The Quest for the Historical Jesus
The historical quest for Jesus has been an ongoing battle throughout history. Christian’s faith should not be just a belief without evidence for the historical Jesus. The quest for Jesus has been an interest for many people, Christian and non-Christian. The historical information of the past will show that Jesus is the true Messiah. The first quest is the historical accounts of Jesus and how it correlates to the Biblical accounts of Jesus. Rationalists believe that not all that the Bible records actually happened. This belief is a way of rejecting any form of supernatural, but using just a rational viewpoint about the life of Jesus. “The first quest had traveled the road of rationalistic historical study and had come to a dead end.[1] The Jewish background of Jesus and the accounts of the gospels are historically and culturally correct. The Dead Sea scrolls are an example of the relevant archeological findings proving that the Biblical account of Jesus is true.
The quest for Jesus must start with the very year of His birth. It was at the time of King Herod and Luke accounts that Jesus was born soon after John the Baptist. Historical fact shows the Matthew account to be accurate about Herod’s murderous reign. The start and length of Jesus’ ministry has also been a debate. His ministry started after John the Baptist, but there is some debate upon the calendar formulation and how it all came about. Determining the length of Jesus’ ministry depends upon the information in the gospel of John. Another question arises, whether the date of Jesus’ ministry and death in John 2:20 about the temple and its construction. Although there are competing dates, there is not dispute about the historical placement of Jesus’ ministry.
Evidence for Jesus’ life from Roman sources include: Suetonius Claudius, Tacitus Annals, and Pliny the Younger[2]. All of these had accounts of Jesus’ life and recorded it to prove that Jesus was who the Bible says He is. Most were history of Rome and how Jesus was mentioned in all their reports. The most powerful extra biblical writer is Flavius Josephus as a historian. He traced Jewish history and closely followed their history and Jesus outside of the Bible. He recorded that Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate and how many people followed Him and became His followers.
The crucifixion and death of Jesus is an undisputed fact of history. The resurrection is a happening that is in debate. Early Christians believed that Jesus died and one the third rose again. No person has ever produced a naturalistic explanation of what happened after the crucifixion that accounts for all the facts, but there is no other evidence that Jesus did not revive from the dead. The historical Jesus found in the gospels has to be the Jesus that Christians worship because God’s Word is inspired, but Jesus is inseparable from the Bible.
The historical quest for Jesus stands upon an important issue, our basis for life and ministry as a Christian. Jesus is the basis that includes the historical and biblical accounts of His life. They are not separate parts, but are inseparable in understanding and believing Jesus who lives in Heaven and the man who walked the earth. The influence of beliefs on Jesus covers every theological topic. Jesus came and walked the earth, lived a sinless life and resurrected from the dead. Historical fact, archeological evidence, and firsthand accounts contribute to the truth of Jesus Christ. Not only is historical facts about Jesus true, but He is truth. Historical fact proves that Jesus came, lived, died, and resurrected into Heaven. Biblical accounts show the Jesus that took the sin of the world upon Himself and paid in full our debt for salvation. The quest leads us to a sinless Savior that is alive and sitting at God’s right hand in Heaven.
[1]Studying the Historical Jesus – A Guide to sources and methods. Darrel L. Bock (Page144)
[2] Studying the Historical Jesus – A Guide to sources and methods. Darrel L. Bock (pages 47-54)
Humility > Pride
"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." Galatians 6:14 (NLT)
Human pride leads people to defy God. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
Pride is interconnected with rebellion. Rebellion means that we know better than authority. Rebellion is telling God that we know better than He does. Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished.
• Pride affects what we worship. When we are the center of our own universe, all efforts lead to making ourselves look good. Pride leads people to use social networking to be accepted. We fit a music genre to life and then start conforming to the look, attitude and actions of the music. The issue arises when we find our identity and value within a sub-culture like a music genre. Instead we should be focused on our value and identity being in Christ. Working with students I have seen this happen quite often. Whatever the "flavor of the day" is on the menu in a student's life, many times they will become what they fill their minds with on a daily basis. It is not a matter of "if' people worship, but "what" they worship.
• Pride affects how we worship. Pride leads people to use technology to be noticed. We have all seen the Internet used to hurt people, to bring them down. I have also seen the Internet used for great good. I have seen people come to know Christ through using the Internet as a tool for the gospel. The important aspect to realize is that anything can be a tool to bring God glory or to draw attention to self. Pride draws the attention away from God who desires all of our praise and honor. "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." James 4:6
Humility draws people to an understanding of Christ as pride focused upon what we can do on our own. Without the love and grace of Jesus, I am nothing. I'm far from truly understanding the grace that I've been given, but I sure want too.
Know and Live
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NLT)
The Bible is the best selling book of all time. It is probably also one of the least read book by people who attend church. We live in generation that is completely distracted with blackberry's, droids, iphones, game systems, TV, youtube, and much more! How does a time alone with God fit into our busy lives?
One of the most important needs that we have as followers of Christ is to spend time daily with our Creator. The Bible is living and active and is not meant for the bookshelf! If the only time you open the Bible is at church, you are starving spiritually! I have heard statements like this in the church, “I’m wanting to change but reading the Bible is too hard.” or my all-time favorite, “I am switching churches because I am not being fed spiritually!” Newsflash! A follower of Christ is responsible for their own spiritual feeding of God's Word! Where in the Bible does it say that church leaders are the only way a person is to receive spiritual growth? It is your personal relationship with God, so make it personal!
D.L. Moody said: “The scriptures were not given for our information but our transformation.”
How to have a time alone with God:
1. Have a specific time: Best time? Some are morning people and some are more awake in the evening. The important fact is to have your TAG time when you are at your best! The “I will do it when I have time” approach never happens!
2. Have a specific place: Quiet, private, consistent. Find a place that is free from distractions (Turn TV off, silence the cell phone).
3. Use a good process: Start by asking God to speak to you. Spend approximately equal time in prayer and Bible study.
SOAP Bible Study Method (Wayne Cordeiro started this S.O.A.P Method, New Hope Community Church).
S – Scripture: Read the scripture of the passage of scripture. Write down the verse that impacts you in your journal or a verse that “sticks out to you” from a longer passage. Do not just skim it but meditate and think about each word of the verse(s). It is important to let scripture interpret scripture as you read. Read until you hear from the Lord. "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." (Psalms 119:105 NLT)
O – Observe: Ask the questions about the background of the scripture. Who was the author? Who was the author writing to? How would I explain the scripture to another person? Write out the verse in your own words to try to understand it further. The Holy Spirit illuminates our heart to interpret God’s Word. Context is important! Interpret a passage in the light of its context. Context is the portions of scripture surrounding the passage being studied, both before and after it.
A – Apply: How do you live out what the verse(s) in your personal life? Be specific. Memorize specific verses that stick out to you! (Proverbs 7:1-3, Psalm 119:11). It is not a matter of if we can memorize but of becoming disciplined to do it. We all have memorized song lyrics and movie quotes! Deposit God's Word in your life to become more like Christ! Make it personal! Ask the question, "How can I make this verse(s) a part of my life today?"
P – Prayer
Write down specific prayer requests about your personal needs. Keep your prayer requests written down in a journal to go back to in the future. Meditate on the verse(s), read and reread. Meditate on it throughout the day as you apply it to your life! "I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees." Psalm 119:48 (NLT).
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:1-8
I encourage you to spend time daily in God's Word. Pursue Christ and know His heart and live it each day!