Part 6 (2/2)

* Jesus is betrayed for silver pieces by Judas, while Joseph is sold for silver pieces by Judah, et al. (Gen 37:26-28)1 * Both Joseph and Jesus go into Egypt as youngsters to avoid danger. (Gen 37:28) * Joseph and Jesus both are imprisoned.

* Joseph is confined with two other prisoners (Gen 40:2-3); Jesus is condemned between two criminals.

* Both Joseph and Jesus attain notoriety for feeding bread to hungry people.

* The age of 30 is noteworthy in the lives of both Joseph (Gen 41:46) and Jesus (Lk 3:23).

* Joseph and Jesus alike possess divine powers to predict the future. (Gen 44:15) * Joseph's father ”prays” him to ”forgive” his brothers' ”transgression” and ”sin.” (Gen 50:17) Jesus is prayed to for forgiveness of transgressions and sins.

* Joseph is the ”deliverer of his family.” Jesus is the deliverer of the family of mankind.

* Jesus is the ”savior of the world,” while at Genesis 41:45, Pharaoh calls Joseph the ”savior of the world.”1 Regarding the correlations between Joseph and Jesus, the Catholic Encyclopedia remarks: A character so beautiful made Joseph a most worthy type of Christ, the model of all perfection, and it is comparatively easy to point out some of the traits of resemblance between Jacob's beloved son and the dearly beloved Son of G.o.d. Like Jesus, Joseph was hated and cast out by his brethren, and yet wrought out their salvation through the sufferings they had brought upon him. Like Jesus, Joseph obtained his exaltation only after pa.s.sing through the deepest and most undeserved humiliations; and, in the kingdom over which he ruled, he invited his brethren to join those whom heretofore they had looked upon as strangers, in order that they also might enjoy the blessings which he had stored up for them. Like the Saviour of the world, Joseph had but words of forgiveness and blessing for all who, recognizing their misery, had recourse to his supreme power. It was to Joseph of old, as to Jesus, that all had to appeal for relief, offer homages of the deepest respect, and yield ready obedience in all things. Finally, to the Patriarch Joseph, as to Jesus, it was given to inaugurate a new order of things for the greater power and glory of the monarch to whom he owed his exaltation.2 Hence, the CE acknowledges that Joseph is a ”type of Christ,” which is to say a ”prefiguring,” precursor or foreshadowing of Jesus. As discussed by early Church fathers such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian, there were several ”types of Christ” in the Old Testament, including Isaac, Jonah, Ezekiel, Saul, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Moses and Moses's successor Joshua, likewise named ”Jesus” in the Septuagint, two to three centuries prior to the Christian era.1 In consideration of the numerous, detailed and remarkable correspondences between Elisha (”G.o.d saves”) and Jesus (”G.o.d saves”), and between Joseph and Jesus, as well as many other ”types of Christ” in Jewish and Pagan literature, as remarked upon even by the early Church fathers, it is fair to ask whether or not the gospel writers had in mind closely reproducing in Jesus these other esteemed figures. Such a suggestion, of course, would imply that the gospels are not necessarily biographies of actual occurrences in the life of an historical figure but could represent a fictionalized compilation of characters.

Jesus as Fulfillment of Prophecy.

”But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

Matthew 26:56 ”Hide the prophecy, tell the narrative, and invent the history.”

Dr. John D. Crossan, The Historical Jesus (372) In addition to various Old Testament characters serving to ”prefigure” the person of Jesus Christ are the numerous Old Testament scriptures held up as ”prophecies” of the messiah fulfilled in Christ. Over the centuries, in fact, since the story of Jesus began to be circulated, believers have appealed to these scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the messiah. These prophetic scriptures number in the hundreds, depending on the apologetic text consulted, with upwards of 1,000 in some circles, the book of Psalms alone possessing almost 100 by some counts-all these have been cited as ”fulfillment of prophecy” in the purported advent of Jesus Christ.

