DID JESUS REALLY EXIST?

By examining the evidence. No reputable scholar really doubts Jesus’ existence. Even his enemies never attempted to dismiss him as a myth. Jesus was a real person whose life and historical impact is irrefutable. In fact, according to leading historians, no one has had a greater impact on our world than Jesus.

(See Was Jesus a real person?)

WAS JESUS ONLY A GOOD MORAL TEACHER OR RELIGIOUS LEADER?

According to C. S. Lewis, that would be a logical impossibility. Jesus claimed equality with God. If he lied, he wouldn’t have been either good or moral. If he told the truth, his claim to be God would be valid. And if he is God, Jesus couldn’t have been merely a moral teacher or religious leader.

(See Is Jesus the Son of God?)

WAS JESUS’ DIVINITY AN “INVENTION” OF CONSTANTINE AND THE EARLY CHURCH?

The evidence clearly shows otherwise. His Jewish enemies had him killed because “he made himself to be God.” The apostles, most of whom were eyewitnesses, regarded him as God. Even secular history acknowledges that Jesus’ followers believed he was God, and openly called him “Lord” at least 200 years before Constantine. (See Was there a Da Vinci conspiracy?)

WERE JESUS AND MARY MAGDALENE SECRETLY MARRIED?

Nothing in recorded history suggests that Mary and Jesus were married or had a child. The Da Vinci Code points to an obscure verse in the Gnostic Gospel of Philip (written over 150 years after his death) that states Jesus kissed Mary Magdalene. This could not have been an eyewitness account. But even if was true, such expressions of friendship in first century Israel were customary. Scholars overwhelmingly dismiss a marital relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene as a way to sell books and increase movie box office attendance.

(See Was there a Da Vinci conspiracy?)

DO THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS PORTRAY THE REAL JESUS?

The New Testament presents eyewitness reports of Jesus which were readily accepted as truth by the first Christians. The Gnostic writings, on the other hand, were written 110-300 Years after Christ by unknown authors who fraudulently named them after the apostles. All the evidence supports the validity of the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life and words.

(See Is the New Testament reliable?)

IS THE NEW TESTAMENT ACCOUNT OF JESUS RELIABLE?

The New Testament is the most critically scrutinized book in history, yet its reliability has been substantiated by its early dating, number of copies, internal credibility, and extra-biblical evidence. Even if all its ancient copies were lost, virtually its entire message could still be reproduced by other letters and historical documents.

(See Is the New Testament reliable?)

DID JESUS FULFILL ANCIENT PROPHECIES THAT PRE-DATED HIS APPEARANCE?

Nearly 300 references to 61 specific prophecies from the Hebrew Old Testament were fulfilled by Jesus. These prophecies were written over 500 years before Jesus, and spell out such details as his divinity, lineage, birthplace, betrayal, crucifixion, and his mission. The odds against one person fulfilling all of these prophecies are prohibitive.

(See Is Jesus the Messiah?)

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE FOR JESUS’ RESURRECTION?

The empty tomb, the sudden rise of Christianity and the transformed behavior of Jesus’ followers are unexplainable without the resurrection having been a reality. Even skeptical scholars can’t explain why all of his disciples would be willing to undergo torture and martyrdom for a lie. Without the resurrection, Christianity would have been squelched by Jesus’ enemies and the massive power of Rome.

(See Did Jesus rise from the dead?)

IF JESUS IS GOD, WHY DID HE SUFFER AND DIE ON THE CROSS?

Jesus told his followers that it is because of God’s great love for us. Jesus’ death was the only sacrifice acceptable to God as payment for our sins. His death paid for everyone’s sins, past, present, and future. Yet this free gift must be personally received by faith, or we remain unforgiven.

(See Is Jesus relevant today?)

HOW DO WE KNOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD?

1) Jesus said he was the only way.

(See Is Jesus the Son of God?)


2) His resurrection substantiates his divinity, and thus his claims.

(See Did Jesus rise from the dead?)


3) His fulfillment of prophecy proves that he speaks for God.

(See Is Jesus the Messiah?)


4) The eyewitness reports bear record that his claims are true.

(See Is the New Testament reliable?)


5) Jesus alone brings meaning, purpose, and hope to life.

(See Is Jesus relevant today?)


6) Jesus offers every person forgiveness for sin and eternal life.

(See Do you know Jesus personally?)