ecause B ...for anyone who’s ever asked, ‘why?’ December 2015 www.because.uk.com

Jesus, Merely a Myth?

by Joseph Tkach

uring the Christmas season it’s common for Flavius Josephus: “Now there arose at this time a Darticles to declare that “Jesus is a myth,” typically source of further trouble in one Jesus, a wise man who noting that the Bible is unreliable as a source of history. performed surprising works, a teacher of men who gladly welcomed strange things. He led away many But these claims overlook the fact that the Bible has Jews, and also many of the Gentiles. He was the so- been around far longer than many “credible” sources. called Christ. When Pilate, acting on information Historians often cite as reliable the writings of historian supplied by the chief men around us, condemned him Herodotus. Yet there are only eight known copies of his to the cross, those who had attached themselves to him writings, with the earliest dated 900 A.D.—some 1,300 at first did not cease to cause trouble, and the tribe of years after Herodotus’ time. Christians, which has taken this name from him is not Contrast that with the “discounted” New Testament, extinct even today”. (Antiquities, 18.3.3) which was written shortly following Jesus’ death and F.F. Bruce, who translated this quote, noted that, “The resurrection. The earliest New Testament manuscript historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased (a fragment from the Gospel of John) is dated A.D. historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar.” 125-130 A.D. There are more than 5,800 complete or fragmented copies of the New Testament in Greek, The second quote is from Roman historian Carius about 10,000 in Latin and 9,300 in other languages. Let Cornelius Tacitus who also wrote in the first century. me share with you three notable quotes that point to the Referring to accusations that Nero burned Rome and authenticity of the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ then blamed Christians, he wrote this: life. “Nero procured others to be accused, and inflicted The first quote is from first century Jewish historian, exquisite punishment upon those people, who were in Photo:istockphoto.com abhorrence for their crimes, and were commonly known were nothing of the sort. They had the form and quality by the name of Christians. They had their denomination of recollections concerning the daily life of a real from Christus, who in the reign of Tiberius was put to person. With that recognition, a barrier to faith fell death as a criminal by the procurator Pontius Pilate… away. From that point forward, Lewis had no problem At first they were only apprehended who confessed believing in the historical reality of Jesus. themselves of that sect; afterwards a vast multitude discovered by them, all of which were condemned, not Many sceptics assert that Albert Einstein, as an atheist, so much for the crime of burning the city, as for their did not believe in Jesus. Though Einstein did not enmity to mankind”. (Annals, 15, 44) believe in a “personal God,” he refused to combat those who did, because “Such a belief seems to me preferable The third quote is from Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, to the lack of any transcendental outlook” (Einstein official historian of Rome during the reigns of Trajan and Religion: Physics and Theology, by Max Jammer). and Hadrian. In a book written in A.D. 125 concerning Einstein, who grew up a Jew, admitted to being the lives of the first twelve Caesars, Suetonius wrote “enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.” this about Claudius (who reigned from A.D. 41 to 54): When asked by an interviewer if he accepted the “He banished the Jews from Rome, who were historical existence of Jesus, Einstein gave this reply: continually making disturbances, Chrestus being their “Unquestionably. No one can read the Gospels without leader”. (Life of Claudius 25.4, and note his spelling of feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality Christ as “Chrestus”) pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. Suetonius’s statement points to the growth of Christianity How different, for instance, is the impression which we in Rome prior to A.D. 54, only two decades after Jesus’ receive from an account of legendary heroes of antiquity death. Reflecting on this and other evidence, British like Theseus. Theseus and other heroes of his type lack New Testament scholar I. Howard Marshall concluded: the authentic vitality of Jesus” (“What Life Means to “It is not possible to explain the rise of the Christian Einstein: An Interview,” by George Sylvester Viereck, church or the writing of the Gospels and the stream of The Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929). tradition that lies behind them without accepting the I could go on, but as Roman Catholic scholar Raymond fact that the Founder of Christianity actually existed.” Brown has rightly noted, concentrating on the question Though other scholars doubt the authenticity of the first of Jesus being a myth causes many to miss the real two quotes and a few even claim them to be forgeries by point of the Gospels. In The Birth of the Messiah, Christians, the criterion for validating these references Brown mentions that he is often approached around is solid. I enjoy a comment made by historian Michael Christmas by those wanting to write an article about the Grant in his book, Jesus: An Historian’s Review of the historicity of Jesus’ birth. “With little success I try to Gospels: “If we apply to the New Testament, as we convince them that they could promote understanding should, the same sort of criteria as we should apply to of the birth stories by concentrating on the message of other ancient writings containing historical material, those stories instead of an issue that was very far from we can no more reject Jesus’ existence than we can primary [for] the evangelists.” reject the existence of a mass of pagan personages The Bible’s focus and purpose is not to prove the whose reality as historical figures is never questioned.” historical validity of Jesus’ incarnation, but to share Though sceptics are quick to dismiss what they don’t why he came and what his coming means to us. The want to believe, there are exceptions. Noted sceptic and Holy Spirit uses Scripture to put us in actual contact liberal theologian John Shelby Spong wrote in Jesus with the incarnate and risen Lord who draws us to for the Non-Religious, that “Jesus was, first of all, a himself that we might believe in him and worship the human being who actually lived at a particular time Father through him. Jesus came into the world as a in a particular place. The man Jesus was not a myth, demonstration of God’s love for each and every one of but a figure of history from whom enormous energy us (1 John 4:10). flowed—energy that still in our day cries out tobe Jesus is more than a historical figure—he is the Son of adequately explained.” God who came to reconcile all to the Father in the Holy In his days as an atheist, C.S. Lewis believed that Spirit. That is why we speak of joy, hope and promise. the New Testament accounts about Jesus were mere legends. But when he read them for himself and compared them with what he knew of actual ancient legends and myths, he saw clearly that these writings Will the world end by Christmas? by James Henderson

