Logo Copyright © 2007 NCCG - All Rights Reserved
Return to Main Page

RESOURCES

Disclaimer

Introduction

Symphony of Truth

In a Nutshell

Topical Guide

5-144000

5 Commissions

10 Commandments

333 NCCG Number

144,000, The

A

Action Stations

Agency, Free

Alcohol

Angels

Anointing

Apostles

Apostolic Interviews

Apostolic Epistles

Archive, Complete

Articles & Sermons

Atheism

Atonement

B

Banners

Baptism, Water

Baptism, Fire

Becoming a Christian

Bible Codes

Bible Courses

Bible & Creed

C

Calendar of Festivals

Celibacy

Charismata & Tongues

Chavurat Bekorot

Christian Paganism

Chrism, Confirmation

Christmas

Church, Fellowship

Contact us

Constitution

Copyright

Covenants & Vows

Critics

Culture

Cults

D

Deliverance

Demons

Desperation

Diaries

Discipleship

Dreams

E

Ephraimite Page, The

Essene Christianity

Existentialism

F

Faith

Family, The

Feminism

FAQ

Festivals of Yahweh

Festivals Calendar

Freedom

G

Gay Christians

Gnosticism

Godhead, The

H

Heaven

Heresy

Healing

Health

Hebrew Roots

Hell

Hinduism

History

Holiness

Holy Echad Marriage

Holy Order, The

Home Education

Homosexuality

Human Nature

Humour

Hymnody

I

Intro to NCCG.ORG

Islam

J

Jewish Page, The

Judaism, Messianic

Judaism, Talmudic

K

KJV-Only Cult

L

Links

Love

M

Marriage & Romance

Membership

Miracles

Messianic Judaism

Mormonism

Music

Mysticism

N

NCCG Life

NCCG Origins

NCCG Organisation

NCCG, Spirit of

NCCG Theology

NDE's

Nefilim

New Age & Occult

NCMHL

NCMM

New Covenant Torah

Norwegian Website

O

Occult Book, The

Occult Page, The

Olive Branch

Orphanages

P

Paganism, Christian

Pentecost

Poetry

Politics

Prayer

Pre-existence

Priesthood

Prophecy

Q

Questions

R

Rapture

Reincarnation

Resurrection

Revelation

RDP Page

S

Sabbath

Salvation

Satanic Ritual Abuse

Satanism

Science

Sermons & Articles

Sermons Misc

Sermonettes

Sex

Smoking

Sonship

Stewardship

Suffering

Swedish Website

T

Talmudic Judaism

Testimonies

Tithing

Tongues & Charismata

Torah

Trinity

True Church, The

TV

U

UFO's

United Order, The

V

Visions

W

Wicca & the Occult

Women

World News

Y

Yah'shua (Jesus)

Yahweh

Z

Zion


Using ancient iconography, a restoration of the possible likeness of Christ by Bas Uterwijk

A. The Historicity of the Messiah

The historical fact of Yah'shua (Jesus) is incontrovertibly established. Attempts which have been made to disprove it during the past 250 years by modernist critics have failed. Not only is the whole body of the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) founded upon the historic Messiah (Christ), but the rise and progress of the Messianic Community or Christian Church, and indeed the course of world history during the past 20 centuries, are inexplicable apart from the historic fact of the Messiah who lived, died, and rose again.

The fact that extant secular records of the first 100 years after the ministry of the Messiah contain only a few references to Him is only natural. Christianity was but one of many religious groups originating in the East in the Roman world of the first two centuries, and there was little in it to attract the interest of pagan historians. Only when it came into conflict with the state did it become worthy of mention in those earlier days, and the earliest pagan writers who refer to it in such a context all significantly mention Christ as the founder of Christianity or Messianism [1].

Apart from a doubtful and, at best, interpolated passage in Josephus [2], Yah'shua (Jesus) is not mentioned directly in non-Christian Jewish writings of this period. The reason for this is the hostility and resentment with which His memory was regarded by Jewish leaders of the time. There are, however, indirect references to Him in the earlier rabbinical writings which make reasonably recognisable mention of Him as a transgressor in Israel who practiced magic, scorned the words of the wise, led the people astray, and said He had come to add to the Torah (Law), who was hanged on Pesach (Passover) eve, and whose talmidim (disciples) healed the sick in His Name.

In the earliest centuries AD not even the bitterest enemies of Christianity had any idea of denying that Yah'shua (Jesus) lived and died in Palestine, and that He performed wonderful works, whatever account they might give of the power by which He performed them. Nor at the present day does any objective historian deny the historical fact of Christ. It is not historians who toy with the fantasy of a 'Christ-myth'. Not only His death but His resurrection must be reckoned among the best established facts of history. [3]

B. Sources

For the essential details of the life the Messiah we are entirely dependant on the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament). As already mentioned, not that much can be gained from a study of pagan or Jewish literature of the early decades AD, and when we turn to extra-biblical Christian literature of the same period we find very little that is not already in the New Testament. Most of the apocryphal Gospels are so obviously the product of imagination that they only help, by way of contrast, to prove the historical character of the canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), but do not add anything to our knowledge of the life of our Master.

