John the Baptist – Confirmation of the Gospels?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

John the Baptist – Confirmation of the Gospels?

John the Baptist is recognized as a real historical figure by fierce religion opponents of Christianity as well as a Roman Jewish historian. The Gospels feature John the Baptist as a prominent figure in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, too. Does the existence of John the Baptist lend credibility to the Gospel accounts?

John, the eyewitness Gospel, recognizes John the Baptist as the one who testified about the Light whom he identified as Jesus Christ.^[1]Mark begins its Gospel immediately by declaring Jesus to be the Son of God, then declares John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3 preparing the way for the LORD.^[2]

“John the Baptist Preaching” by Giambattista Fontana, 16th Century.

Priests and Levites questioned John the Baptist about his true identity, but John denied he is the Messiah. Referencing the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, the Baptist said it was a prophecy about himself as the forerunner of the Messiah:

^{JN 1:23} He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. _(NSRV)

^{IS 40:3} A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. _(NSRV)

Affirming the existence of John the Baptist is a vehement opponent to the belief that Jesus is the Messiah – the Muslim religion. John the Baptist aka Yahya is referenced in four different books of the Quran. He is described as respectful and obedient to his parents, a devout, noble and chaste person – a prophet and a witness to the truth of the “Word” of God.^[3]

Luke’s Gospel and the Quran both describe the miraculous circumstances of the birth of John the Baptist to the barren, aging Elizabeth. Her husband, Zachariah (Zakariya), was struck dumb when an angel delivered the message he was to be a father.^[4]

^{Surah: 21:89-90a}“And (remember) Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord… So We listened to him: and We granted him Yahya: We cured his wife’s (Barrenness) for him.”

One of the four Quran references establishes common ground with Judaism and Christianity. John the Baptist is placed in the same company of revered Godly Jewish leaders Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and…Jesus.^[5]

Judaism is another passionate opponent to the Gospel’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah. Nevertheless, the Jewish Encyclopedia in its article for the “New Testament” makes references to the life and teachings of Jesus first starting with John the Baptist:

“The whole picture of John the Baptist and of Jesus as bearers of good tidings to the poor has the stamp of greater truthfulness.”– Jewish Encyclopedia^[6]

Flavius Josephus was a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin chosen as a general to lead the Jewish military. After his capture by the Romans, he became a Jewish historian for Rome. In his monumental work, Antiquity of the Jews, he significantly referenced John the Baptist in more than just a passing reference.^[7]

“…John, that was called the Baptist for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety toward God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purifications of the body; supporting still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness.” – Josephus

During a trip to Rome, according to Josephus, Herod Antipas stayed with his half-brother Herod Philip (their father was the late King Herod) and met Philip’s wife, Herodias, sister of Agrippa the Great.^[8] The two became paramours who conspired to move in together and marry after they returned from Rome with the stipulation Antipas would divorce his current wife.

“…Herodius took upon her to confound the laws of our country, and divorced herself from her husband while he was alive, and was married to Herod [Antipas], her husband’s brother of the father’s side; he was tetrarch of Galilee; but her daughter Salome was married to Philip, the son of Herod, and tetrarch of Galilee…” – Josephus ^[9]

Unbeknownst to Herod Antipas, his current wife discovered the lover’s affair of her husband with Herodius. In a preemptive move, she requested to be sent to the castle of Macherus near her Arabian King father, Aretas.

Insulted by the infidelity against his daughter, Aretas sent his army to do battle with the troops of Herod Antipas allegedly over a boarder dispute. Aided by the secret troop support of his offended brother, Herold Philip, King Aretas defeated the army of Herod Antipas.^[10]

“Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly, he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death…” – Josephus ^[11]

Twice stated by Josephus, some of the Jews believed the reason for the destruction of Herod Antipas’ army was a punishment from God for killing the Baptist:

“Now, some of the Jews thought that the destructions of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, called the Baptist, for Herod slew him, who was a good man…” ^[12^]

Using the word “repent,” a word that carries a specific religious meaning, it had special connotations to a Pharisee such as Josephus.^[13] In Judaism, to repent first requires an act against God’s Law followed by the transgressor’s confession, regret and a promise not to repeat it.^[14^] Antipas had no desire to repent or change his ways.

Reasons for why John the Baptist was executed can be two distinctly different things, yet both can be true. Matthew and Mark attribute the reason to a grudge held by Herodias for being shamed by John the Baptist for her illicit lifestyle.^[15] Josephus attributed a political reason for his execution, the perception that he was a problematic political threat to Antipas. Either way, the problem was solved with the execution of John the Baptist.

An insider source may very well have been Joanna of the Gospels, household manager of Herod Antipas.^[16] If not herself, she would have had inside contacts who had knowledge of intimate behaviors in the Herod Antipas’ family.

