Who is Jesus?

The above passage is referring to the virgin birth. How can a child be birthed without sexual union? Furthermore, this child is being described as being God! Take a moment and read the passages found in Luke and Matthew that describe the virgin birth,

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

      

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” (Matt. 1:18-23).

The above passages describe how the virgin birth came to pass. Luke, who authored the gospel of Luke, was a physician who received his information from eyewitnesses (Luke 1:2-3). In addition, Luke was a companion of the apostle Paul. Matthew, who authored the gospel of Matthew, was one of the disciples who personally knew Jesus (Matt. 9:1). With this information coming from sources that were very close to Jesus, the likelihood of these men being mistaken on the nature and identity of Jesus would be unlikely. Also, when one takes into consideration the unique life of Jesus, that is, His miracle-working power, claims to deity, and rising from the dead, these realities point to Him being more than just a man. Indeed, He would be the God-Man. 

Isaiah 9:6— “For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (ESV)

When the above verse is read in light of Isaiah 7:14, it reinforces that the Messiah would not just be of mere human origin, He would be divine.

Micah 5:2—But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (ESV)

The Micah passage has very distinct language that describes the exact birthplace of the coming ruler and that he existed in eternity past. In short, the ruler would have existed before time began. In addition, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This is the very birthplace of Jesus (Matt. 2:1).

Hosea 11:1—“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.” (NIV)

Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, his life was being threatened by King Herod in his early years. Joseph, the husband of Jesus’ mother had a dream in which an angel directed him to flee to Egypt. They remained there till Herod’s death and returned back to Israel afterwards. (Matt. 2:13-15)

Prophetic Statements Concerning His Kingship (King of kings)

Daniel 7:13-14—“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (ESV).

As seen in the above passage, the “son of man” would have a kingdom in which He would rule over nations and would be full of glory. Jesus referred to himself as being the “Son of Man” many times during His ministry. Indeed, he even claimed the above passage spoke of Him while standing before those who questioned His identity (Matt. 24:30).

Zech. 4:4—“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (ESV)

Although this text was written 400-500 years prior, Jesus fulfilled this Scripture days before He was going to be crucified. (Mark 11:1-10; Matthew 21:1-5; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:14,15)

Isaiah 9:7—“Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time for and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” (ESV)

Psalms 110:1—The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself on several occasions. Read the following exchange between Jesus and religious officials:

“Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,”‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (Matt. 22:41-46)

Obviously, if the Christ is descended from David (in the flesh) and David precedes the Christ (in the flesh), physically speaking, David would be the Christ’s “father”; which means he would not call Him “Lord”. However, David was aware of the nature of the Christ and that He preceded Him from eternity as being God. Therefore, David calls Him “Lord”.

The Pharisees did not want to concede nor confess this as being true. Indeed, Jesus was making a central point that He was God in the flesh, that is, God the Son.

Prophetic Statements Concerning the Ministry of Jesus

Malachi 3:1—“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. (ESV)

Isaiah 40:3—“A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.” (ESV)

John the Baptist was “the messenger” called to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry. He preached repentance while in the wilderness and later baptized Jesus (Matt. 3:2,13-15;11:10).

Isaiah 9:1—In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. (ESV)

Jesus lived for a period of time in the land of Galilee in the city of Nazareth. However, later he went to live in Capernaum, which is in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. While there, he began to preach the kingdom of God. (Matt. 4:12-17)

Isaiah 29:18— “In that day the deaf shall hear the word of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” (ESV)

During Jesus’ ministry he performed many miracles, including restoring the sight of the blind and those who were deaf. (John 9:39; Luke 7:19-22; Mark 7:37)

Isaiah 61:1—The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (ESV)

Jesus quoted this verse while speaking in a synagogue and said, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This left the audience bewildered and in awe. (Luke 4:16-21)

Isaiah 42:1-3—“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” (ESV)

Although Jesus did many miracles, he did not trumpet his miraculous works to boost his ego. Many times he encouraged those whom He healed, not to make Him known while in the midst of being persecuted (Matt. 12:15-16).

Isaiah 53:3—“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.” (HCSB)

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he experienced rejection from family, religious leaders, and the culture in general. He was despised by many up until the day of His death (Mark 3:20-21; Luke 17:25; John 1:11; 7:3-5; 10:19-20; Luke 4:28-29; 23:18).

Psalms 78:2—“I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old…”

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he spoke in parables (Matt. 13:35).

Isaiah 6:9-10—“Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (ESV)

Although many followed Jesus as he continually preached about the kingdom of God and repentance, a good majority never repented and surrendered to Jesus due to not grasping who He was and the message that was spoken (Matt. 13:14-15).