When these scriptures deemed prophetic of the coming messiah are placed side by side with the characteristics and sayings of Jesus, as well as the events of his life, a startling and convincing comparison is apparent. Many of these comparisons or ”prophecies,” however, are highly tenuous and in reality have little if anything to do with the coming messiah; nor are they truly ”prophecies.” Indeed, it is not just the Christian apologists but the gospel writers themselves, and perhaps interpolating later scribes, who have glommed onto OT scriptures that are not ”prophecies,” trying to make them appear to be predicting Jesus's advent. When the list is critically pared down, many fewer scriptures are possibly applicable.

It is important to note also that Jesus himself is reported to say that he did not come to ”abolish the law or the prophets” but to fulfill them. (Mt 5:17) In Luke (24:25-27) the resurrected Jesus scolds the dimwitted disciples who are ”slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” He then reminds them that ”the Christ” needs to endure ”these things” in order to ”enter into his glory,” and he proceeds to expound upon ”Moses and all the prophets,” interpreting the characteristics found in these scriptures as applicable to himself. At Luke 24:44, Jesus states that ”everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” At John 5:39, Christ mentions the scriptures about eternal life that ”bear witness” to him, and at 5:46 he states that Moses wrote about him. Other books in the New Testament, such as Acts and certain of the epistles likewise testify to Christ's fulfillment of prophecy.

The following chart highlights some of the better-known and more obvious scriptures ill.u.s.trating the Old Testament ”messianic prophecies” and their relations.h.i.+p to the New Testament gospel of Jesus. Many of these purportedly prophetic fulfillments are included because of the specific mention in the New Testament of ”prophets,” ”prophecy” or otherwise identified by such phrases as ”in fulfillment of scripture” or ”it is written.” Also included here are other verses utilized in the creation of the gospels, such as those appearing in the Sermon on the Mount, previously discussed as having been strung together from Old Testament scriptures.

Old Testament New Testament Jewish tradition based on scriptural interpretation held that there would be a messiah from the house of David, descended from Abraham. (Gen 12:3, 18:18; Is 9:7) The messiah would also be a ”star out of Jacob” (Num 24:17) and a ”branch of Jesse.” (Is 11:1) In the genealogies of Matthew and Luke-which are not the same-Jesus is said to have descended from Abraham and David. (Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32-33; 3:34) The genealogies also list Jacob and Jesse as Jesus's ancestors. (Mt 1:2, 1:6; Lk 3:34, 3:32) ”Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is 7:14; RSV) ”Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is 7:14; KJV) ”Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.... All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had

spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.'” (Mt 1:18-23; Lk 1:27-31).

”The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Gen 49:10) ”But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2) Jesus is a descendant of Judah. (Mt 2:6; Lk 3:33) After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, Herod asks the wise men where he is. They answer that he is in Bethlehem, ”so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'” (Mt 2:1-6) ”May the kings of Tars.h.i.+sh and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!” (Ps 72:10) ”...all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense...” (Is 60:6) ”...behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem...” (Mt 2:1) ”...they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Mt 2:11) ”When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1) ”And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ”Out of Egypt have I called my son.” (Mt 2:14-15) ”Thus says the Lord: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not.'” (Jer 31:15) ”Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 'A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.'” (Mt 2:17-18) ”'Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a n.a.z.irite to G.o.d from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.'” (Judg 13:4-5) ”And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'” (Mt 2:23) ”A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for G.o.d.'” (Is 40:3) ”For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” (Mt 3:3) ”He said, ”I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Jn 1:23) ”As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the lord, make his paths straight.'” (Lk 3:3-6) ”I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, 'You are my son, today I have begotten you.'” (Ps 2:7) ”...and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'”1 (Mt 3:17) ”The Spirit of the Lord G.o.d is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to all the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...” (Is 61:1-2) ”And [Jesus] stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.'” (Lk 4:16-19) ”... In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” (Is 9:1-2) ”...and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 'The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles...'” (Mt 4:13-15) ”And I will sanctify my great name...” (Ezek 36:23) (KJV) ”...Hallowed be thy name.” (Mt 6:9)2 ”Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day....'” (Ex 16:4) ”Give us this day our daily bread.” (Mt 6:11) ”Give us day by day our daily bread.” (Lk 11:3) ”Thine, O Lord, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory... thine [is] the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chron 29:11) (KJV) ”For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Mt 6:13) (KJV) ”Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Ps 2:8) ”You will seek me and find me...” (Jer 29:13) ”...[it is] the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me...” (Sgs 5:2) (KJV) ”Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you...” (Mt 7:7) ”...you shall love your neighbor as yourself...” (Lev 19:18) ”So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Mt 7:12) ”He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief...

”Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by G.o.d, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastis.e.m.e.nt that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed....

”...yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Is 53:4-12) ”That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.'” (Mt 8:16-17) ”For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground...” (Is 44:3) ”Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters...” (Is 55:1) ”He who believes in me, as the scriptures has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'” (Jn 7:38) ”Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy...” (Is 35:5-6) ”...the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear...” (Mt 11:5; Mk 7:35-37) ”And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke...” (Mt 9:33) ”Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me...” (Mal 3:1) ”This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.'” (Mt 11:10; Lk 7:27) ”Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.” (Mal 4:5) ”For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you were willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come.” (Mt 11:13-14) ”Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.” (Is 42:1-4) ”...he healed them all, and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 'Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the

Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; and in his names will the Gentiles hope.'” (Mt 12:15-21).

”I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation...” (Ps 78:2-4) ”All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.'” (Mt 13:34-35) ”The Lord your G.o.d will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren-him you shall heed...” (Deut 18:15) ”When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!'” (Jn 6:14) ”Moses said, 'The Lord G.o.d will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever you he tells you.” (Acts 3:22) ”Binding his foal to the vine and his a.s.s's colt to the choice vine...” (Gen 49:11) ”Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an a.s.s, on a colt the foal of an a.s.s.” (Zech 9:9) ”So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' And Jesus found a young a.s.s and sat upon it; as it is written, 'Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an a.s.s's colt!'” (Jn 12:13-14) ”Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an a.s.s, and on a colt, the foal of an a.s.s.” (Mt 21:2-5) ”And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day.” (Zech 14:21) ”Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?” (Jer 7:11) ”And Jesus entered the temple of G.o.d and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, ”My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you make it a den of robbers.'” (Mt 21:12-13) ”I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation [Yeshuwah]. The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.” (Ps 118:21-22) ”Jesus [Yeshua] said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: ”The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner...”'” (Mt 21:42) ”...and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Dan 9:27) ”Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.” (Dan 11:31) ”And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up...” (Dan 12:11) ”So when you seed the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains...” (Mt 24:15-16) ”Then I said to them, 'If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.' And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.” (Zech 11:12) ”and [Judas] said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.” (Mt. 26:15) ”Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered...” (Zech 13:7) ”Then Jesus said to them, 'You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, ”I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”'” (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27) ”...let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.” (Ps 35:19) ”More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause...” (Ps 69:4) ”It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'” (Jn 15:25) ”Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” (Ps 41:9) ”...Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples...” (Mt 26:26) ”Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why are you here?' Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.” (Mt 26:50; Jn 13:21) ”I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Is 50:6) ”Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him...” (Mt 26:67) ”...So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” (Zech 11:13) ”And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” (Zech 11:13) (KJV) ”And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed...” (Mt 27:5) ”So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.” (Mt 27:7) ”Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” (Jer 18:2) ”And I bought the field at An'athoth from Han'amel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.” (Jer 32:9) ”Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.'” (Mt 27:9-10) ”He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth...” (Is 53:7) ”But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer.” (Mt 27:12) ”And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; and they shall testify, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, neither did our eyes see it shed. Forgive, O Lord, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and set not the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of thy people Israel; but let the guilt of blood be forgiven them.