3. Was Jesus a con?
Why might Jesus do a hoax?

  • For money? But Jesus gave most of his to the poor and lived very simply.
  • Power? No, he didn’t let people make him King when they wanted to, and he chose to die rather than start a war of rebellion.2
  • Popularity? No, Jesus’ enemies out-numbered his friends because he told the truth. He knew that would bring his death.

So he gained nothing. If he was clever enough to pull off such a con, why would he do it for no reason?

And could he fake it even if he wanted to? To convince people he was the Messiah, he’d have to fit dozens of detailed predictions.

1 Mark 10:45 2 John 6:15

What Predictions?
Here’s just a few…

  1. He’d arrive before the last of the Jewish kings lost power. (Genesis 49:10 - written c.1500BC) Roman power finally took over in AD70.
  2. He’d start his work 483 years after Jerusalem started being rebuilt, wrote Daniel (9:25 - written 600 years earlier). Rebuilding started in 457BC.
  3. He’d be killed by piercing his hands and feet, wrote David in c. 1000BC, even though crucifixion was unknown in Israel until c.165BC. (Psalm 22:16)
  4. He’d be born in Bethlehem and belong to the tribe of Judah. (Micah 5:2, Genesis 49:10)
  5. Too many others to fit here! See Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, London: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979

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