Jesus Christ is GOD

Case for Christ

1 - TESTING THE EYEWITNESS EVIDENCE, MAY WE CONSIDER THEIR WITNESS AS CREDIBLE AND RELIABLE?

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1. Most of them were martyred for their believe and none of them lived a luxurious life (THE INTENTION TEST)

2. History agreed those men lived in the same time of Jesus and they were well known in their communities and also from different backgrounds; Fishermen, Tax collector, physician, tentmaker (THE ABILITY TEST)

3. In spite many eye-witnesses were said (and some wrote their witness) all witness were consistent and not contradicting (THE CONSISTENCY TEST)

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4. Their witness, even in writing, did not cover their faults (THE INTEGRITY TEST)

5. Their witness matches all the Historically background; (THE CORROBORATION TEST) political rulers, emperors, kings, military battles, official religious people, and major philosophical movements

6. The witness of people who disagree with them; goes with most of their writings (THE ADVERSE WITNESS TEST) In Jewish writings Jesus is called a sorcerer

2 - ARE THERE ANY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE?

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• New Testament when compared with other ancient writings has multiple of copies surviving.

• In addition to Greek manuscripts, we also have translations of the gospels into other languages at a relatively early time-into Latin, Syriac, and Coptic (2nd Century).

• Multiplicity of quotations in commentaries, sermons, letters, and so forth of the early church fathers

3 - ARE THERE EXCLUDED BOOKS; GOSPELS EPISTLES AND OTHERS FROM THE EXISTING BIBLE?(GOSPELS OF NICODEMUS, BARNABAS, BARTHOLOMEW, ANDREW AND THOMAS, THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE LAODICEANS, THE APOCALYPSE OF STEPHEN, AND OTHERS)

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• Most of them written as late as the fifth and sixth centuries.

• Neither genuine nor valuable as a whole.• Too far removed from Jesus' ministry to

contribute anything meaningful.• Mythical qualities disqualify them from being

historically credible.• Absence of narrative materials makes it unlikely

that they are parts from the New Testament

4 - ARE THERE ANY SECULAR SOURCES THAT MAY BE TRUSTED OUT OF THE BIBLE?

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• Josephus, a first century Jewish historian who's well known among scholars wrote about Jesus, James and John the Baptist.

• There are a few passages in the Talmud that mention Jesus, calling him a false messiah who practiced magic and who was justly condemned to death.

• Tacitus, Roman historian from late first, early second century wrote about the persecution of early Christians and the Rome fire.

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• Phlegon, a Greek author from Caria writing a chronology soon after 137 A.D., reported that in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., 33 A.D.) there was "the greatest eclipse of the sun" and that "it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea.“

Conclusion1. First, Jesus was a Jewish teacher.2. Second, many people believed that he performed healings and

exorcisms.3. Third, some people believed he was the Messiah.4. Fourth, he was rejected by the Jewish leaders.5. Fifth, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.6. Sixth, despite this shameful death, his followers, who believed

that he was still alive, spread beyond Palestine so that there were multitudes of them in Rome by A.D. 64.

7. Seventh, all kinds of people from the cities and countryside-men and women, slave and free-worshiped him as God."

5 - DOES ARCHAEOLOGY CONFIRM OR CONTRADICT JESUS BIOGRAPHIES?

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• The Census• Existence of Nazareth • Slaughter of Bethlehem Children

6 - WAS JESUS CHRIST JUST A RELIGIOUS LEADER? OR JUST A GREAT MORAL TEACHER?

• Jesus Christ never claimed to be a religious leader.

• He never got into religious politics or pushed an ambitious agenda.– Render therefore to Caesar the things that are

Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. (Luke 20:25)

– Who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you? (Luke 12:15)

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• Ravi Zacharias, who grew up in a Hindu culture, studied world religions and observed:• It is not Buddha who delivers you; it is his Noble Truths

that instruct you. • It is not Mohammad who transforms you; it is the beauty

of the Koran that attracts you.

• Jesus did not only teach His message. He was identical with His message.

7 - WAS JESUS REALLY CONVINCED THAT HE WAS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD?

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When He asked His disciples : "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied with clarity, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Instead of ducking the issue, Jesus affirmed Peter for his observation. "Blessed are you," he said, "for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." (See Matt. 16:15-17.)

8 - WAS JESUS CRAZY WHEN HE CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD?

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Some people who were on the scene in the first century concluded that Jesus has a demon and is mad. (John 10:20)He himself replied to this claim that the works that He do in the Father’s name, bear witness; Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

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It's true that people with psychological difficulties will often claim to be somebody they're not, they frequently show inappropriate depression, or they might be vehemently angry, or plagued with anxiety. But Jesus: never demonstrated inappropriate emotions. - He was brilliant and had absolutely amazing insights into human nature, and brilliant responses.

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When psychologists analysed Him they said:• He was loving but didn't let His compassion immobilize Him• He didn't have a bloated ego, even though He was often

surrounded by adoring crowds• He maintained balance despite an often demanding lifestyle• He always knew what He was doing and where He was going• He cared deeply about people, including women and

children, who weren't seen as being important• He responded to individuals based on where they were at

and what they uniquely needed• Jesus' behaviour was quite in line with what would be

expected

9 - DID JESUS REALLY DIED ON THE CROSS OR HE JUST FAINTED?

