Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Jesus on Trial
If Jesus were on trial, hostile witnesses such as Tacitus (a Roman) and Josephus (a Jew) would admit His historical reality. What remains is the verdict: Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?
Reading Tacitus, 4 pieces of evidence could be entered in for the defense:
1. Christus, used by Tacitus to refer to Jesus, was one distinctive way by which some referred to him. Our English Bibles use the term “Christ.”
2. Christus was associated with the beginning of the movement of Christians, hence their name.
3. Christus was executed by the Roman governor of Judea, Pilate.
4. Christus death during Pontius Pilate’s was during the reign of Tiberius.
These witnesses prove His life and death. What happened next proves whether He is Lord, Liar, or Lunatic. If Jesus stayed dead, then the last two are the options. If He didn’t, then….
One question based upon these secular historians is that,
• If Christians existed because Jesus existed, then why would Christians continue to believe although it resulted in them being hated, persecuted, and killed?
Why relive the life of Jesus if He was not Lord? It did them no good whatsoever in this world. Apparently they believed, leading even to their own demise, it was worth it. What would cause that kind of loyalty? There’s only one “beyond a reasonable doubt” reason why.
We’ve heard from hostile witnesses about this Christusand His followers; what about “witnesses for the defense”? To disallow their testimony because they are “biased” is not how a trial functions. Those witnesses must also be heard and evaluated. Do they have the same convictions of those Tacitus hated? If so, what would cause such loyalty? One such witness recorded the words of Jesus whom he believed to be alive again:
• Revelation 1:17-18: “… Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, His followers were not afraid of facing His reality. The witnesses for the defense were living proof they believed Jesus was Lord.
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