Marrakesh, Morocco – 19th November, 2015 the Jihad struggle to advance Islam, but it is also about Armageddon. What is happening concerns prophetic s soon as I enter the taxi, the driver begins to talk fulfilment as the ISIS movement sees it. Aabout ISIL, the so called Islamic State. It makes me feel uneasy: he seems so angry. Some Christians and Christian organizations get very excited about the idea of Armageddon. Armageddon is His English is good, better than I thought it would be. mentioned in the Christian Bible, but not specifically in the Qur’an although there are strong similarities “Mohammed would not in how the end times are have approved of what described in both books. happened in Paris. We want In Islam the scenario is stability and tranquillity. that the powerful Muslim We desire peace. That is forces will be victorious the way of Islam”. over all idolatrous religions (including His words bring to mind Trinitarian Christianity), a book I’m reading called over secularism and “Titans of History” by over Judaism. This final Simon Sebag Montefiore. conflagration will take In it there’s a chapter about place somewhere in Syria. Babur, the 16th century In Christianity, according Muslim emperor whose to many interpretations of empire encompassed the book of Revelation and most of the Middle of Old Testament prophecy, East, Afghanistan and the forces of God defeat Hindustan (India). Babur the armies of the world “ruled over a vast array (including Islam), and this of peoples with immense happens in the valley of tolerance and respect. Armageddon, which is in He never forced their modern day Israel. conversion or sought to alter their practices. Preach Amazingly perhaps to Islam ‘by the sword of Muslims and Christians love and affection’, he told alike, the Qur’an describes Humayun (his son), ‘rather how the decisive end- than the sword of tyranny time battle is won when and persecution’”1. Jesus Christ returns. Note this quote from the “It’s about the end of the world”, the taxi driver internet site called Islam Today (http://en.islamtoday. continues. “These terrorists see themselves as net/node/1575): “When they reach Syria, he will then participating in Armageddon. They are Allah’s players emerge while they will be still preparing themselves in the end of the world”. for battle, drawing up in ranks, and when the time of prayer arrives, Jesus (peace be upon him) the son of I had heard of this idea before, and it has been Mary will descend and will lead them in prayer. When mentioned recently in the UK press. It is not just about the enemy of Allah (the Antichrist) sees him, he will Photo:istockphoto.com dissolve just as salt dissolves away in water. If Jesus supplication; then they will look on Me whom they were not to confront him at all, even then he would pierced.” I don’t claim to understand all that it means, dissolve away completely. But Allah will have him but surely it implies hope in God’s grace as people killed by his (Jesus’) hand and he will show them his grasp what Christ’s sacrifice means for them? blood on his lance. [Sahîh Muslim]” When the taxi driver drops me off at my guesthouse What are we to make of all this? Will there be one not far from the Ben Youssef Mosque, I feel relieved. final battle, and then everlasting peace will ensue? The conversation has been too intense. Even though Personally, I like the idea of everlasting peace of some I am a Christian, I can’t be bothered with too much sort, but does it have to come with bloodshed? religious stuff – after all, I am British. Within minutes the proprietor is talking about the Paris attacks and how In my mind it just doesn’t add up, especially on the true religion must somehow be different. “Don’t we all Christian side of things. Does God, who tells us to want to live together with our differences in peace and love our enemies, decide to finish off his enemies by harmony”? slaughtering them mercilessly in a fit of anger? Why does all-powerful God need our physical help to do so? The international tension is worsening day by day. Why employ our weapons of warfare? Where will it all end? Once again the Middle East is at the centre of world politics, and the prophecy pundits in all Surely for the God of love there is a better way? I faiths are having a field day. Will there be Armageddon believe there is, and by Christmas? that it has already happened. Paul, a Whatever does happen, Christian writer who my view is that the was executed for answer of how it will his beliefs during end up lies in a person. the reign of the And that person was Roman Emperor born into a loving family Nero, explained that two thousand or so years Jesus was crucified ago, and died on a cross so that everyone of so that we can all be every race and creed included in the grace of throughout history God. would be reconciled to God. Through the Of course, I’m talking cross of Jesus each of about Jesus Christ, in us is accepted by God whose resurrected life and none of us is his enemy anymore. In Jesus God’s we all can live. The Bible describes his birth as that of position is one of grace, and, no matter what you or I the Son of God, “full of grace and truth” believe, that grace includes us. Of course, in our free will, we may choose to reject this divine act of love but “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace our rejection of it does not change what Jesus has done for grace”2 . for us. That’s why, when it comes to the end of the world and So, when it comes to the end of the world, however it to Armageddon (whatever it is), I have hope. plays out, is it not more likely to be about the fulfillment of loving grace than the expression of God’s anger? In fact, we can all have hope because this Jesus, who is coming back, is all about grace. Interestingly, in one of its descriptions about Armageddon, the Bible explains that it will be about [email protected] the outpouring of grace. It’s enshrouded in mystical- type language but its beauty still shines through. It’s 1 Page 207 of Titans of History by Simon Sebag Montefiore, taken from the New King James Version of Zachariah first published in 2009, and also again in 2012 by Quercus Books. 12:10, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and 2 New King James Bible: John 1:14,16.

