Identity of Jesus: Claims, Miracles, and Debates

I  Who Was Jesus of

Nazareth?

II The Miracles of Jesus

John Oakes

Foster Stanback



ARS recent debate:   Jesus: Man,

Myth or Messiah?



The trilemma (C. S. Lewis)  Liar,

Lord, Lunatic



More modern version (Doug Jacoby)

Liar, Lord, Lunatic, Legend



Sage

Sage



Prophet

Prophet



Liar

Liar



Crazy person

Crazy person



Messiah

Messiah



Son of Man

Son of Man



God in the flesh

God in the flesh



Legend/Myth

Legend/Myth



Man  (ie. mere man)

Man  (ie. mere man)



An important religious leader among

An important religious leader among

many

many

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Our Outline

I.  The Claims of Jesus



If we can assume the gospels faithfully

record the claims of Jesus then he is either:

•

Crazy

•

A manipulative liar

•

Or

•

The Messiah and Son of God.

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II.  Is Jesus just one of many similar

religious leaders?

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Is Jesus a Guru?

A Great Prophet?

One of Many

Important Spiritual

Leaders?

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

Roman (7)

Roman (7)



Jewish (2)

Jewish (2)



Christian (33)

Christian (33)

Not all the relief that could come from the man, not all the bounties that the

prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the

gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of bbeing believed to have ordered

the conflagration, the fire of Rome.  Therefore, to squelch the rumor, Nero

created scapegoats and subjected to the most refined tortures those whom the

common people called ‘Christians,’ [a group] hated for their abominable crimes.

Their name comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been

executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate.  Suppressed for the moment, the

deadly superstition broke out again, not only in Judea, the land which originated

this evil, but also in the city of Rome, where all sorts of horrendous and shameful

practices, from every part of the world converge and are fervently cultivated.

Annals 

15.44

Cornelius Tacitus   approx AD 114

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On the eve of Passover they hung Yeshu and the crier went forth for forty

days beforehand declaring that "[Yeshu] is going to be stoned for practicing

witchcraft, for enticing and leading Israel astray. Anyone who knows

something to clear him should come forth and exonerate him." But no one

had anything exonerating for him and they hung him on the eve of Passover.

Ulla said: Would one think that we should look for exonerating evidence for

him?  He was an enticer and G-d said (Deuteronomy 13:9) “Show him no pity

or compassion and do not shield him.” him? He was an enticer and G-d said

(Deuteronomy 13:9) "Show him no pity or chow him no pity or compassion,”

Babylonian Sanhedrin 

43a-b 

Talmud (1

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 and 2

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”

Lucian of Samosata

Lucian of Samosata

The Christians, you know, worship a man to this

The Christians, you know, worship a man to this

day—the distinguished personage who introduced

day—the distinguished personage who introduced

their novel rites, and was crucified on that account…

their novel rites, and was crucified on that account…

You see, these misguided creatures start with the

You see, these misguided creatures start with the

general conviction that they are immortal for all

general conviction that they are immortal for all

time, which explains the contempt of death and

time, which explains the contempt of death and

voluntary self-devotion which are so common among

voluntary self-devotion which are so common among

them; and then it was impressed on them by their

them; and then it was impressed on them by their

original lawgiver that they are converted, and deny

original lawgiver that they are converted, and deny

the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage,

the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage,

and life after his laws.

and life after his laws.

(Lucian 

(Lucian 

The Death of Peregrine

The Death of Peregrine

)

)

Pliny the Younger  AD 112

Pliny the Younger  AD 112

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Thallus AD 50



We know of Thallus only from a third century Christian

historian named Julius Africanus who wrote a three-volume

treatise of world history in the 50s AD.  In discussion the

darkness at the time of the resurrection of Jesus, Julius

Africanus mentions that in the 3rd book of Thallus’ history,

he mentions the darkness and calls it an eclipse of the sun.

Africanus believes that Thallus is wrong.  Whether or not

this source proves the darkness at the time of Jesus’

crucifixion is dubious, but it does seem to support the idea

that even non-Christians were aware of the resurrection as

early as the 50s AD—at about the time the first book of the

NT was written.  It also supports the claim, not necessarily

of the darkness having occurred, but of the darkness

having been claimed and believed by the Christians.

