Back Porch Ponderings
A simple man’s thoughts on God, faith and eternity
Jesus - - - fact or fiction?
After daily Mass, a young man approached me and asked to talk. He was adamant in his stance because as a freshman in college, he was too enlightened to believe such childish notions, urban legend and folklore as I had proposed about Jesus. He said he was troubled by the lack of logic and reason in the homily concerning Jesus.
Here is the response that he heard.
I agree to answer you with only logic and reasoning. For the moment, I will be silent as to faith, magisterial teaching, dogma and the like. Setting those things aside, I suggested that we needed to establish only two points:
1. The Old Testament is composed of ancient Hebrew writings compiled in books. Reason with me that, if we deny any divine inspiration in their words, THEY STILL EXIST. Reason with me that it is not necessary to accept that the Old Testament is true but only that it exists. In a moment we will apply reasoning to their existence.
2. Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical person. A cynic might propose that the only place you can find Jesus mentioned is in the bible. Not so. Consider four non-Christian writers of Jesus’ time. Suetonius, Tacitus, Flavius Josephus and Pliny, pagan historians who had no agenda but to chronicle the facts of the time. And, in their writings, they attest to Jesus’ historical existence.
The young man agreed.
Using just these two points, let’s look at Old Testament. The Old Testament is a historical tracing of a people and their prophecy. Hundreds of prophecies are found in these writings. Entire books of the time are dedicated almost explicitly to the prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Take a look at Jeremiah, Isaiah, and, certainly don’t forget to wander in wonder back to Genesis. During the rapidly approaching Advent season, we will explore these in depth. But, again for right now, we are not looking at faith . . . only reason. So, in this “reasoning” you need not believe these prophecies to be true, only that they exist.
If you were to take all the prophecies about Jesus and list them, the list would require over 20 pages, single spaced, #10 font, just to write down the Book, chapter and verse number . . . suffice it to say, It is a long list! Remember that no prophecy is valid until it is fulfilled. Now, apply these prophecies to Jesus, substantiated by the four pagan writers above as well, and you will discover a truth.
JESUS OF NAZARETH FULFILLED EVERY SINGLE PROPHECY WITHOUT EXCEPTION AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
Cynics will quickly cry foul! This fulfillment does not “prove” that Jesus is the Messiah. If this is so (that the fulfilled prophecy is not proof) THEN we must conclude that Jesus was either charlatan, a mad man, or who He says He is. There is no other conclusion – logically or reasonably.
Was this Jesus a charlatan? Did he say, “Hey guys, I’m going to fulfill these silly and impossible prophesies and be a guest on Oprah and promote my new book about it. I will make some quick cash and live like I just won the lottery!” There was one flaw for this charlatan. He had to die! Not in old age and wealthy, but in the prime of his life and only after being beaten into an unrecognizable man, hated by his own people, stripped of clothing and all human dignity, spit upon, ridiculed and hung on the most cruel instrument of torture ever devised while the birds and insects fed on his eyes and flesh while he was still alive. I can see a charlatan trying to pull off this charade except for that last day in Jerusalem. Especially with all of this torture and indignity, death, burial and, most importantly, resurrection! He prophesied Himself! He was not a charlatan.
Was this Jesus mad or crazy? A mad man could conceivably believe that he heard the voice of God telling him that he was the prophesied one. He could have been so crazy that he was willing to accept the Passion. But, again, there is a illogical and unreasonable flaw. How could a mad man sustain himself to stay on track with such an insane plan over three years in public view without ever cracking up? Not even the four pagans listed above could explain this away. He certainly did not find wealth. Many rejected Him out of hand. Jesus of Nazareth was absolutely sane. He was not mad or crazy.
Was this Jesus exactly who He said He was? He repeatedly claimed to be God (i.e. John 10:24-31). Look at John 8:58, “Truly, Truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Notice the echo back to Exodus 3:14. The contemporaries of Jesus would have understood His words claiming to be God and for that, they killed Him. Yes, He was God when the universe was only an empty void, He is God today and He remains God after all things as we know them pass away. He was exactly who he claimed to be – GOD!
So the answer to the original question, “How can you possibly believe that ANY of this Jesus story is anything more than childish wishful thinking and folklore?” I can believe it because I can neither logically nor reasonably find fault in it. And, believe me, for the last 2000 years thousands have tried in vain to discredit Him. But, more than that, I believe because before I had logic, before I had reason, before I was even conceived in my mother’s womb, even before creation, He first loved me!
Lest you think this came from some great revelation to me, it did not. I had just finished rereading Russell Ford’s wonderful book THE MISSIONARY’S CATECHISM, for the third time. (1998 Magnificat Institute Press, PO Box 60591, Houston Texas 77205) If you do not have this book, you really should! You will come to love our church as much as I do.
Until next time,
Oremus Pro Invicem (Let us pray for one another)
Next week, perhaps you and I can explore the next question my new friend raised: “If it’s that simple, why can’t Christians agree on who’s right and who’s wrong?” If you have a question you would like to pose, I will help you find an answer.