Photo:istockphoto.com Noah Vs. Jesus by Lianne Trevarthen

t seems that there is a popularity gap amongst some Christian heritage are more likely than those without a Ichildren for the most well known Bible figure... Christian background to know about Jesus. it’s Noah versus Jesus. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Why would you talk about A recent survey commissioned by the Bible Society Jesus to your children in the first place if you don’t here in New Zealand (yes, I’m a Kiwi!) showed that know about Jesus (at least a bit) yourself? more children knew about Noah than they did about Jesus. More children had heard of the Ark with Noah Yet most Western nations have Christian holidays. and the animals, than had heard of Jesus and the story Christmas and Easter are the main public holidays of his birth (let alone his death). around which the “holiday season” (or seasons) are built. Yet many of the people that have days off work for But wait..! Doesn’t Jesus have several holidays to Christian holidays, or the public that pay the surcharge tell people about him? What holidays are there for for various services, such as eating out, on a public Noah? Why do children know more about Noah when holiday, do not know the background to the holiday in there is Christmas in the mix? the first place! How can we expect children to know about this if we do not? I suspect that a lot of that is to do with marketing and toys. It also has to do with the family background of Getting back to Noah and Jesus, however...It is clear the children. We have a multi-cultural society, and that Noah is going to win in the popularity stakes for an increasing number of immigrants do not subscribe children. Noah has animals. Animals of all different to Christianity or have Christian teachings in their kinds. The ones that parents and the preschool are trying background. to teach the children about. Then there is the rainbow. A perfect opportunity to teach children about colours. Children may not grow up with stories about Jesus, Look at all the learning opportunities of the Noah story particularly if they do not have a Christian household. and you have a winning combination. Non-Christian households, however, may have stories of Noah, but not of Jesus. This is borne out by the recent Jesus has Wise men, and sheep involved in the Nativity study that showed that children in families that have a birth story. But he is a baby, and I suspect most young

