Articles
What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus (1)
What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus (1)
Mike Willis
For one to say that he believes in Jesus must certainly include a recognition that the man Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph, actually lived as an historical person. Certainly, if Jesus never lived as a man on earth, then belief in Jesus means no more than belief in the Easter Bunny, the Seven Dwarves, or Porky Pig.
That Jesus lived is evident, not only from the Biblical evidence, but also from contemporary historical references to Him as well. Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus (c. AD 56 – c. 120), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. In his Annals, he tells of Nero’s persecution of Christians to defuse contemporary speculation that he had a part in the burning of the city of Rome. To deflect criticism that “Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” the Roman Caesar blamed Christians for the burning of his capital city. Tacitus wrote about this persecution saying, “To suppress this rumour, Nero fabricated scapegoats—and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called). Their originator, Christ, had been executed in Tiberius’ reign by the governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilate” (The Annals of Rome, 365).
Note the things admitted by Tacitus: (1) Jesus lived during the time of Tiberius Caesar (ruled AD 14-37) when Pontius Pilate was Prefect of Judaea (AD 26-36); (2) Jesus was executed in Judaea; (3) Jesus was the originator of the Christians. Keep in mind, that this evidence is not from Christian literature, but from a respected Roman historian.
The Jewish historian, Josephus (ca. AD 37-100) wrote about Jesus in Antiquity of the Jews. He is mentioned more than once in the book and this is the shorter and less controversial comment that he made: “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man; if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, and a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him: for he appeared to them alive again, the third day: as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, is not extinct at this day (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3).
The facts Josephus mentions in this one quotation about Jesus are these: (1) He existed; (2) He was a wise man; (3) He was a doer of “wonderful works”; (4) He was a teacher; (5) Both Jews and Gentiles became His disciples; (6) He was Christ; (7) Pilate condemned Him to death on the cross; (8) His death was instigated by Jewish leaders; (9) He rose from the dead; (10) His resurrection was three days after His death; (11) The Christian religion began from the belief that Jesus is the Christ.
Notice, I have not quoted a word from the Bible to show that Jesus lived in the time assigned to Him, He was crucified by Pontius Pilate, He was raised from the dead the third day, and Christianity began from people’s belief that Jesus is the Christ. It is fair to say that historical evidence, from non-Christian writers, confirms the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of Christianity. When one says, “I believe in Jesus” he is, first of all, affirming his belief that Jesus existed as an historical person.
