The Odds

A confluence of many events and circumstances occurred at a brief, single point in history with the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth. What transpired during those years of his life are consistent with the many ancient prophecies and corresponding circumstances over the previous 2000 years pointing to the promised Messiah. Was it merely a multifaceted coincidence or was Jesus the prophesied Messiah, the Son of God?

Nearly everything about Jesus of Nazareth is controversial including the claim by some that Jesus never even existed saying the figure of Jesus is the result of a Christian conspiracy. If the information in the Gospel accounts about Jesus can be discredited or demonstrated to be false, then the credibility of the claim of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and his Resurrection is baseless.

Controversies swirl around the circumstances of the birth of Jesus involving prophecy, virginity, a curse, mystics, rulers, astronomy, royalty, paternity, and more. Circumstances of his death are no less controversial embroiling ancient prophecies, high stakes politics, enemy complicity, Jewish and Roman legalities, government subjugation, state-sponsored torture, brutal execution and a mysterious empty tomb. 

From the perspective of a criminal investigator using the methodologies for examining a complex circumstantial case, these controversial topics are investigated tracing back to original sources – manuscripts; historical works of antiquity; and century’s worth of religious authority information – then coupled with modern science and medical technology; research by subject matter experts and institutions of higher education. Evidence and objective analysis results are presented to the Reader for consideration based on the legal standard of the Doctrine of Chances in weighing what is, inevitably, circumstantial evidence.

The Doctrine of Chances is based on the United States Federal legal premise that asks, what is the improbability of chance that a series of events and conditions with the same or similar circumstances uniquely pointing to a specific individual is merely an accident? In the case of Jesus of Nazareth, the series of connected events covering a span of 2000 years point to one moment in history when no one person could have manipulated the outcome.

What are the odds that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God?