Prophetic Statements Concerning the Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Psalms 22:1—“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (ESV)

These are very words Jesus recited while hanging on the cross. (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34)

Psalms 22:16-18—“For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they state and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (ESV)

Psalms 34:20—He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (ESV)

Incredibly, this prophecy predates Jesus by 1,000 years! This describes the scene of Jesus hanging on the cross for the sins of humanity. In addition, particular details are mentioned:

1. “Evildoers encircle me.” The men that had Jesus crucified were filled with hate, pride, and jealousy. They longed to have Jesus killed and mocked him while he was the cross (Matt. 27:39-43; John 11:45-53).

2. “Hands and feet were pierced.” This describes how Jesus was killed: by crucifixion (Matt. 27:35; John 19:18). Interestingly, capital punishment by crucifixion was not conceived in the world at the time this prophecy was written.

3. “All of his bones could be counted.” This detail alludes to the Jews request to have the legs of Jesus and the other two criminals who were crucified with him broken (John 19:31-37). This was because of the Jewish belief that they did not want dead criminals hanging on a cross (tree) on a holy day which would defile the land (Deut. 21:23). As a result, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate ordered that the legs be broken which would speed up the death. However, when they got to Jesus, to break his legs, they noticed he was already dead. Therefore, to verify that he was dead they stuck a spear in his side.

4. “After Jesus was dead, the Romans guards cast lots for his clothing” (John 19:23-24; Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34).

Zech. 13:7—“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” (ESV)

The night that Jesus was arrested, all of his disciples fled. (Matt. 26: 31, 56)

Isaiah 50:6—“I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” (NIV)

Isaiah 52:13-14—“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (ESV)

These verses describe Jesus’ trial before the religious leaders in which he was spat on and struck in the face (Matt. 26:67-68; 27:29-31). In addition, these verses describe the brutal beating he endured before he was to be crucified. View the following scene from the movie, “The Passion of the Christ”… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRtPqABvCdg

Psalms 41:9— “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” (ESV)

Zechariah 11:12-13—“If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them. And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver…So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter.” (ESV)

Judas, the disciple that betrayed Jesus, would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Indeed, the night of Jesus’ arrest, he shared His bread with Judas. After Jesus was arrested and crucified, Judas returned the money and the chief priests and elders decided to buy the potter’s field (Matt. 26:14-16, 47-50; 27:3-10; Luke 22:19-23; John 13:18-29; 18:2-5).

Isaiah 53:7—He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Before Jesus was crucified, he stood before the chief priests, elders, King Herod and was questioned. He stood silent, and was soon after led a way to be beaten and then hung on the cross thus fulfilling Scripture (Matt. 26:59-63; 27:11-14; Luke 23:6-9).

Psalms 1:1-2—“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed…” (NIV)

After some of the apostles were beaten for speaking in the name of Jesus, they quoted the above prophecy and said,

“Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” (Acts 4:27-28, NIV)

Psalm 31:5—”Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.”

While Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46, ESV)

Isaiah 53:9— “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” (ESV)

Jesus was executed as a condemned criminal; however, he was not guilty of any sin (1 Pet 2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:25; 7:26). When he was buried he was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, who was a rich man (Matt. 27:57-60).

Isaiah 53:5-6—“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (ESV)

Isaiah 53:12—“Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (ESV)

Jesus was pierced with nine-inch nails that was driven through his hands and feet along with two other criminals (Mark 15:27-28; Luke 22:37; 23:32-33), bore the sin of mankind (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9: 15,28; Rom. 3:23-26) and intercedes for those who have been sanctified (Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1). In addition, through his suffering on our behalf, we receive peace with God (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:13-17).

Psalms 16:8-11—“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (ESV)

Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, quoted the above verses that were written by King David. These verses were spoken by Peter after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven. He said the following pertaining to these verses of Scripture,

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:29-32, ESV)

Prophetic Statements of Jesus Being the Passover Lamb

Exodus 12:21,27—“Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb…It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover.” (ESV)

Isaiah 53:7—He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (ESV)

The story of Passover, is a story of redemption for the Jewish nation. While they were in Egypt, they were being held captive as slaves for over 400 years. They longed to be set free from their bondage. Therefore, God raised up a deliverer by a man named Moses. Moses challenged the leader of the Egyptians–Pharaoh, to release God’s people. The Pharaoh resisted even after seeing many signs and wonders by the hand of Moses on God’s behalf. The final plague that God placed on the Egyptians was the death of the firstborn. However, God spoke to Moses and commanded the Jewish nation to slaughter a lamb that was without blemish and to place the blood of the lamb on their doorpost. By doing so, the plague would not enter their homes, and soon after, the people would be released from Egyptian slavery.

