The investigation into the life of Jesus has long fascinated historians and those with religious beliefs. The existence of Jesus, the accuracy of biblical accounts, his ability to perform miracles, and his divine status have all been subjects of inquiry. Unfortunately, definitive answers to these questions remain elusive. However, it is within the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that we find the primary and only sufficient source of information on Jesus. Despite variations in details and similarities to other biblical stories, these Gospels serve as the main account of Jesus’ life. In this analysis, I will examine whether these Gospels can be considered reliable historical sources by referencing the Bible itself. I will explore what can be learned about Jesus from its pages and address the reliability of this source. Lastly, I will delve into Jesus’ death: how it occurred and its significance.
A Gospel is a written account of an Apostle. Many Christians accept these writings unquestioningly. Historically, some facts in the Gospels can be used as sources, but simple logic can cast doubt on certain aspects. Historians must distinguish between historical fact and interpretation. All the Gospels were written long after Jesus’ supposed death. Mark wrote his Gospel first, followed by Matthew and Luke about twenty years later. John’s Gospel, the latest one, dates back to ninety to a hundred years after Jesus’ death. It is believed that Luke and Mark based their work on Matthew’s writings. Despite using the same source, the Gospels differ in various ways. For example, Matthew’s Gospel says: “How blessed are the poor in spirit” (pg.1152, 5:3). However, Luke supposedly quotes the same speech with different wording: “How blessed are you who are poor” (pg.1214, 6:20). Though similar words are used, each version conveys a completely distinct message. The first implies that intellectually challenged individuals are blessed and happier while the second suggests that people with humble origins and no material possessions are better off.
In Matthew’s Gospel (pg.1152), Jesus is described as ascending to the mountain to meet with people, while Luke’s version (pg.1214) states that Jesus descended to the people. The discrepancy in these accounts suggests that even simple words like “up” and “down” can vary, leading to potential confusion in more significant events and details.
Matthew’s Gospel presents “The Sermon on the Mountain,” spanning from page 1152 to 1157, covering five pages. However, in Luke’s Gospel (pg.1214), it only occupies one and a half pages. Some believe that this event may not have actually occurred as described but rather represents a compilation of speeches given by Jesus over an extended period of time. These speeches were collected by the Apostles as written evidence and are believed to have been combined into one cohesive speech.
Despite their differences, John’s Gospel stands out as particularly unique, possibly because it was written last. Historians speculate that John may not have read the other Gospels and utilized different sources for his writing.
The reliability of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels as historical sources is emphasized by historians, despite none of the Apostles directly witnessing Jesus’ life. It is believed that most of these writings were influenced by individuals who lived during his time and had personal experiences or witnessed important events in his life. However, the specific authors remain unidentified.
During his lifetime, Jesus was believed to possess the power to heal and perform miracles. This belief in his healing abilities was linked to the idea that he was a prophet from God. In the book of Matthew (pg.1157), there is a recorded instance where Jesus restores sight to two blind men by simply touching them. While other biblical figures were also attributed with remarkable abilities, certain acts were specifically associated with Jesus himself. For example, in Mark’s Gospel (pg.1192, 7:33), it is recounted that Jesus healed a man’s hearing and speech impediments by inserting his fingers in the man’s ears and touching his tongue with spittle.
It was believed that Jesus could perform such feats because the spirit of God resided within him, allowing him to expel evil spirits responsible for illness. The connection between Jesus and the spirit of God is illustrated in Matthew when it states that after being baptized and emerging from the water, Jesus witnessed the descent of the Spirit of God like a dove from heaven (pg.1151, 3:16). Additionally, another miracle attributed to Jesus was his ability to bring back the dead. On page 1189 (5:29), it mentions how Jesus performed this specific miracle by bringing a deceased little girl back to lifeHe shakes her and says “Talitha kum!” which means “Little girl, I tell you to get up.” This remarkable action sets Jesus apart from other prophets in the Bible who also performed miracles but did not evoke the same sense of wonder. Therefore, he was believed to be both the Son of God and the Holy prophet, known as “Christ, the son of the living God” (Matthew pp.1166, 16:13). The interpretation of this statement varies among Christians and Jews during Jesus’ time as well as present-day believers.
In ancient times, being called “Christ” indicated being anointed with sacred oil as a king. This is evident when Jesus stood before Pilate (pg.1238, 23:3) and was accused of claiming to be the “Christ,” signifying his kingship. On another note, being referred to as the “Son of God” did not necessarily imply a literal parent-child relationship with God since others have been given that title too. For example, Yahweh considered Israelites as his children by saying “Israel is my first-born son” (Exodus 4:22).
Interestingly enough, during that era Jesus exclusively used the term “Son of man” (Matthew pg.1166, 16:13) when talking about himself – it was seen as a humble and respectful way for self-identification
Some doubted his abilities, including certain family members who questioned his sanity (Mark, pg.1186, 3:21). However, others were fearful and accused him of making a pact with the devil: “the man casts out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebul” (Matthew, pg.1161, 12:24). In response to this accusation, Jesus challenged them by asking: “If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own experts drive them out?” (Matthew, pg.1161, 12:27). This quote demonstrates that Jesus not only had faith in his own powers but also acknowledged the abilities of other prophets.
Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion for proclaiming himself as the ruler of the people, according to the Bible. This incident took place in Jerusalem while Jesus was preaching his beliefs and performing miracles. Inside the Temple, he expelled those who were purchasing and selling goods, flipping over the tables of money-changers and dove-sellers (Matthew, pg.1171, 21:12). Jesus exhibited frustration towards them because they were misusing the temple by conducting deceitful transactions that polluted its sanctity.
The people questioned Jesus, asking him about the authority he had for his actions (Matthew, pg.1173, 21:23). The priests became angry when he didn’t answer and turned against him, believing he had no legitimate right to speak God’s words. After praying, Jesus spoke to his disciples and a group of men led by Judas appeared. Judas approached Jesus and kissed him (Luke, pg 1238, 22:47), being the only one among the guards who could identify him. As a student of Jesus, Judas pointed him out to the others through this act so they could arrest him.
The priests accused Jesus before Pilate, stating that he incited revolt among their people and opposed tribute payment to Caesar while claiming to be Christ, a king (Luke, pg.1238, 23:2). They also convinced the crowd to demand Barabbas’ release and Jesus’ execution (Matthew, pg.1180, 27:20). This citation shows that they considered Jesus more dangerous than Barabbas who was imprisoned for rioting in the city and murder (Luke, pg.1238,
23:19).
Despite Pilate finding no case against Jesus as stated in Luke’s account; Jews shouted “Crucify Him!” In response Pilate agreed to grant their demand. Consequently,
Jesus along with two criminals was taken to be crucified – one on each side (Luke’s account).Matthew’s account states that there was a sign above Jesus’ head, which declared him to be the King of the Jews.
The order of creation in Genesis, with Adam preceding Eve, and whether they were adults at the time of their creation are unanswered questions. Additionally, if humans can commit evil acts despite being made in God’s image, it raises the question of whether God also possesses some level of evil. The truth surrounding these inquiries remains elusive and unknown to humanity. Defining truth itself becomes a perplexing endeavor – is it an objective reality or merely one’s subjective perception? Truth resembles an enclosed room devoid of doors or windows; just when one believes they have found an exit and enters another dark cave without escape. Every time mankind thinks they have uncovered the mysteries within the Bible, new obstacles arise to challenge their theories. True understanding lies within oneself rather than aged pages or faded ink; it resides deep within the hidden sanctuary called faith.