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.” (Deut 21:6-9) ”I wash my hands in innocence...” (Ps 26:6) ”If any one goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon any one who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.” (Josh 2:19) ”So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'” (Mt 27:24-25) ”They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Ps 69:21) ”...they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall...” (Mt 27:34) ”After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.” (Jn 19:28-29) ”...they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.” (Ps 22:18) ”And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots...” (Mt 27:35) ”When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts.... So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.' This was to fulfil the scripture, 'They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.'” (Jn 19:23-24) ”...because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Is 53:12) ”Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.” (Mt 27:38) ”The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of G.o.d, who takes away the sin of the world!'” (Jn 1:29) ”So Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Alas, this people have sinned a great sin... But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin...” (Ex 32:31-32) ”And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'...” (Lk 23:34) ”All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads;” (Ps 22:7) ”I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads.” (Ps 109:25) ”And those who pa.s.sed by derided him, wagging their heads.” (Mt 27:39) ”'And on that day,' says the Lord G.o.d, 'I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight.'” (Amos 8:9) ”Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.” (Mt 27:45) ”My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1) ”...My G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46) ”Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful G.o.d.” (Ps 31:5) ”Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!'”... (Lk 23:46) ”Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” (Is 26:19) (KJV) ”...the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Mt 27:52-53) ”'And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compa.s.sion and supplication, so that when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him...The land shall mourn...'” (Zech 12:10) ”Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet...” (Ps 22:16) ”He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Ps 34:20) ”...when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear... For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'Not a bone of him shall be broken.' And again another scripture says, 'They shall look on him whom they have pierced.'” (Jn 19:33-37) ”My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand afar off.” (Ps 38:11) ”And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.” (Lk 23:49) ”And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death...” (Is 53:9) ”When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe'a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.... And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, And laid it in his own new tomb...” (Mt 27:57, 59-60) ”After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” (Hos 6:2) ”...the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” (Lk 24:7) ”Thou didst ascend the high mount...” (Ps 68:18) ”You have ascended on high...” (Ps 68:18) (NKJV) ”So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of G.o.d.” (Mk 16:19) (KJV) ”...he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Lk 24:51) (KJV) ”Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore G.o.d, your G.o.d, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows...” (Ps 45:6-7) ”But the Son he says, 'Thy throne, O G.o.d, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore G.o.d, thy G.o.d, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades.'” (Heb 1:8-9) ”The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'” (Ps 110:4) ”So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 'Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee'; as he says also in another place, 'Thou are a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.'” (Heb 5:5-6) These numerous correlations and many others between the Old and New Testaments may be found in the footnotes of the RSV and other versions, and need not be reproduced in full here. Suffice it to say that the writers of the New Testament were very familiar with the Old Testament-the only ”scriptures” of the time to which they could possibly refer-and that many of these scriptures were adapted from the Greek OT or Septuagint. In fact, almost all the Old Testament scriptures common to Matthew, Mark and Luke come from the Septuagint, rather than the Hebrew OT. As today, pious Jews at the time when the gospel story supposedly occurred studied the scriptures intensely and knew them very well-including and especially those interpreted to apply to the coming messiah, for whom they were desperately waiting.

On the surface of it, if taken literally the New Testament seems to record the advent of the messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament. However, there may be a different reason for this appearance. In scrutinizing all of the Old Testament ”prophecies” that purportedly relate to the coming messiah, it is evident that the gospels were deliberately designed to show that these scriptures had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. When these and other OT scriptures are studied and seriously considered, therefore, it is logical to ask if they const.i.tute ”prophecies” and ”prefiguring” of the advent of a historical Jesus Christ-or if they were used as a blueprint in the creation of a fictional messiah.

The suggestion that the gospel story const.i.tutes a patchwork of Old Testament scriptures used as a framework throws light upon some of the more illogical parts of the tale, such as at Matthew 27:12, when Jesus is being accused by the chief priests and elders yet says nothing. If we consider that this pa.s.sage was written in order to ”fulfill prophecy” at Isaiah 53:7, the pericope takes on greater sense.