Because we do not have Thallus’ history and because we

have a Christian interpreting rather than quoting it, this is

rather dubious support to Christian claims.

V.  Are the Gospel Witnesses Reliable?



Martyrdoms. (Romans 5:6-8)

•

James, the brother of Jesus AD 62 (Josephus 

Ant

20.9.1)

•

Apostle James, brother of John (Acts 12:1-2)

•

Peter and Paul in Rome about AD 64

•

Tradition: all but John



Compare to the Book of Mormon.

•

Three witnesses

•

Eight witnesses

Reliability of the Gospel writers



The embarrassment factor.



Written and read in Jerusalem when could be

refuted.



Galatians AD 49  1 Corinthians AD 55   Mark AD

60?



Independent attestation.



Luke the historian.

Sir William Ramsay

I found myself brought into contact with the Book of Acts as an authority for the

topography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne upon me

that in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth. In fact, beginning

with a fixed idea that the work was essentially a second century composition, and

never relying on its evidence as trustworthy for first century conditions, I gradually

came to find it a useful ally in some obscure and difficult investigations.

Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact

trustworthy; he is possessed of the true historic sense; he fixes his mind on the

idea and plan that rules in the evolution of history, and proportions the scale of his

treatment to the importance of each incident. He seizes the important and critical

events and shows their true nature at greater length, while he touches lightly or

omits entirely much that was valueless for his purpose. In short, this author

should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.

Sir William Ramsay, 

St. Paul, the Traveler and the Roman Citizen

, (Hodder and

Stoughton, 1920).

VI.  The Jesus Myth Myth



Is the biblical Jesus an interpolated “Christian”

Is the biblical Jesus an interpolated “Christian”

myth?

myth?



Adonis (Greek)

Adonis (Greek)



Osiris (Egypt)

Osiris (Egypt)



Tammuz (Egypt)

Tammuz (Egypt)



Dionysus (Greek)

Dionysus (Greek)



Mithra (Persia)

Mithra (Persia)



Krishna (India)

Krishna (India)



Appolonius of Tyana

Appolonius of Tyana



Peregrinus

Peregrinus



Empodocles

Empodocles



Attis

Attis



Hercules

Hercules



Romulus

Romulus



Baal

Baal

Osiris

      An Egyptian god/man.  Very obviously a

      An Egyptian god/man.  Very obviously a

mythical figure.

mythical figure.

      Killed by his brother.   Body cut up into

      Killed by his brother.   Body cut up into

13 pieces.   His wife Isis reassembles and

13 pieces.   His wife Isis reassembles and

sews back together 12 of the 13 pieces

sews back together 12 of the 13 pieces

(see the parallel to the apostles?)   He

(see the parallel to the apostles?)   He

comes back to life and goes to rule in the

comes back to life and goes to rule in the

underworld to judge the living and dead.

underworld to judge the living and dead.

Appolonius of Tyana



A miracle worker.   A Pythagorean in the city

A miracle worker.   A Pythagorean in the city

of Tyana in 1st century AD.   Saves a friend

of Tyana in 1st century AD.   Saves a friend

in Corinth.  Predicts a plague in Ephesus.

in Corinth.  Predicts a plague in Ephesus.

Says:  stone this beggar to death to end the

Says:  stone this beggar to death to end the

plague.   The do so, and when they remove

plague.   The do so, and when they remove

the stones they find a large dog alive and

the stones they find a large dog alive and

well.   Appolonius disappears and is never

well.   Appolonius disappears and is never

seen again.

seen again.



No death.  No resurrection.  No ascension.

No death.  No resurrection.  No ascension.



Only one very unreliable source.   100+

Only one very unreliable source.   100+

years after he died.   No eye witness

years after he died.   No eye witness

testimony.  Which story is mythical?

testimony.  Which story is mythical?

Christian Myths



Acts of Peter (3rd century)   Peter squares

Acts of Peter (3rd century)   Peter squares

off with Simon Magus.   A dog tells Simon

off with Simon Magus.   A dog tells Simon

Magus to repent.   Jesus raises a smoked

Magus to repent.   Jesus raises a smoked

fish to life.

fish to life.