Judaism, Islam and Christianity, intense opponents of each other’s beliefs plus the secular Roman historian Josephus, all agree as a fact that John the Baptist was a real historical figure who was sent by God. With the role of John the Baptist being an integral part of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, does it confirm the truthfulness of the Gospels?

Updated September 3, 2023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.>

REFERENCES:

Resurrection – Did It Actually Happen?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Resurrection – Did It Actually Happen?

Resurrection of Jesus has been debated for centuries spawning many questions and theories.^[1] People cannot easily wrap their minds around the impossible concept of being dead and buried, then coming back to life.

Medical or scientific tests cannot determine if a living individual was previously dead for days, thus a Resurrection cannot be ascertained scientifically. In the end, it makes no difference if the Resurrection occurred today or 2000 years ago.

Swirling are controversial attempts trying to explain the Resurrection. The tomb was not really empty; the witnesses visited the wrong tomb; the body of Jesus was misplaced or stolen; the third day prophecies are not a factor; the post-crucifixion person the witnesses encountered was just a spirit; etc.^[2]

Circular logic is a common criticism.^[3] In this case, the Gospels cannot be used as proof of the Resurrection because the only proof comes from the Gospels and if the believability of the Gospels is in question, then Gospels cannot be used as evidence.

Gospels are accounts or reports of what happened, not proof that something did or did not occur. Included are identities, statements and quotes of witnesses; and descriptions of events – some detailed, some paraphrased.

No statement or report by one person will ever completely provide all the details of a witessed incident. Some details may not have been as important to emphasize over other information or simply the information was not known to a particular writer.

Comparing one Gospel to another is one of the most effective ways to assessed overall content credibility of these accounts, reports or statements. As with any investigative case, gaps in one account may be detailed in another.

No resurrection case can be made without eyewitnesses who would have to bridge three separate events – life, an incontrovertible death, and evident life again. Credible witnesses would have to be able to say with certainty that the person whom they once knew, was then known to be dead and is now alive again behaving as before death.

Witnesses would be expected to attest to their ability to resume a pre-established personal connection with the resurrected person whom they knew before death occurred – the continuum of a shared personal relationship.

Visual recognition would not be enough to dispel the notion of having seen a vision or an apparition. Witnesses also would be expected to affirm activities of the resurrected person are associated with life itself such as a conversation, eating, drinking, walking, and other physical activities.

A prime example is the resurrection of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from being dead after four days. A week later, Lazarus came to a dinner event with Jesus days before his own death and resurrection.

The Witnesses

First of the eyewitness statements of the resurrected Jesus, aside from angels, comes from Cleopas accompanied by his traveling partner, most likely his wife.^[4] Characteristics described are several – walking; carrying on a conversation over a long period time; references to his own teachings before his death; reclining at the table; breaking the loaf of bread and…praying.

Next is the profound report of Mary Magdalene’s encounter.^[5] She recognized Jesus, whom she believed was dead and buried, exclaiming “Rabonni!” (teacher) and wanted to hug him.^[6]

Peter, who had witnessed the empty tomb with the folded burial linens, also met with the Resurrected Jesus. The only mention of Peter’s encounter is in Luke’s investigative Gospel account.^[7]

Ten Disciples, the Cleopas couple and other followers of Jess were in a locked room excitedly sharing stories of Resurrection encounters. Suddenly Jesus himself stood among them saying, “Peace be with you.”^[8]

Luke reports they were all startled and “terrified” thinking they were seeing a “ghost.”^[9] Jesus responded:

^{LK 24:38-39} “‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”_(NET)

Noticing they required further proof, Jesus asked, “‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in front of them.”^[10] Bridging back to the time before he was crucified, Jesus told them to think back to their experiences together:

^{LK 24:44, 47-48} “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled… ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” _(NASB)

Missing the occasion entirely was the Disciple Thomas.^[11] When he finally arrived that Sunday evening, Disciple John told him they had seen Jesus.

Skeptical, Thomas was not buying any of it. “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”^[12]

Eight days passed when the Disciples regathered in the same house with the door locked, but this time Thomas was present.^[13] Once again, Jesus suddenly appeared in the room and, after a brief greeting, got straight to the point.

Speaking directly to Thomas, Jesus said “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.^[14] Do not doubt but believe.”^[15]

Thomas touched the physical body of Jesus and witnessed the proof of his miraculously healed pierced hands and side. Thomas’ excited utterance was telling: “My Lord and my God!”^[16]

John’s eyewitness Gospel continued beyond where Matthew, Mark and Luke left off. Describing the third appearance of the resurrected Jesus to some of the Disciples, he describes the scene on the shore of the Sea of Tiberas (Sea of Galilee, Sea of Gennesaret or Sea of Kinneret).^[17]

Seven disciples, five identified by name as Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) encountered Jesus who teased them; performed another fishing miracle recognized by the author; and met the Disciples at a campfire, cooked breakfast, ate and conversed with them.^[18]

Recognition by his own family – his mother, Mary, and brother, James – are better witnesses than any other.^[19] According to Jewish historian Josephus, James the brother of Jesus, died a martyr’s death at the hands of the Sanhedrin for proclaiming to the end that Jesus is the Messiah who had been resurrected.^[20]

Gospel accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus came in the form of witnesses, actions, words and behavior of the various others. Witnesses include angels, women of Galilee, the koustodia, members of the Jewish leadership, Disciples and others.

