How Would Jesus Prove Himself Today?

[flobadob]

If Jesus were to return to earth today, how would he prove he was actually Jesus and not just be seen as a magician? Would anyone believe him?

[sandyRoe]

It may surprise you to hear that that would be no problem. In the garden of Gethsemane a Roman soldier had an ear lopped off and Jesu replaced it as good as new.
If he could fix an ear for someone else he could surely get his head around his own decapitation.

[redman41]

Black Jesus
Great Heck Brewing Co
ABV 6.5%
Black IPA with biblical quantities of premium hops. The geek shall inherit the earth.

[jomifl]

Sandy, that I would love to see, especially done by the monty python team.

[sandyRoe]

The Monty python lads would probably make a mockery of the entire thing and put the head back on in The Exorcist style. (for non cineasts that means back to front)

[atalanta]

If every amputee who touched the hem of his robe were to regrow the lost limb/s, I'd believe.
And I'm one of the most hard-boiled unbelieving cynics you've never met.

[modeller]

For the first 30 years of his life no one knew of his existance and then he had to do a few conjuring tricks to convince the gullible. It's a shame the last one went wrong.

[Zeuhl]

How would he/she know with any certainty that they were actually anything special?

Would they have a certificate or something from their dad?

The mental hospitals are full of people who 'believe' they are special

[chakka35]

modeller, during no part of his alleged life did anyone know of his existence. He was introduced to the world by Paul in about AD55-60. Before that there is no trace of him.

[Clanad]

Our erudite submitter, chakka, has often maintained the central idea expressed in his current missive. However, I would like to inquire why, out of a number of Paul's writings (especailly since chakka seems to give some creedence to Saul of Tarsus' reliability) those very writings quote facts about Yeshua that had to pre-exist Paul's writings... meaning they came from some other source and couldn't have been invented by Paul.

Some of these include:

"Jesus was born in human fashion, as a Jew, and had a ministry to the Jews. (Galatians 4:4)
Jesus was referred to as "Son of God". (1 Cor. 1:9)
Jesus was a direct descendent of King David. (Romans 1:3)
Jesus prayed to God using the term "abba". (Galatians 4:6)
Jesus expressly forbid divorce. (1 Cor. 7:10)
et al" (Source: James Hannam, God's Philosphers.)

Additionally, I find it unusual, that each time I pose a response to our friend, I ask this same question:

It's well known, historically and academically, that writings of the period, especially among the Jews (who were some of the best record keepers ever known in history) were constructed on scrolls[i and the scrolls always... always... had the name of the writer incorported into the Title. Why is it then, that in over thousands of examples that exist in copies going back to as early as the year 125 (the earliest housed in the Ryland's collection in London) none of them ever... ever contain the name of someone else?

Not only that, but Paul incorporates numerous references not only to the Apostles, but is also mentioned in Luke's Gospel as holding the cloak of those stoning the first martyr, Stephen.

One additional offering - Paul reinforces his own historical setting by referencing (Acts of the Apostles) his own education in Jerusalem from the esteemed [i]Rabban Gamaliel], exceptionally well known in Jewish writings since he was at least a third generation scholar of the Hillel family. Paul's education would, (according to Hebrew traditon) have begun by the time he was 16 years of age, so by interpolation we can deduce his birth year as being very near AD 6. Most scholars I've read indicate it's probable that Saul of Tarsus would have been aware of the rising influence of Yeshua in the 30's or so of the first century.

I also constructed a lengthy (brevity is not my strong suit) reference to Julius Caesar's encounter with one of the most influential men in Caesar's life... Vercingoterix... a Gaulish warrior supreme... nothing of which is known except from 10th century translations of something by a monk of which only 10 copies exist... but, hey, that's only 1,000 years!

Same applies to Hannibal... no contemporary references and no archaeological evidence he existed...

"...Furthermore, the thesis that Jesus never existed requires selective scepticism about which sources are reliable and how others are interpreted. In the end, if Jesus did not exist, it makes Christianity a much more incredible phenomena than if he did..."


So, chakka, the serve cleared the net and landed in playable court... your return...

[chakka35]

Clanad, as always you miss the point. I submit that there is no trace of Jesus during the time that he was supposed to be alive nor for a generation or so after his supposed death. The lengthy quotes and allusions you make belong to a different time.

My point is simple one, easily refuted by finding some reference to the traditional Jesus before Paul. Your responses have always been lengthy dissertations which evade to point. Please try to stick to it.

Mention of Jesus before circa AD55, please.

[chakka35]

Sorry, 'the point'.

[joggerjayne]

He'd have a photo driving licence, or something.

[2sp_]

Best answer, ever, in the history of AB to JJ!

[joggerjayne]

No, no, please ...

:0)

[2sp_]

:-D

[jomifl]

He would just tell people he was jesus, some would believe he was then ask to see his p45.

[Peter Pedant]

There is a play with this theme
acted out by Derek Jacobi as Jesus I think.
The cardinal burns him.

Another question is - if Jesus had not worked miracles, would people have believed him ?
well yeah I think so

the converse is no miracles no Jesus which is a bit - well you know - no sweeties from Heaven, no God type of thing

I mean you have Calvinists and Calvin never flew around the room or cured people.....

[joggerjayne]

God would recognise him.

He'd be looking for his son, whom he would recognise by the holes in his hands and feet.

And, when he found him, Jesus would say ... "Father!"

And God would say ... "Pinnocchio!"

[naomi24]

Clanad, now Chakka has responded, I hope you don't mind me adding my bit.

//One additional offering - Paul reinforces his own historical setting by referencing (Acts of the Apostles) his own education in Jerusalem from the esteemed [i]Rabban Gamaliel], //


A smart move from Paul, the wiliest of preachers - but if that were true, the young Saul wasn't paying attention.