Gospel of Thomas.   Jesus works whacky

Gospel of Thomas.   Jesus works whacky

miracles as a baby which seem quite silly.

miracles as a baby which seem quite silly.

Jesus kills a child for carelessly bumping

Jesus kills a child for carelessly bumping

into him.

into him.



There is nothing like this is the New

There is nothing like this is the New

Testament.

Testament.

Conclusion



Given Jesus’ claims about himself



Given the historical evidence, both from Christian

and Pagan sources



Given the strong evidence that Jesus worked

wonders and signs.



Given the quality and quantity of the witnesses



Given the fulfillment of clear messianic

prophecies



and...  Given the evidence for the resurrection



I conclude that Jesus is the Son of God, the

Messiah.  Jesus is who he said he was.

One More Point:  VII. Changed Lives



Jesus has had more influence on

human history than any other person.



How to explain the vitality and

growth of a religious movement

started by uneducated, ordinary men.



Millions of lives transformed by a

personal experience with Jesus

Christ.

M

i

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a

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l

e

s



What is a miracle?



Lewis:  I use the word

miracle to mean an

interference with nature

by a supernatural force.”



Webster: “A miracle is an

event which apparently

contradicts know

scientific laws”



Oakes: An event which

requires the intervention

of God

C. S. Lewis

Miracles?



Reggie Miller scores  9

points in last 11 seconds

to win a playoff game.



1969 “Miracle Mets”



A man rescued after 28

days in the rubble in Haiti



Miraculous transformation

of lives by God

Miracles: Acts 2:22



Jesus… accredited by… miracles,

wonders and signs.



miracle = 

dunamis   

“Power or ability,

physical or moral, residing in a person

or thing.”



wonder = 

teras

   “Something strange… a

marvel”



sign = 

semeion   “

Sign or signal”



In apologetics we are most interested in

the third definition.

Do Miracles Happen?



If miracles happen then supernatural/God

exists, but that is circular reasoning.



What does science tell us?



Science cannot answer the question of

miracles; it can only help us to define the

miraculous.



If that happened, it would definitely be a

miracle!

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

Four Possibilities:

•

He neither worked miracles nor claimed to work

miracles

•

He claimed to work miracles, but he was a

charlatan.

•

He worked genuine miracles, but as a sorceror/by

the power of Satan.

•

He worked genuine miracles and his claims about

himself are validated by those miracles.

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

4Q5:21

Reasons to believe Jesus worked miracles

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On the eve of Passover they hung Yeshu and the crier went forth for forty

days beforehand declaring that "[Yeshu] is going to be stoned for practicing

witchcraft, for enticing and leading Israel astray. Anyone who knows

something to clear him should come forth and exonerate him." But no one

had anything exonerating for him and they hung him on the eve of Passover.

Ulla said: Would one think that we should look for exonerating evidence for

him?  He was an enticer and G-d said (Deuteronomy 13:9) “Show him no pity

or compassion and do not shield him.” him? He was an enticer and G-d said

(Deuteronomy 13:9) "Show him no pity or chow him no pity or compassion,”

Babylonian Sanhedrin 

43a-b 

Talmud (1

st

 and 2

nd

 Century AD)

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?



Because he had compassion.  Matt 14:14



To fulfill prophecy.  Matt 12:40



To validate his message.  John 10:36-39



Because of people’s faith.  Matt 15:21-28



To create faith in people.  John 20:30-31



Because his mom asked him to. John 2:1-11

The Miracles of Jesus



Why he did it



What it tells us about Jesus

Go and report to John what you hear and see:  The

blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have

leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,

and the good news is preached to the poor.  Matthew

11:4-5

John 2:1-11  Water to Wine



Jesus the Creator



Why?  To meet a

need and

because his mom

asked him to.

John 6:1-14  Feeding 5000



Surely this is the Prophet!



Jesus the creator and the

sustainer of life



Jesus is “the bread of life”



Jesus is spiritual food



Jesus the source of eternal

life

Jesus, Miracle Worker



John 6:35  “I am the

bread of life.   He who

comes to me will never go

hungry, and he who

believes in me will never

be thirsty”



John 6:1-15   Jesus feeds

5000 men, plus women

and children.

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1

:

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3

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

Jesus is the resurrection

and the life.



Jesus will raise those who

put their faith in him.