Do the Gospels meet the criteria for demonstrating a genuine Resurrection had occurred – did Jesus actually rise from the dead?

Updated March 31, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Habermas, Gary R. “Resurrection Research from 1975 to the Present: What are Critical Scholars Saying?” 2005. Dr. Gary R. Habermas. <http://garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005.htm> Saifullah, Usman Sheikh, et. al. “Textual Reliability / Accuracy Of The New Testament.” Islamic Awareness. 2007. <http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Bible/Text/Bibaccuracy.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Independent Confirmation and the Historicity of Jesus (1997).” The Secular Web. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/indconf.html> Seidensticker, Bob. “Contradictions in the Resurrection Account.” Patheos.com. April 2, 2012. <https://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2012/04/contradictions-in-the-resurrection-account-2>
[2] “Resurrection.” Infidels.org. n.d. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/theism/christianity/resurrection.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Historical Evidence and the Empty Tomb Story.” Infidels.org. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “How Not to Argue Against the Historicity and Resurrection of Jesus.” The SecularWeb. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/edelen.html> “New Testament.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11498-new-testament> Holding, James Patrick. “Please Pardon This Interruption.” Creation Ministries International. 2009. <http://creation.com/review-jesus-interrupted-by-bart-ehrman> Steinhart, Eric. “Some Resurrection Theories.” Eric Steinhart. n.d. http://www.ericsteinhart.com/articles/reztheories.pdf> Qu’ran. An-Nisa 157, Al-Maeda 110. <http://search-the-quran.com> “Did Jesus Resurrect From the Dead in an Invisible Spirit-Body?” 4Jehovah.org. 2014. <http://4jehovah.org/the-resurrection-of-jesus-a-spirit-body> “Was Jesus Resurrected as an Invisible Spirit?” Tower to Truth Ministries. n.d. Archived URL. <http://www.towertotruth.net/dialoguept2.htm>
[3] “Circular Reasoning.” Logically Fallacious. 2020. <https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Circular-Reasoning> Van Der Zee, Tim. “Circular arguments are perfectly valid.” The Skeptical Scientist. 2017. <http://www.timvanderzee.com/circular-arguments> Andrews, Ben. Atheist Republic. 2020. <https://www.atheistrepublic.com/blog/ben-andrews/circular-reasoning>
[4] Luke 24:13-27.
[5] John 20:16. “Centuries later, archaeologists opened the tomb of Jesus.” News24hours. photo. 2016. <https://news24hours.in/2016/10/31/centuries-later-archaeologists-opened-the-tomb-of-jesus-christ>
[6] John 20:18.
[7] Luke 24:34.
[8] Luke 24:36 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV. John 20:19 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, NASB, NKJV.
[9] Luke 24:36-37. NET. CR Mark 16:14.
[10] Luke 24:38-43. NET. CR Mark 5:43; Luke 8:55.
[11] John 20:24.
[12] John 20:25. NET. CR Matthew 28:17.
[13] John 20:26.
[14] John 20:27
[15] John 20:27. NRSV.
[16] John 20:28. NET, NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV.
[17] “The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret).” Jewish Virtual Library. 2020. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-sea-of-galilee> “Gennesaret.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6583-gennesaret-lake-of>
[18] John 21:4-14.
[19] Acts 1:14
[20] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XVIII, Chapter III.3.n.d <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false >

Mary Was There Beginning to End

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Mary Was There Beginning to End

Famed mother of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary, was a witness throughout the exceptional life of her son – the only one who was there from beginning to end to experience events involving Jesus.^[1] Like most mothers, every amazing detail about her son was memorable.

Mentioned twice in Luke before Jesus turned 13, the Gospel says Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.”^[2] Nativity accounts of Gospels of Matthew and Luke could only come from Mary herself.^[3]

As a girl living in Nazareth, population of about 2000, Mary came of marriageable age at about 13 years old when was betrothed to Joseph.^[4] Betrothal for Mary was no different than for any other Jewish girl…until she was visited by the angel Gabriel.

Turning from ordinary to extraordinary, Mary’s remarkable life took only a moment. Angel Gabriel, the messenger of God, announced she would be impregnated by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Son of God.^[5] No doubt, the message shocked her to the core.

