Jesus of Nazareth was born between the years 6-4 BC and left the disciples after his resurrection around 30-33 AD. Exact dates are not known and it is believed that Jesus was 33 years old upon his ascension to heaven, after living an additional 40 days post-resurrection teaching the Apostles. (Acts. 1:3)
Jesus as portrayed in The Chosen [54]
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he grew up as a Galilean in Nazareth. Jews at that time were primarily addressed by their first name only, or by his father's name, or place of origin. For example, Jesus was referred to as Jesus son of Joseph (Luke 4:22; John 1:45), Jesus of Nazareth (Acts. 10:38), or Jesus the Nazarene. (Mark 1:24; Luke 24:19) [12]
Bethlehem [55]
The name Christ is a title representing the "anointed one" as a descendent from King David. This translation is from the Greek 'Christos', which is a translation of the Hebrew word of 'Meshiah'. Jesus was born of Mary a virgin and the Holy spirit. This places Jesus in the unique position of being both 100% man and 100% of the divine. Joseph worked as a carpenter (Matt. 13:55) and raised Jesus with his brothers and sisters. His half-brothers were named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matt. 13:55) and he has unnamed and unnumbered half-sisters.
Not a lot is known about the childhood of Jesus after returning from Egypt and escaping persection from Herod. In the gospel of Luke, we learn that Jesus taught at the temple at the age of 12. His wisdom was already on display at such a young age as the Jews present at that time were amazed with his questions and answers. (Luke 2:41-47)
John the Baptist helps start the 3 year ministry of Jesus through baptism in the Jordan River just North of the Dead sea. (Matt. 3:13-17) Jesus would go on to speak about how a person needed to be reborn of both the spirit and the water to inherit the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:5) Jesus would proceed with a Galilean and Judean ministry full of miracle healings, casting out of demons, resurrecting the dead, and spreading the new redemptive word of the lord.
John the baptist as portrayed in The Chosen [56]
Jesus first miracle came at a Wedding in Cana where his mother asked him to turn water into wine in order to satisfy guests and friends at a local marriage. (John 2:1-11) In the four gospels a total of 37 miracles have been recorded with the highest number of miracles being recorded in the gospel of Mark. Three new testament words refer to miracles including power, signs, and wonders. John pontificated that Jesus accomplished so many things that if all were written down there wouldn't be enough books in the world to contain the full numbers of miracles performed by Jesus during his ministry. (John 21:25) [13]
Miracles always served a purpose, serving a significant human need, or creating proof for his authenticity as the son of man spoken about by the prophet Daniel and the son of God, which serves as an essential member of the trinity. Where there was no purpose for a miracle, Jesus did not perform them. Interestingly enough, individuals have a different range of proof needed for faith; where others can have faith alone in the word, some individuals require miracles, and some will never believe no matter what evidence is presented. Remember there were many present during the time of Jesus that witnessed miracles and still rebuked the claims of Jesus's divinity.
Jesus heals a leper as portrayed in The Chosen [57]
Jesus's 37 miracles throughout his gospel ministry [54]
Parables
Jesus's teaching style throughout his ministry focused on communicating his message through parables. A parable is an allegorical story designed to teach a truth, a lesson, or principle. In the book of Mark, it was stated how Jesus was known to say everything in parables. (Mark 4:34) Parables allowed Jesus to speak with many different crowds that included Jews and gentiles, different classes of people, and different perspectives on life and religion. Parables often focused on large topics such as love, forgiveness, the kingdom of God, redemption, prayer, and end times prophesy. Jesus could use a parable to target a specific audience in a large mixed group of individuals. It was not unusual for the disciples to need an explanation from Jesus. [14]
Matthew 13:1-23
The Parable of the Sower. On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."
The Purpose of Parables. The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.'
'You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and be converted,
and I heal them.'
The Privilege of Discipleship. "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
The parable of the Sower [58]
Luke 19:12-27
The Parable of the Talents. So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.' He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest. 'And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten. 'But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold coins.' 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
Parable of the Talents [59]
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers." 'So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"
Prodigal son [60]
Luke 10:29-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan. But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back. 'Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Legal definition of the Good Samaritan Rule [61]
Matthew 13:31-32
The Parable of the Mustard Seed. He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'"
The parable of the Mustard Grain [62]
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus was crucified between two criminals just outside of Jerusalem close to a fresh cut tomb. Crucifixion was designed by the Romans to be used against their political enemies and typically non-Roman citizens in order to create suffering for those whom they deemed political enemies of the state. This form of execution was deemed cruel and the word "excruciating" was coined in order to capture the sheer level of torture that was present.