•

Hundreds present

•

The smell of death was

strong

•

Lazarus came out

•

Look at the responses.

There are only two

rational responses to

Jesus the miracle-worker.

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Why is the resurrection so important?



1 Cor 15:13-19     If Christ has not been

raised then your faith is futile; 

you are still

in your sins.



If Jesus was raised, then there is life after

death.

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof”

David Hume

Jesus of Nazareth was

crucified under Pontius

Pilate in Jerusalem

From the very beginning, the

church unanimously claimed

that Jesus was resurrected

The tomb was empty

Jesus of Nazareth was

crucified under Pontius

Pilate in Jerusalem

Josephus  AD 38-100

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man.  For he was one

who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people

as accept the truth gladly.  He won over many Jews and many of

the Greeks.  When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men

of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be

crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him

did not give up their affection for him.  The prophets of God

had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things

about him.  And the tribe of Christians, so called after him,

has still to this day not disappeared.

Antiquities 

 18:3:3

To squelch the rumor [that he had started the Great

fire in Rome], Nero created scapegoats and subjected

to the most refined tortures those whom the common

people called ‘Christians,’ [a group] hated for their

abominable crimes.  Their name comes from Christ,

who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been executed

by the procurator Pontius Pilate.

Annals 

15.44

On the eve of Passover they hung Yeshu

Babylonian Sanhedrin 

43a-b 

Talmud (1

st

 and 2

nd

 Century AD)

Thallus



We know of Thallus only from a third century Christian

historian named Julius Africanus who wrote a three-

volume treatise of world history in the 50s AD.  In

discussion the darkness at the time of the resurrection of

Jesus, Julius Africanus mentions that in the 3rd book of

Thallus’ history, he mentions the darkness and calls it an

eclipse of the sun.  Africanus believes that Thallus is

wrong.  Whether or not this source proves the darkness at

the time of Jesus’ crucifixion is dubious, but it does seem

to support the idea that even non-Christians were aware of

the resurrection as early as the 50s AD—at about the time

the first book of the NT was written.  It also supports the

claim, not necessarily of the darkness having occurred, but

of the darkness having been claimed and believed by the

Christians.  Because we do not have Thallus’ history and

because we have a Christian interpreting rather than

quoting it, this is rather dubious support to Christian

claims.

From the very beginning, the

church unanimously claimed that

Jesus was resurrected

Acts 2:24  But God raised him from

the dead…

How else to explain the growth of

the church?

The tomb was empty

If not….

1.

Jesus’ body was taken from the tomb.

2.

Jesus did not actually die (swoon

theory).

3.

Jesus was bodily resurrected from the

dead.

The Stolen Body Theory



Who would have stolen the body?

•

The Jews?

•

The Romans?

•

The disciples?



Could they have stolen the body?



Did they, in fact, steal the body?

The Swoon Theory



Beaten to the point of near death.



No food or water for more than two

days.



Crucified and died.



Pierced with a sword.



Separated blood and “water”

(plasma)

The Mass Hallucination Theory



The women at the tomb.



Peter and John.



The twelve apostles, including

doubting  Thomas.



Many other appearances.



Over 500 witnesses.



Do hallucinations eat fish?

Genesis 22:1-12    

Abraham received Isaac

back from the dead on the third day

.

(Hebrews 11:17-19)

Jonah 1:7  

Jonah was raised from the dead

on the third day.   

(Matthew 11:40  For as

Jonah was three days and three nights….)

Prophecies of the Resurrection



Feast of Firstfruits.  Lev 23:9-14



Jesus is the firstfruit from among the

dead.  His resurrection is a promise of

ours.  Colossians “the first fruit from the

dead.”



Romans 6:2-7  If we have been united

with him in his death, we will certainly

also be united with him in his

resurrection.

Implications of the Resurrection:



Validates the claims of Jesus

•

John 11   I am the resurrection and the life



It confirms that we, too, will be resurrected.

•

1 Peter 1:3-4



It confirms that there will be a judgment

day.



Our doubts become much less significant.

•

What about….   Jesus was raised from the dead!

What Is Your Reasonable Response?



John 11:45-48   Either;

•

Put your faith in Jesus     or

•

Radically reject him and all he stood for.

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