|
|
The Lost Tomb of Jesus? Introduction: Every few years some type of discovery is supposedly discovered that denies what the Bible says. Recently a television show raised the question of whether a tomb found in Jerusalem contained the bones of Jesus. Could this possibly be true and why would anyone make such a claim? I) Claims of the show A) Statistical analysis used to back up the claims. 1. Numbers do not lie but liars use numbers. B) DNA proof (?) to back up their claims 1. What DNA sample could they possibly have of Jesus to prove the ossuaries at one time contained his body? II) A Continuous Barrage of Shows, Movies, and Books A) The Last Temptation of Christ B) The Sacred Mushroom 1. Compares Christianity with fertility cults of the ancient near east 2. Contending that Judaism and Christianity are spin offs of a sexual cult. C) The secret gospel claims the gospel of Mark is a false gospel D) The Jesus scroll E) Jesus Christ Superstar F) Holy Blood, Holy Grail G) The Jesus Papers 1. Jesus and Mary Magdalene married, had children and those children gone to France. II) The Tomb of Jesus A) A tomb found March 28, 1980 containing 10 ossuaries 1. Six had inscriptions, 5 were inscribed with names believed to be associated with key figures in the New Testament. 2. One supposedly has the Aramaic inscription of Jesus. B) Many scholars disagree with the conclusions presented in the TV program. 1. The names are very common Jewish names 2. No evidence this was a family tomb 3. All the DNA proves is the man and woman were not related. C) The same old story just a different verse 1. DaVinci Code & The Holy Grail claim Jesus did not die on the cross 2. This claims Jesus was not raised from the grave. III) The Facts A) Jesus was crucified 1. We shall go over the Bible passages but also consider external sources 2. Josephus records the crucifixion of Jesus B) The importance of the physical resurrection 1. A number of articles mentioned a "spiritual resurrection" saying the body of Jesus was not raised but His spirit was. This is to deny what the Bible says and Jesus claimed would happen, also the prophecies of the Old Testament. 2. Jesus said His body would be raised in 3 days, John 2.19 3. Jesus spoke of Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and says "so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12.40). 4. His enemies remembered what Jesus said, "After three days I will rise" (Matthew 27.63). 5. Paul said the very basis of the Gospel is the resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15.12-19 C) Jesus was raised from the dead 1. Obviously to be raised from the dead one must die first, Jesus was crucified, Matthew 27.50; Luke 23.46 2. They buried the physical body of Jesus, Luke 23.46 3. Jesus arose, they came and the "physical body" of Jesus was no longer there, Luke 24.1-12 4. Jesus appeared to many, 1 Corinthians 15.3-8 5. They witnessed the ascension of Jesus into heaven, Acts 1.9,10 D) More Facts About the Death and Resurrection of Jesus 1. He was buried in a solid rock tomb, Matthew 27.60 2. It was a "new tomb" no one else have been laid in that tomb, John 19.41 3. There were guards placed at the tomb to make sure no one came to steal the body, Matthew 27.62-65; 28.11-15 4. It was a sealed tomb, this ensure no one would remove the body without leaving signs of the tomb being invaded, Matthew 27.66 5. It was an empty tomb, Luke 24.1-3 6. The Jews tried to cover up the resurrection by bribing the soldiers, Matthew 28.11-15 7. The Apostles preached, suffered, and died preaching the Gospel of Christ, Why? a. What motive would they have to preach a lie? What did they gain? b. Look at everything they endured and gave up in order to preach the Gospel of Christ. c. The only logical and sane reason would be if they thought it to be true. Conclusion: This is just another effort to disgrace the Bible. There are some people that have an anti-religious or more specifically an anti-Christian agenda. We have to note what the Bible says and be ready to give a Biblical answer for the hope that is within us. Adapted from a lesson by Don McClain D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 03.11.07 |