Jesus was called the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev. 5:12-13). He is also called, “Christ the Passover Lamb” (1 Cor. 5:7). Astoundingly, Jesus was crucified on the day the Jews commemorate Passover (Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7).

The same way the Passover Lamb was used to set Israel free from Egyptian bondage, would be the same way Jesus would set humanity free from the bondage of sin, death, and the devil (Acts 10:34-43; Rev. 12:9-11; 1 John 1:7; 3:8; 1 Cor. 15:55-57; Heb. 2:14-15).

Prophetic Statements of Jesus Being a Sin Offering that Satisfies the Wrath of God (Justice)

Isaiah 53:10-11—Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin…Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (ESV)

By Jesus going to the cross, he was going as a sin offering that satisfied God’s justice (Rom. 3:23-26; 1 Peter 1:21-25; Heb. 2:14-17). By satisfying the righteous requirement for humanity (Rom. 8:4), he has given the opportunity for many to be made right before God by placing their faith in Him (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:28).

Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

Although there are numerous prophecies that attest to the Person, mission, and ministry of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. With this event being revolutionary, we want to display some historical facts that will support the claim that Jesus did rise from the dead. Take a moment to peruse the following key points to understand the significance of the resurrection and its historicity:

1. Old Testament Prophets spoke of Jesus resurrection. This is quite a daunting statement. How is it possible that men who predate Jesus by at least 1,000 years write down such an event? Answer: It isn’t possible! Unless, these men were inspired by a Supernatural Source, that is, the Spirit of God (2 Pet. 1:19-21).

• Psalm 16:9–10, “ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”

Not much longer after Jesus resurrected, the Apostle Peter quoted the above text to his opponents and to a crowd to reveal how Jesus fulfilled these verses. Read what Peter states after quoting the above verse,

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about tthe patriarch David that he both died and vwas buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:29-32).

o It is very unlikely that Peter was mistaken in quoting that Jesus fulfilled this verse by His resurrecting from the dead. Not only did Peter physically see Jesus on multiple occasions after the resurrection (John 20:19-29; 21:1-14; Acts 1:3), Jesus showed the apostles how He fulfilled Scripture after He was raised from the dead (Luke 24:44-46).

• Other resurrection texts to consider: Psalm 22; Isaiah 53:9-11; Jonah 2:6; Hosea 6:1-2;

2. Jesus predicted that he was going to rise from the dead in three days. How many people do you know would be so bold to predict they will rise three days after their death? This statement is truly staggering and revealing. Either Jesus was lying or He was telling the truth. Indeed, Jesus did not just make these statements to those who were following him (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; 9:31) but also to His opponents (Matt. 27:63; John 2:18-22). If Jesus did not rise from the dead, one could make the claim, “He was the greatest deceiver in human history.” However, if Jesus resurrected from the dead, then all His claims of being the Son of God/Man and having all authority is true.

3. The disciples believed he physically rose from the dead. After Jesus died, His disciples were cowering in fear due to their Master dying a brutal death. I am sure they were thinking, “Who would be next to suffer the same fate as He?” In addition, to the fear of death, they would face much ridicule and mocking because everything that their Master preached would now be in vain due to Him being slain. However, after they saw the risen Savior, everything changed. They were no longer silent. They stood and preached in the most Jewish city in the world and proclaimed, “Jesus is the Christ and is risen!” As a result, they were persecuted, put in prison, beaten, and some even martyred. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, why would they risk everything?

4. James the brother of Jesus who was a skeptic becomes a follower of Jesus. James, the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Gal.1:19), was the leader of the Jerusalem church. However, that wasn’t always the case. During Jesus’ ministry, according to John’s testimony, Jesus brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). Yet, something significant happened to change their minds.

• In Paul’s testimony to the Corinthians, he writes, “He (Jesus) was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James…” (1 Cor. 15:4-7).

• Later, after the resurrection, we see James leading the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:12-21; Gal. 1:19). While James was a skeptic during the ministry of Jesus, he clearly had a paradigm shift after He saw Jesus resurrected. Not only did James become a follower of Jesus but he began to lead the Jerusalem church! This can only be attributed to James seeing the resurrected Christ.

5. The testimony of Jesus’ enemies admitting an empty tomb. When Jesus resurrected, Roman guards were posted at His tomb. The reason the guards were there was because the chief priests and Pharisees (Jesus’ religious opponents) heard Jesus say during His ministry, “After three days I will rise” (Matt. 27:63). They were thinking Jesus’ disciples would steal the body of Jesus to make it appear that he rose from the dead. However, by placing guards at the tomb, it would prevent the disciples from attempting such a feat.

