Bible Question: I am Jewish and I think that Christianity was just a small movement. Jesus never thought he was starting something new -something that would leave Judaism. He was a rabbi. He was very religious and he did not cancel all of the commandments. He just talked to the people to be more honest, to love God, and to stop making Judaism a business. After he died, Paul changed all the commandments and opened the religion to everyone. I think Jesus is my brother and the only real faith is our faith - Judaism. All the rest is a wrong interpretation. The first Christians prayed in the synagogue. So why do you change it to a church and eat pigs? You should return to the first Jesus - Judaism.   Bible Answer: You have a asked a most unusual question. You have asked a question that none of us can answer sitting here in the twenty-first century. The only individuals who can answer your question are ancient historians who lived at that time. Here are a few significant quotes from them.      Flavius Josephus. The well-known Jewish writer and Roman historian, Flavius Josephus (A.D. 37-100) records in his book entitled "Antiquities of the Jews" in book 18, chapter 3 the following,     Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of surprising feats - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day."   This is a surprising quote. Flavius calls Jesus a "wise man" and wonders if it is lawful to call him a man. The ancient Roman archives of Pontius Pilate confirm Joesphus' words that Jesus performed miracles and raised the dead. Jesus was more than just a rabbi. He was more than a miracle worker. It is interesting that Flavius says Jesus "drew over . . . many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles." Flavius reveals the fact that Jesus was trying to start something new. If Jesus did not want to start something new, why did he continue doing "surprising feats" and teaching? Flavius never calls Jesus God but he does say that Jesus returned to life or became "alive again." We must remember that Flavius is a Jew when he says, "as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him." He knew the prophecies about Messiah. Flavius was a Jew and he recorded these words!    Supernatural Darkness. There is a surprising statement in two different ancient documents which were written by two different historians. The surprising statement is that darkness covered the face of the earth at the time Jesus died. He died in the afternoon. Early historians tried to find an explanation for the darkness. Some of them thought it must have occurred during a solar eclipse when the moon is between the earth and the Sun. Others realized this was not possible because Jesus died during the Passover at full moon (the moon is behind the planet). It is not scientifically possible to have a full moon during a solar eclipse. The ancient scientists were Phlegon and Thallus. Phlegon was a non-Christian and Thallus may have been one. The event was also recorded in the Roman archives of Tiberius Caesar. Why such an event for a man who let things get away from him?         < Back   Next >
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