Jesus gave his life as a perfect person, free from sin, in the most tortuous way possible during the time that he was alive. Of course this act showed God's eternal love for his creation of mankind, that such a sacrifice was made in order to save us from sin that entered into the world with Adam and we failed to uphold cleanliness from it.
In a crucifixion a person was often forced to carry the cross to the site of the crucifixion, often having been already beaten, humiliated, and flogged. Nails would be driven through the ankles or feet, along with the wrists and hands. Gravity would then create further suffering as the crucified will have to raise their body up in order to breath. With every breath the person would become weaker and weaker, experiencing hypoxia and asphyxiation. Throughout this trial the person would also face severe dehydration, muscle cramps, and confusion.
Christ carrying the cross in the Passion of the Christ [63]
The bible is not the only source discussing the crucifixion of Jesus. There are Roman personal testimonies of Josephus, Tacitus, and Lucian. The Jewish Talmud also describes Jesus death by crucifixion. The data regarding the evidence of the existence of crucifixion, that Jesus was killed by crucifixion is strongly evidenced, and many non-believing academics will admit that Jesus existed and was crucified.
The gospel of Matthew tells us how Jesus body was wrapped and removed from the cross and taken by Joseph of Arimathea to a newly cut tomb and placed inside on a bench with a large stone rolled in front of it. (Matt. 27:60-61) These tombs were used to hold a body for several months so that the flesh could decay and later the bones would be placed in a bone box and then relocated within the tomb allowing other family members to be placed in the tomb at a later date.
The empty tomb of Jesus [64]
Archaeologists have discovered that this style of tomb and burial process existed during the life of Jesus from 37 BC to 70 AD. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is known for being built over the recognized site of the tomb of Christ, although the exact site is not known and several sites have been recognized as potential spots around the city of Jerusalem. The location of the crucifixion was at Golgotha or the place of the skull. It is believed that the Roman Emperor Hathion built a pagan temple of Venus at the location of Golgotha in an effort to obscure the location and keep early Christians from worshiping and visiting the area.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old-city of Jerusalem [65]
The empty tomb was discovered by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome as they were bringing spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They noticed that the large stone had been rolled away from the opening of the tomb, and they wondered whom could have done this. (Mark 16:1-4) Jesus then goes on to reveal himself first to Mary Magdalene, who then went out notified others of his return. (Mark 16:9-10)
Detractors to Christianity have several popular theories to the empty tomb, including that Jesus had either not perished on the cross, or that the disciples had stolen his body for their own purposes. Medical professionals have studied crucifixions and have determined that common causes of death of crucifixion include blood loss, pulmonary embolism, asphyxiation, cardiac failure, shock, suspension trauma, or fatal stab wounds. Medical articles to this effect regarding crucifixion have been published with the National Institute of Health and the Journal of the American Medical Association. [14]
The Holy Women at the Tomb of Christ [66]
Paul spoke how the Jesus appeared post-resurrection to Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and over 500 other people. (1 Cor. 15:3-8). Therefore stealing the body of Jesus, but then claiming he was alive, would not suffice or provide evidence of the resurrected Jesus that the apostles carried for over 40 years that resulted in the persecution, torture, and martyrdom of the majority of the apostles. At the time of the resurrection, having women be the first to discover the empty tomb and act as a witness would not be considered compelling testimony if the resurrection was made up. Women were not allowed to testify during the time of Jesus as they were not viewed as reliable witnesses. The fact that the gospels claimed that the three women discovered the tomb lend the writing more credibility, as it would be harder to sell converts of the resurrection on the testimony of these three women. Also, it is very rare for lies to not come to light when multiple persons are involved. The apostles and early Christians kept speaking about the resurrection for decades without changing their testimonies. The testimonies persisted under severe persecution. It has been studied in criminal cases that groups of criminal individuals break quickly under examination, due to the fact that self-preservation prevails over group dynamics for secrecy.
Jesus resurrection has remained visible in Christianity through the worship of him on Sundays, the day that he was risen. The baptism experience of being reborn up through the water and the taking of the communion are shown to memorialize the blood and body of Jesus and the sacrifice that he made. [13]
The resurrection of Jesus [67]
In summary, the bible teaches us that Jesus made a number of appearances after his death. They were to a number of different people over a forty-day period. The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the women that came to Jesus tomb (Mary the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna), Peter, and two disciples on the Emmaus road. He also appeared to the remainder of the Twelve Disciples with Thomas absent. Later he appeared to them with Thomas present. There was also an appearance to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. On another occasion he appeared to over five hundred people at the same time. There is also an appearance to James. Finally Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus - the man who became the Apostle Paul. These appearances convinced His disciples, beyond any doubt, that He had risen from the dead. [15]