling shall be glorious. David Psalm 110:1-41 A psalm of David. The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, while I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The scepter of your might: the LORD extends your strong scepter from Zion. Have dominion over your enemies! 3 Yours is princely power from the day of your birth. In holy splendor before the daystar, like dew I begot you. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not waver: “You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.” 2 Sam 7:12-1312 when your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He it is who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. The Location of his birth was revealed 700 years earlier. Jesus resting on a manger while light from the star filters into the room Micah 5:11 But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha least among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Other prophesies of his birth 700 years before he was born.. Isaiah 7:5-65 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. 6 His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both now and forever. Isaiah 7:1414 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel. His entry as a king into Jerusalem on a donkey. Zechariah 9:99 Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The Sacrifice of the son was foreshadowed by Abraham and Isaac, but God did not make Abraham sacrifice Isaac. Later God, would send His son Jesus and do it to save us. Genesis 22:1212 “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the angel. “Do not do the least thing to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you did not withhold from me your son, your only one.” The means of his death was predicted 1,000 years earlier. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JUNE 15, 2014: The Crucifixion paint by Jean Francois Portaels (1886) in St. Jacques Church at The Coudenberg. Psalm 2217 Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet 18 I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat;19 they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots. When would you suppose the following passage was written? It sounds like it was written after Jesus was crucified. He was pierced; the guilt of us all on his shoulders; a lamb led to slaughter; given a grave among the wicked. Isaiah 53 1 Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him. 3 He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, knowing pain, Like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. 4 Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, 5 But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. 6 We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. 7 Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Seized and condemned, he was taken away. Who would have thought any more of his destiny? For he was cut off from the land of the living, struck for the sins of his people. 9 He was given a grave among the wicked, a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong, nor was deceit found in his mouth. 10 But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain. By making his life as a reparation offering, he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days, and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him. 11 Because of his anguish he shall see the light; because of his knowledge he shall be content; My servant, the just one, shall justify the many, their iniquity he shall bear. 12 Therefore I will give him his portion among the many, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death, was counted among the transgressors, Bore the sins of many, and interceded for the transgressors. It was written 700 years before the crucifixion, yet the events match Jesus' crucifixion. That is amazing! More hints of a Resurrection Daniel 12:2-32 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; Some to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace. 3 But those with insight shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever. Hosea 6:1-21 “Come, let us return to the LORD, For it is he who has torn, but he will heal us; he has struck down, but he will bind our wounds. 2 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence." 1 Sam 2:6"The LORD puts to death and gives life, casts down to Sheol and brings up again" Valley of the Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:11-1411 He said to me: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel! They are saying, “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.” 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Look! I am going to open your graves; I will make you come up out of your graves, my people, and bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 You shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people! 14 I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have spoken; I will do it—oracle of the LORD. Hope for the Messiah who is to come Jeremiah 33:14-1714 The days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days, at that time, I will make a just shoot spring up for David; he shall do what is right and just in the land. 16 In those days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; this is the name they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.” 17 For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a successor on the throne of the house of Israel, Manuscripts & Writings Some Skeptics will say that the Gospels and other New Testament writings were fabrications of later centuries, but we have multiple accounts from various sources of the 1st century. The Roman historian Tacitus writes of Jesus's Crucifixion and Christians in Rome c A.D. 64 when Nero blames the Christians for the great fire of Rome.The Jewish Historian Josephus's "Antiquities of the Jews' written A.D. 93-94 includes Jesus' Crucifixion, being alive after 3 days, and having followers. Four 1st century Writers of Jesus' 3 year public ministryA Jewish Pharisee writes 13 letters about Jesus to specific churches4 other Apostles write letters about Jesus in the first centuryClement (4th Bishop of Rome) writes a letter to the Corinthians c 96 A.D.Ignatius (3rd Bishop of Antioch) writes 7 letters about the Church c. 105-110 A.D.Didache - teaching of the 12, written in first century This proof exceeds any other ancient document. Some historians will say the # of manuscripts for a work increases its authenticity. Here are some popular ancient works and the estimated number of known manuscripts. Homer's Illiad - 1800Demosthenes Speeches - 340 Josephus Flavius - Jewish Histry - 290Plato Tetralogies - 210 Sophocles Tragedies - 193 Herodotus history - 110Thucydides Peloponnesian War - 8Tacitus - Roman history - 2 Manuscripts of the Bible By comparison the Bible has many more hand-written manuscripts than any other work in history.... 5,800+ Greek Manuscripts10,000+ Latin Manuscripts9,000+ Manuscripts in Coptic, Armenian, Syriac, Ethiopian, Slavic, Gothic Note : These are only estimates. The numbers get updated regularly as new manuscripts are discovered and analysis methodologies change. However the numbers are clear enough to reveal that the Bible has more manuscripts than all the other works of human history combined. If anyone claims the Bible is false, based upon the limited number of manuscripts available, then they could not rely on any other historical document of history. Jesus Promised His Church would always exist We have proof from several Christian churches that have lasted from the time of Jesus to today, that His prediction of a continuous Church still holds true. Even the mighty man-made Roman Empire only lasted about 1,000 years, while the Church from Jesus to today is already double that. Jesus predicted it. Matthew 16:13And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Mark 26:15He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:20Afterwards Jesus himself, through them, sent forth from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen. Luke 24:46-4846 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. For proof of a continuous Church succession from Jesus to today. here are a few examples.. 266 Catholic Bishops/Popes of Rome from Peter269 Orthodox Bishops/Patriarchs of Constantinople from AndrewCoptic Bishops from Mark the Evangelist, disciple of Peter Conclusion You are Invited John 20:30-3130 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. John 21:2525 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written. Other Resources... If you have further questions about Jesus or why we need a Savior, try these articles...Why Do I Need a Savior?Do You Need a Bible? Visit Our Online Gift StoreTo Read a Quiet Passage - Click Here Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.