By Mary Hill
Editor’s note: I am behind already. My daughter was sick today. I am playing catch up. ;0 Please pray for her because she is still ill. My car also leaking oil and needs major, costly repairs. It seems when one wants to write something that may have huge impacts evil forces fight to stymie the truth.
Jesus is a historical figure spoke of by ancient historian such as the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius. He wrote a notice about Jesus Christ in Antiquities XVIII, iii:
About this time appeared Jesus, a wise man (if indeed it is right to call Him man; for He was a worker of astonishing deeds, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with joy), and He drew to Himself many Jews (many also of Greeks. This was the Christ.) And when Pilate, at the denunciation of those that are foremost among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those who had first loved Him did not abandon Him (for He appeared to them alive again on the third day, the holy prophets having foretold this and countless other marvels about Him.) The tribe of Christians named after Him did not cease to this day.
Thallus, a historian at the time of Jesus, also wrote about the day of Christ’s crucifixion and spoke of the great darkness that overcame the land.
Many critics say these texts were tampered with and may be unreliable, but they do point to a man called Jesus who lead a sect of Jewish men in the desert and who was crucified.
For me, it does not matter. My faith is secure in Jesus and the Bible as the true word of God. I just find it interesting that scholars can point to historical texts written by pagans and non-Christians that mention Christ.
Christ is the beginning and end, according to the Bible. “The Alpha and the Omega.”
His message was simple and beautiful and even revolutionary. He loved all and even included women in his ministry. He came in a simple form: a baby. He didn’t seem almighty, but his birth was heralded by angels on high. He was visited by kings in a stable. He proclaimed a Gospel of hope to all even the lowly in station: prostitutes and tax collectors.
Today, in the United States, an argument about separation of church and state sometimes seems to be an argument against Christianity and Christ. If we mention Jesus and try to persuade others, we are infringing on the religious freedom of others.
Who was Christ? What did He stand for? Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah foretold by the prophets. This was Peter’s answer and on this truth, Jesus’s church is built. Jesus was love and he sought to heal, bring freedom, love and peace that passes all understanding.
His freedom is so real and beautiful: a life free of sin and failure. He offers forgiveness, love, and the ultimate example of charity and goodness. He came knowing he had to die for the world. He had to make a sacrifice so huge. Could mere man do this? No. He was God Almighty come in flesh, made low. Why? For love. Who can argue with such pure love and sacrifice?
This is my first installment of the A to Z Challenge. I am also joining these hops today:
I am also joining these fun blog hops for Tuesday:
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The day certainly as dark, when even God the Father could not bear to look at Jesus and turned his back. Then the first day of the week, the sun shone and light came! Praise the Lord./
Thank you for your entry at “Tell Me a Story.” I have been off line due to computer failure and virus problems, but my husband gave me a different computer so I am back on line – just lost a bunch of stuff including all my e-mail addresses. This is your reminder until I rebuild my e-mail addresses.
Please return Monday around 5:00PM PST when the new week will be open for your story at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Hang in there. It will get better. Great post, thanks for your participation!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Love and faith can move mountains and your post shows us how. Hope your daughter recovers soon and your other problems get sorted out.
Thanks for visiting my blog, Mary. Love and faith can move mountains and your post tells us how.
I hope your daughter recovers soon and your other problems get sorted out.
Hi Mary – sorry to hear about your daughter, I wish you and her all the best. I can’t say I agree that evil forces are at work, they would do more than damage your car and health, without darkness we wouldn’t see the light. I admire your faith. You write beautifully of Jesus. I can’t help but wonder how and when he really died… like after he came back to life, what was his eventual fate?
I believe he is heaven with God, His father. He served us and went to prepare a place for us with Him.
Hey Mary, found you on A to Z! Here’s hoping today finds you more on track and the bad jou jou realizes there isnt a chance with you! Hope your daughter is feeling better! Zoe
Thanks we are feeling better. I always enjoy your great comments. Thanks fo much for your funny encouragement. 🙂
The attack against religion isn’t just against Christians. Muslims are being told they are all terrorist and evil doers and Jews that they are all power hungry and greedy. None of this true, most time evil isn’t in the majority but sadly it is the majority that sometimes believe the evil more than the good. Jesus is indeed the beginning and the end. It is sad when some scholars simply want to disprove Christ existence instead of just compiling all the facts.
I so agree. Jesus is the answer for all religions: Hindu, Muslim, Jew, and Buddhist. He died for all. I feel that if people just judged His message and sacrifice and accepted it on face value and followed his example, this world would be a wonderful place. But alas, we will see paradise with Him after our deaths. Just believe.
The post justifies your blog title which ends with ‘creatively’…..And thanks for adding some knowledge about Jesus to my knowledge bank!!!..looking forward for more posts by you!!
I’m so glad to find another Christian in the list of over 2000 bloggers on the A to Z challenge!
While I don’t consider myself a religious fellow, I do proclaim myself to be spiritual.
I think many of the messages and beliefs are very important and relevant. Oddly I just came across a bible passage mentioned on a show the other night that I hope to use in my fiction. That piece of fiction has a good portion of religious undertones throughout.
You are off to a good start to the A to Z, just after that other challenge you participated in. I think you got this :p Not sure if religion if your theme for the month or if it will be random, but I look forward to checking back!
Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink
This is such a beautiful and heartfelt post, Mary! I am reading it at the end of the day, and it leaves me with such a peaceful feeling as I head off to bed. This is the Jesus that I know and love, the Jesus that I know loves me! You wrote this piece with such simplicity, in a way that anyone can understand, Mary. Well done, so very well done! Thank you for sharing it at Two Shoes Tuesday. I will add my prayers to those already being said for your daughter’s health, and for a means to repair your car. God knows our every need, and we believe that our needs will be met according to His plan. HUGS
Great post. Never enough said about it. Can’t wait to see the rest.
Brandon Ax: Writer’s Storm