Photo:istockphoto.com children are not that interested in babies. There are the how much exposure do they have to Jesus through gifts of the Wise men. Hardly commonplace items. Gold other means? Christmas is more about Santa Claus might be good, but frankincense and myrrh probably these days, and Jesus hardly gets a look-in. don’t rate that highly for children against giraffes and lions. We aren’t likely to ask the children to point them When the story of Jesus comes along, the death of out. Jesus can’t be brushed aside. It has to be dealt with. This is an execution. This is about criminals who die Then the Jesus story gets rather troublesome. There is after torture and about the wrongful conviction of an death - and not just any death - it’s an execution. Pretty innocent man. Serious topics. The focus should be on gruesome, actually. all the people who were saved at the same time....and what comes out the other side of that death. Contrast this with Noah. There is death there too, but in the sanitized version the focus of Noah’s work in It’s hardly playtime to talk about Jesus. I suspect the building the ark is on saving the animals rather than topic is too hard, and probably not even known by a lot what happens to all the people who were drowned at of parents, to explain to children. It is easier, and more the same time.... educational, to talk about Noah, and to make Noah and the animals fun, than to talk about Christ and, the Noah gets far more airtime. Movies, books, stories, and instrument of his death, the Cross. toys. Contrast this with Jesus merchandise. Not really marketed to children (or parents of children), is it? Is Jesus your best known Biblical figure?

Of course, this isn’t really about marketing alone. Jesus If he isn’t, he should be. really isn’t a toy, and shouldn’t be. But in the popularity stakes for children, if parents don’t talk about Jesus, The Cherubim’s Story by Ian Woodley

n the events surrounding the banishment of humanity angels cry? Well, if they do, there must have been many Ifrom the Garden of Eden, we are introduced to some tears on that day. unnamed characters who play an essential role: “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the How much did those cherubim know about God’s plan Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing for humanity and all creation? The Bible indicates back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” that the angels did not know the full details of God’s (Genesis 3:24, NIV) strategy: “Even angels long to look into these things” (1 Peter 1:12). How much did they know about what Those cherubim intrigue me. I’ve had a number of “bad lay ahead? Certainly, the world took a very dark turn days in the office”, but that particular day may well after Eden. There was the shock of Cain killing Abel have been traumatic for those angels. The pinnacle of (Genesis 4) and then the Flood (Genesis chapters 6 to God’s creation - Adam & Eve - must have been a pitiful 8). The damage caused by humanity may have looked sight as they headed into the unknown world outside irreparable, with no solution in sight. Eden. Were those cherubim pondering just how God would rescue humanity? Yet, there was a burning light of hope. As God brought judgement upon Satan for prompting Adam & Eve’s On the day that the cornerstone of the Earth was laid, rebellion, he declared: “I will put enmity between you “all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Geologists and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; tell us that our planet is around 4 billion years old. he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” So, the cherubim had waited an incredible length of (Genesis 3:15). Somehow God would enable the seed time watching God’s creation unfold - only to end up (as older translations render “offspring”) of Eve to watching the results of a tremendous “car crash”. Do defeat Satan and put right all the damage he had caused. No doubt Adam and Eve desired to see this prophecy Testament Israel into captivity. The monarchy itself no fulfilled in their lifetime. Perhaps those cherubim also longer appeared to serve a purpose. hoped that God’s promise would be settled quickly. But the time was not right and those angels had to patiently Suddenly, the pace of God’s plan stepped up. The wait for God’s plan to develop. Although human history archangel Gabriel was sent on an important mission, continued to run through violence, pain and suffering, to announce the birth of John the Baptist. John was not that bright light of hope could be seen shining through the promised Seed - but John was going to be the one various individuals called by God to righteousness. to point out the Messiah to Israel. Do angels get those “fluttery” feelings inside when events turn exciting? There was Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) and Noah (Genesis If so, millions of hearts “began to beat faster“ on that 6:9). Through Noah, the human race did not perish in the occasion. Flood, but was effectively saved through his building of the Ark. For humanity to be saved, a line of descent I have an image in mind for the day that Gabriel visited needed to be preserved until the promised Seed arrived. Mary. I can’t ever prove that this actually happened, but Although the Flood was one of the darkest periods in it does picture just how angels “long to look into these history, did those cherubim cheer to see Noah’s family things”. Behind the scenes, in dimensions unknown, I rescued from the waters? imagine a crowd of angels straining to hear the unfolding conversation: “You will conceive and give birth to a Then, without warning, the promise of God took shape son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and in his calling of Abraham: “All peoples on earth will will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will be blessed through give him the throne of you” (Genesis 12:3). his father David, and he The angels now knew will reign over Jacob’s which family to watch descendants forever; carefully, to keep an eye his kingdom will never on the descendants of end” (Luke 1:31-33). Abraham’s son, Isaac. This family of blessing At the back of the group, may well have been were there angels on tip a relief to the angelic toe, hoping to witness realm; for at the same this great event? time two of them were Perhaps my imagination sent to bring destruction has stretched a little too on the evil cities of far, but it must have Sodom and Gomorrah been great times to be (Genesis 19). Although humanity seemed hell bent on an angel! more self harm, the offspring of Abraham kept God’s pledge alive. The Bible does tell us that the angels’ pent up desire to rejoice did get its chance for expression. At the birth of However, the burden of God’s promise was too much Jesus, “a great company of the heavenly host appeared for Old Testament Israel. As their very name suggests with the angel, praising God” (Luke 2:13). For me, (Genesis 32:28), the descendants of Abraham, Isaac this prompts one final question about those cherubim and Jacob continually struggled against God’s purpose we read about in Genesis - were they in that heavenly for them. Two bright lights - Moses and David - were choir? Did they sing in full voice knowing that the reminders to the angels that the strategy was on course, promise was now being fulfilled? In Jesus, the Seed that one day Satan would be crushed. of Eve, of Abraham and of David had finally arrived. He was the fulfilment of all prophecy - the reality that Through King David, the promise became more Noah and Moses had only pictured in type. focussed: “the Lord himself will establish a house for you: when your days are over and you rest with your Of course, there is more to the story of Jesus - much ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed more. But what a wonderful day it must have been for you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his the angels to sing: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:11-12). But the cherubim had and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” more difficult days to observe; with the collapse of Old (Luke 2:14).

