Some people ask whether Jesus ever really lived. Wasn’t He invented by the first Christmas?
There are good reasons to believe that Jesus was a historical person. He actually lived here on earth. He was born in a small town called Bethlehem Israel at a time when the country was occupied by the Romans.
The very existence of the Christian Church shows that Jesus lived. Millions of Christians down the centuries have claimed to know and love Jesus and have been changed by His work in their lives.
The Bible points to the reality of Jesus. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written by people who either knew Jesus personally or who had first-hand information. Many of their stories give us eye-witness accounts of the life of Jesus.
Secular Historians such as the Romans Pliny and Tacitus who lived at the turn of the first century describe what the first Christians were like – the followers of one Jesus, crucified under the roman Governor Pontius Pilate and who is said to have risen from the dead. Pliny was very disturbed because the Christians ‘prayed to Christ as to a God’ and because of this the pagan temples were being deserted as more and more people became Christians.
Josephus, a Jewish historian, who had no love for Christianity and who also lived at this time, describes in detail Jesus’ life and teaching, His death and the reports of His resurrection as indisputable facts. He writes of Jesus as a wise man who did marvelous deeds.
JESUS certainly was historical, but what was He really like?
There are good reasons to believe that Jesus was a historical person. He actually lived here on earth. He was born in a small town called Bethlehem Israel at a time when the country was occupied by the Romans.
The very existence of the Christian Church shows that Jesus lived. Millions of Christians down the centuries have claimed to know and love Jesus and have been changed by His work in their lives.
The Bible points to the reality of Jesus. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written by people who either knew Jesus personally or who had first-hand information. Many of their stories give us eye-witness accounts of the life of Jesus.
Secular Historians such as the Romans Pliny and Tacitus who lived at the turn of the first century describe what the first Christians were like – the followers of one Jesus, crucified under the roman Governor Pontius Pilate and who is said to have risen from the dead. Pliny was very disturbed because the Christians ‘prayed to Christ as to a God’ and because of this the pagan temples were being deserted as more and more people became Christians.
Josephus, a Jewish historian, who had no love for Christianity and who also lived at this time, describes in detail Jesus’ life and teaching, His death and the reports of His resurrection as indisputable facts. He writes of Jesus as a wise man who did marvelous deeds.
JESUS certainly was historical, but what was He really like?