Those same guards went back to the chief priests and reported what they had seen, that is, Jesus rising from the dead (Matt. 28:11). In attempt to conceal the event, the elders and chief priests gave the guards a sum of money and fabricated a story and told the guards, “Tell people, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep’” (Matt. 28:13). According to Matthew’s testimony, that story was still circulating at the time of his writing (Matt. 28:15).

When did Matthew write his gospel? If we were to take the earliest scholarly consensus, the date would be A.D 50. When did Jesus die? Most scholars suggest between A.D. 30-36. Why is this important?

This is important for multiple reasons:

1. If we take the latest date for which Jesus died, A.D. 36, and the earliest date of Matthew’s Gospel being written, A.D. 50, that would mean the tomb would still have been empty at least 14 years!

2. The story that was circulating in that day was what the chief priests had concocted. However, although they fabricated the story, their testimony speaks of an empty tomb.

3. Not much longer after Jesus bodily rose from the dead, his disciples were preaching the significance of this event. In short, if there was no resurrection of Jesus, there would be no Christianity. Consequently, the majority of the disciples died brutal deaths due to their testimony of Jesus resurrecting from the dead. Would they willingly die knowing they are lying about the very event they were preaching about?

6. Secular authors speaking of the historicity and crucifixion of Jesus. Many object to Jesus being a historical figure because the Bible is labeled as “religious literature” and should not be taken as historical. However, there were several secular accounts of record, that reported on Jesus:

1. Tacitus. Tacitus was a Roman historian and senator. He lived between 56-120 A.D. The following passage details an event that happened in Rome in which the Roman Emperor, Nero, attempted to blame Christians on a fire that was set in the city. Read the following,

“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.” (Annals)

Tacitus mentions “Christus” which is Jesus Christ, experiencing the extreme penalty, that is, being crucified. Also, he alludes to Pontius Pilatus (Pilate) who was the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death. This suggest that Tacitus had knowledge of the events surrounding the death of Jesus although he was not a follower of Christ.

2.  Josephus. Josephus was a Jewish historian and lived between 37—100 A.D. He was not a follower of Jesus. However, he did record certain events of Jesus’ life in his book “Antiquities” that was written between 90-95 A.D. Read the following:

“At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have reported wonders. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.” (Antiquities 18:63)

Again, we see another secular source attesting to the historicity of Jesus and that he was crucified by the orders of Pontius Pilate. It seems that Josephus was writing from an unbiased perspective and was recording an historical event. Although he did not believe in the Messiah, it did not stop him from recording this historical event centered around Jesus Christ.

Statements by Jesus and Close Associates that Declare His Superiority:

Matt. 3:11-12—“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (ESV)

Matt. 5:17—“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (ESV)

Matt. 9:5-6—For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matt. 10:37-39—“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (ESV)

Matt. 11:27—All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Matt. 12:6,8—“I tell you, something greater than the temple is here…For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (ESV)

Matt. 12:38-41—Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (ESV)

Matt. 16:13-17—Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Matt. 16:21—From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (ESV) (Matt.17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:2, 32)

Matt. 20:28—“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (ESV)

Matt. 24:1-2—Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (ESV)

Matt. 26:27-28—And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Matt. 26:64-65—Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.” See also Matt. 24:30 (ESV)

Matt. 27:62-64—The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” (ESV)

John 1:1-2—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (ESV)

The descriptive term of the “Word” was another title for Jesus (John 1:14; Rev. 19:13). Being labeled the Word reveals He is the full expression of God in human form. From the above text, two Persons of the Trinity can be identified, God the Father and God the Son. Hence, “The Word was with God and the Word was God.”

John 1:14,18—“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (ESV)

John 1:29-30—“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’” (ESV)

When John the Baptist states, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me”, he was not referring to his physical age. John the Baptist was born before Jesus (Luke 1:5-66). Therefore, He was referring to His eternal/divine nature. In short, John the Baptist understood Jesus to be God in human form.

John 1:34—“I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (ESV)

John 1:35-36, 40-42—“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God…One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus  was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. (ESV)

[See the section, Prophetic Statements of Jesus Being the Passover Lamb. In addition, Andrew confesses that Jesus was the Messiah.]

John 1:45, 47-49—“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

John 3:14-15—“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

John 3:16-18—“For God so loved the world,i that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

John 4:25-26—“I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

John 5:18—The Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 5:25-29—“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:39-40,46—“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life…For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.”

John 6:27—“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.”

John 6:32,35—“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life…”

John 6:40—“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:44-45—“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”

John 6:68-69—Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 7:38-39—“Whoever believes in me, asf the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive…”

John 8:23-25—You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?”

John 8:58—“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 17:5— “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”