Photo: istockphoto.com Speaking of Life: The Third Man Orson Welles used to say that the role he played in THE During his life and ministry, Christ changed everything. THIRD MAN movie was one of the best “star-parts” he’d He came to fulfill the law and the covenant purposes of ever had. He went on to explain that a star part is one of God. And through his incarnation and blessed atonement, those roles where everybody talks about a character until he brought mankind back into right relationship with our the audience is on the edge of their seats. And then, finally Triune God. He brought near the rule and reign of his – the star arrives, plays the scene and leaves. And with Kingdom. And by his Spirit, he continues to give us hope their departure, everything in the story changes and all of of the “age to come” when all things will be made right. the characters are left to wrestle with the new situation. And just like any great star part, as soon as he ascended into Heaven, there was nothing else the disciples could do When I read that, I realized that while Orson played such but to go out to live and share the good news of our God’s larger than life characters as Citizen Kane, King Lear and transformational love. the great Jack Falstaff – there is one “star part” that he was never able to fill. I’m talking of course about the role From the beginning, Christ was prophesied and looked of Jesus Christ in the greatest story ever told. for. And when he came, he redeemed all things by his powerful love. And after he left, his followers continue Long before the birth of our lord in Bethlehem, Christ was to live out and share what he had accomplished with the woven into the fabric of mankind. He is the creator who world. Luckily for us, when we get to Heaven, we’ll all was there “in the beginning.” Paul tells us “all things us have a front seat to commune with our favorite star of all were created through him and in him.” In fact, all things – the Lord our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. were created “for him,” to be his inheritance. The entire universe is upheld in existence through him (Heb. 1). And I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE. for thousands of years, the prophets looked forward to that very time when God’s Christ, the Messiah, would be Speaking of Life in now on TV! It is used by UCB born and deliver the world out of sin and darkness. See (United Christian Broadcasters) in between longer how the prophet Isaiah puts it – programmes and is aired on UCB on Thursdays and Fridays between 7.15 - 7.30 am and between 1.45 and “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the 2.00pm, on Saturdays between 6.45 and 7.00 am., and government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called on Sundays between 1.45 and 2.00 pm. These timings Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, may vary. Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

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