The deliberate historicizing of ”prophecies” by ancient writers is well known among biblical scholars, as reflected in the discussion by Dr. Crossan of a reconstructed text called the ”Cross Gospel,” the author of which, Crossan states, ”attempts to write, from prophetic allusions, a first 'historical narrative' about the pa.s.sion of Jesus.” Concerning the Old Testament scriptures purportedly prophesying Christ's pa.s.sion, Crossan remarks that ”historicized narratives were created out of those prophetic complexes, stories so good that their prophetic origins were almost totally obliterated.”1 Hence, over the centuries stories have been created using ”prophecies”; based on the evidence presented above, it is not unreasonable to aver that the gospel tale is one of them, with its prophetic origins obscured.

Questions about the Gospel Story.

”The Bible is a human book with human characteristics.”

Dr. Norman L. Geisler, I Don't Have Enough Faith

to be an Atheist (372).

If you have been told repeatedly by authorities, usually since you were very young, that the gospel story is true in every fact and detail, and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of G.o.d, you may very well believe it. After all, aren't the people in authority there for a reason, and don't they always tell the truth? Nevertheless, over the centuries many people have not been convinced that the miracles recounted in the gospels really happened, believing instead that Jesus's zealous followers added these stories to his biography in order to convince others that he was divine. These people who are skeptical cite other tales and myths that contain similar miracles and magic tricks to show that the gospel story is not unique.

In addition, many people have problems accepting all the obvious contradictions in the Bible as a whole but also in the gospel story, as well as apparent mistakes, failed prophecies and repugnant doctrines. The objections raised by Bible critics include questions and concerns about the following: * Miracles and impossibilities * Failed prophecies * Contradictions and inconsistencies * Errors in time and place * Chronological discrepancies * Erroneous translations and interpretations * Illogic and Irrationality * Lack of character * Repulsive deeds, sayings and doctrines Although comprehensive in some aspects, the scope of this present work is not to list and address all of the problems with the gospel texts but to provide an appropriate sampling instead. It probably need not be stated that these are quandaries the average priest or pastor does not generally discuss with the congregation.

Miracles, Impossibilities and Implausibilities.

In the New Testament, there are so many miracles, including feeding the mult.i.tudes and walking on water, it would require too much s.p.a.ce to elucidate upon all of them, so we will examine only some of the most spectacular and unbelievable.

From the very beginning we find implausible fables that cast doubt upon the gospel story's historicity. Not only are we faced with the incredible story of Mary's impregnation by the Holy Spirit, but at Luke 1:41-44 John the Baptist is depicted as ”leaping” in his mother's womb at the sound of Mary's voice, because she is carrying ”the Lord.” Hence, John miraculously recognizes Jesus before either is born. As an adult, upon first sight John p.r.o.nounces Jesus ”the Lamb of G.o.d who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), and he is a witness to the heavens opening up, ”Spirit of G.o.d descending like a dove” upon Christ, and G.o.d's voice establis.h.i.+ng Jesus as his Son. At this development, John the Baptist a.s.serts, ”I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of G.o.d” (Jn 1:33-34). Yet, after all the signs and wonders, why does the Baptist later send word from prison, asking Christ if he is the messiah? (Lk 7:18-23) Does this scenario truly seem realistic?

Also, if John's mother, Elizabeth, and Jesus's mother, Mary, are cousins, meaning John and Jesus are also cousins, how is it that John did not grow up around Jesus, such that the two meet as complete strangers as adults? The area being discussed is only 90 miles in length-is it logical that these two families would never have met again, particularly since John's mother, Elizabeth, whose husband was a priest in the Temple, was aware that Mary's baby, Jesus, was her Lord? Would the pious Elizabeth-like so many other Jews of her time, possibly desperately awaiting the messiah-truly spend the next decades at such a distance as not to know Christ at all? Moreover, many women who have given birth in proximity of one another become very friendly and dependent on each other, especially if they are relatives-could Elizabeth and Mary really have visited with each other only prior to Mary giving birth?

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