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Roman soldiers were experts in killing people, that was their job, and they did it very well. They knew without a doubt when a person was dead, and really it's not so terribly difficult to figure out.

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Besides, if a prisoner somehow escaped, the responsible soldiers would put themselves to death, so they had a huge incentive to make absolutely sure that each and every victim was dead when he was removed from the cross

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The Roman soldier came around and, being fairly certain that Jesus was dead, confirmed it by thrusting a spear into his right side. The spear apparently went through the right lung and into the heart, so when the spear was pulled out, some fluid came out. This would have the appearance of a clear fluid, like water, followed by a large volume of blood, as the eyewitness John described in his gospelMedical rational of the clear fluid , like water, came out and what really had happened was discovered few centuries later which indicates honestly in documentation.

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The Romans used spikes (Big Nails) that were five to seven inches long and tapered to a sharp point. They were driven through the wrists. This was a solid position that would lock the hand; if the nails had been driven through the palms, his weight would have caused the skin to tear and he would have fallen off the cross.

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In 1968 archaeologists in Jerusalem found the remains of about three dozen Jews who had died during the uprising against Rome around A.D. 70. One victim, whose name was apparently Yohanan, had been crucified. And sure enough, they found a seven-inch nail still driven into his feet, with small pieces of olive wood from the cross still attached

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This fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 22, which foretold the Crucifixion hundreds of years before it took place and says, ‘My bones are out of joint’

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Jesus was hoisted as the crossbar was attached to the vertical stake, and then nails were driven through Jesus‘ feet. Again, the nerves in his feet were crushed, and sure in this condition want be able to walk.

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There's just no way he could have survived the cross. But if he had, how could he walk around after nails had been driven through his feet? How could he have appeared on the road to Emmaus just a short time later, strolling for long distances? How could he have used his arms after they were stretched and pulled from their joints? Remember, he also had massive wounds on his back and a spear wound to his chest

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There's just no way he could have survived the cross. But if he had, A person in that kind of pathetic condition, after suffering that horrible abuse, with all the catastrophic blood loss and trauma, he would have looked so pitiful that the disciples would never have hailed him as a victorious conqueror of death; they would have felt sorry for him and tried to nurse him back to health.So it's illogic to think that if he had appeared to them in that awful state, his followers would have been prompted to start a worldwide movement based on the hope that someday they too would have a resurrection body like his. There's just no way.

10 - DID JESUS BODY BURIED IN THE TOMB? PROBABLY WAS CONSUMED BY WILD ANIMALS? THESE PRACTICES WERE COMMON IN THAT TIME

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The gospels say Jesus' body was turned over to Joseph of Arimathea (specifically named in all four gospels) a member of the Sanhedrin that voted to condemn Jesus. The burial is also mentioned by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:3-7

11 - DID HIS BODY’S WAS THEN ABSENT FROM THE TOMB? OR RESURRECTION WAS ONLY SPIRITUAL? OR MAY BE IT WAS A WRONG TOMB?

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Jesus' tomb was known to Christian and Jew alike. So if it weren't empty, it would be impossible for a movement founded on belief in the Resurrection to have come into existence in the same city where this man had been publicly executed and buried.

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The Jews proposed the ridiculous story that the guards had fallen asleep. But the point is this: they started with the assumption that the tomb was vacant! Why? Because they knew it was!"

12 - DID HE APPEARED AFTER DEATH?

D9• 1 Corinthians 15 : 3-83 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

D10Jesus appeared to:• Mary Magdalene, in John 20:10-18;• The other women, in Matthew 28:8-10;• Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, in Luke

24:13-32;• Eleven disciples and others, in Luke 24:33-49;• Ten apostles and others, with Thomas absent, in John 20:19-23; • Thomas and the other apostles, in John 20:26-30;• Seven apostles, in John 21:1-14;• The disciples, in Matthew 28:16-20.• And he was with the apostles at the Mount of Olives before his

ascension, in Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:4-9.

13 - COULD RESURRECTION BE LEGENDARY?

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• I Corinthians 15 creed predates any of the gospels

• What about the empty tomb?• Disciples went to their deaths defending it as a

core of their faith.• And what about Paul, who was a persecutor of

Christians?

14 - COULD RESURRECTION BE HALLUCINATIONS LIKE ISLAM SAYS?

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Hallucinations are individual occurrences. By their very nature only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. They certainly aren't something which can be seen by a group of people. Neither is it possible that one person could somehow induce an hallucination in somebody else.

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• And what about the empty tomb?• Disciples went to their deaths defending it as a

core of their faith.• And what about Paul, who was a persecutor of

Christians?

Conclusion

NO RATIONAL DOUBTJesus was killed on the cross. His tomb was empty on Easter Morning. His disciples and others saw him, touched him, and ate with him after the Resurrection, "The appearances of Jesus are as well authenticated as anything in antiquity.

• THE DISCIPLES DIED FOR THEIR BELIEFS• THE CONVERSION OF SKEPTICS (St. Paul)• CHANGES TO KEY SOCIAL STRUCTURES (But 5

weeks after he's crucified, over ten thousand JEWS are following him)

• COMMUNION AND BAPTISM• THE EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH (20 years it had

even reached Caesar's palace in Rome)