Informed by Gabriel that Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary promptly traveled to visit her relative to share the experience. They had something in common – special pregnancies.

Elizabeth had been married for many years, but had been childless. Even Zechariah, her husband who learned of her pregnancy from the angel, Gabriel, had still doubted the possibility of Elizabeth becoming pregnant because of her age.^[6]

Merely a few days pregnant, even before Mary herself experienced any physical changes from the pregnancy, Elizabeth affirmed Mary was pregnant the moment she arrived:^[7]

^{LK 1:42-44} “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” _(NET)

Mary went back home to Nazareth three months later when it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her son, later becoming known as John the Baptist. No other interaction between Jesus and John are recorded until Jesus was baptized.

Giving birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, not at home in Nazareth, came as a result of many unreal events that took Mary and Joseph to the hometown of King David. It was a short-lived visit because God warned them to leave due to King Herod seeking to kill Jesus and they quickly hid in Egypt before returning to Nazareth

A stark reminder their son was distinctively different from his siblings came when Jesus was 12 years old. Upon leaving the Passover celebration going back to Nazareth, Joseph and Mary assumed Jesus was in their traveling group, but could not find him when they arrived home.

Frantically searching for their son and going back to Jerusalem, they found Jesus sitting in the Temple courts with teachers asking questions and astounding them with his knowledge. Understandably his parents chided Jesus, but his response jarring their senses, not fully understanding his response:

^{LK 2:49}“Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” _(NET)

When a wedding party ran out of wine, Mary knew Jesus could rescue the event. Knowing her son had special powers who could perform miracles, it suggests Jesus had done other miraculous things privately within their family.

Mary asked her son to save the marriage celebration and instructed servants to do whatever Jesus said. Not ready to publicly reveal his capabilities of performing miracles, in-spite-of being a grown adult, Jesus did as his mother asked performing the first publicly recorded miracle by turning pots of water into wine.^[8]

At his home in Capernaum, Mary and her family tried to meet with Jesus, but they could not reach him because the crowd was too dense. Some people told Jesus his family was outside wanting to see him and Jesus responded saying that he considered those around him to be his family.^[9]

Next mention of Mary was about three years later during the most dreadful of scenarios, all the more horrifying for a mother, when she watched her tortured son being executed by crucifixion.^[10] What emotions she experienced can scarcely be imagined.

Much attention is made of Mary Magdalene’s Resurrection encounter at the tomb recognizing Jesus after he rose from the dead. Perhaps Jesus’ own mother and family were even better suited to confirm or refute that Jesus was alive again after his death on the cross.^[11]

James, one of the half-brothers of Jesus, was willing to die for belief in his brother. According to Roman Jewish historian Josephus, James became a martyr for preaching about Jesus:

“…he [Ananus] assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions.] And when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned…” – Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews ^[12]

From her miraculous conception, the circumstances of his birth, many of his miracles, his crucifixion to seeing him alive again, Mary was the sole witness from the beginning to the end of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Some of the incidents have been substantiated by sources outside of the Gospels – Roman historians and Judaism and through astronomy, and archeology.

Does Mary’s witness account provide believable evidence attesting to his life?

Updated May 31, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Luke 1:2.
[2] Luke 2:19; 2:51. CR Luke 1:66. NASB. NASB, NIV. Luke 2:19.
[3]Northcote, James Spencer. “The Life of Mary in the Gospels.” 1856-60. <https://www.salvemariaregina.info/SalveMariaRegina/SMR-182/LifeMary14.htm> “Who was With Jesus When He Ascended?” Pathos.com. 2017. <https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/12/15/who-was-with-jesus-when-he-ascended> “Mary.” SquareSpace.com. image. 2013. <http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/498894/21585377/1357687844620/Mary-Mother-of-the-Christ-Myriam-Christian-Movie-Christian-Film-DVD-Odeya-Rush-Peter-OToole-Ben-Kingsley1.jpg?token=HQ84OGWo1X3XauVE74a6xoLFvXY%3D>
[4] “Nazareth.” New World Encyclopedia. 2018. <https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/nazareth> “Nazareth.” Jewish Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nazareth> Kiddushin 3b. Sefaria. <https://www.sefaria.org/Kiddushin.3b?lang=bi> “Marriage.” Judaism 101. <http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm> “Majority.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10310-majority>
[5] Luke 1:26-35.
[6] Luke 1:39-45.
[7] CR Luke 1:8-25, 57-66.
[8] John 2:1-11. CR John 4:46.
[9] Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-34, Luke 8:21.
[10] John 19:25. CR Luke 23:49.
[11] Acts 1:12-14. CR John 2:12;
[12] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Trans. and commentary. William Whitson. The Complete Works of Josephus. 1850. Book XX, Chapter IX.4. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>