The Gospels are not biographies in the ordinary sense of the word. Each of the four Evangelists had a specific purpose in writing and made an appropriate selection from the information at his disposal regarding Yah'shua's (Jesus') life. Although there are many differences in emphasis on certain aspects of His life, all four proclaim one and the same Christ as Master (Lord) and Deliverer (Saviour), the perfect Son of man and the only-begotten Son of Elohim (God).

Because the Gospels are not ordinary biographies but proclamations of the good tidings (Besorah, Gospel, Good News) regarding Yah'shua (Jesus) as Deliverer (Saviour) and Master (Lord), we must not seek in them a strictly chronological arrangement. On the other hand, the Evangelists' spiritual purpose did not lead them to neglect the historical character of the life of Yah'shua (Jesus). As is stated so clearly in the preface of the third Gospel (Luke), the authors were keenly aware of the urgent need to make known the truth about Christ. To them and to their fellow-believers, emunah (faith) was a matter of life and death. Thus they could not afford to base their faith on fantasies, myths, or legends. A faith like that of the first Christian/Messianic generation demanded absolute loyalty to Messiah - even unto death. Such a faith could be built only on assured facts. Moreover, the Gospel-writers were in such close and living contact with many who had heard and seen the Master that they had unique opportunities of ascertaining those facts. Besides, since the historical facts were known at first hand to so many people, they could not venture to give fictitious accounts.

Although Luke incorporated large sections of the Gospel of Mark, and John may well have known the first three Gospels, our four Gospels are essentially four independent sources of information regarding the life or Yah'shua (Jesus). Each of them stresses different aspects of His life and ministry more than the others, but is essentially the same Christ as we find in all four. This is as true of John as of the Synoptists (Matthew, Mark, Luke). John's Gospel supplements the others and, as a result of many years of reflection and more mature insight into the deeper philosophical and theological significance of the Gospel history, concentrates more on the teaching of the Master regarding His divine Sonship. But even John proclaims no other Messiah than the Messiah proclaimed by the first three Evangelists.

In short, we have in the four canionical Gospels the best and most reliable sources of information regarding the life of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Although the rest of the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) do not add much to the historical details of the Gospel, it is important to note that Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation are all built on the fact that Yah'shua (Jesus) lived, taught, suffered and triumphed as the Gospels affirm. Since some of the Messianic Scriptures' (New Testament) Epistles were written as early as 50 AD (or even a little earlier) - 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Galatians, and possibly James - we are brought to not more than 20 years from the date of Yah'shua's (Jesus') crucifixion. Taking further into account the fact that one of the early New Testament writers, Paul, was a bitter persecutor of the followers of Yah'shua (Jesus) but was converted as early as AD 32 or 33, and that the Epistle of James was written by the brother of Yah'shua (Jesus), we realise how close the contact was between the time of Yah'shua's (Jesus') life on earth (ca. 6/4 BC-AD 30) and that generation of believers in whose lifetime the first New Testament documents were written. Paul's summary of the apostolic preaching in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 is of great significance:

    "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the Besorah (Gospel) which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present (are still alive), but some have fallen asleep (died). After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (1 Cor.15:1-8, NKJV).

In this passage Paul not only proclaims essentially the same Besorah (Gospel) as the four Evangelists, but he reveals how intimate the relation was between the early Messianic Community (Christian Church) and the apostles and other eyewitnesses of our Master's life. It is thus not surprising to find that our four Gospels, for all their different emphases and varying choice of details, proclaim the same Messiah who came to seek and save those who are lost, the divine Master to whom all power has been given in heaven and on earth [4].

No wonder, then, that after more than 150 years of acute and ruthless criticism, the trustworthiness of the four canonical Gospels has been more securely established than ever. One theory after another, and successive schools of thought, which have thrown doubt on the reliability of the Gospels, have crumbled to pieces before the irrrefutable historicity of the life of Yah'shua (Jesus) which they record. Although the Gospels are silent regarding many details which we should naturally like to know, the four Gospels, confirming and supplementing one another, give us all the facts about Yah'shua (Jesus) which we need to know in order that we may believe in Him as "the Messiah, the Son of Elohim (God), and that through believing you may have chayim (life) in His Name" (Jn.20:31, NRSV).

C. Uniqueness

The life of the Master is unique in many ways. One aspect of its uniqueness lies in its fulfilment of specific prophecies made hundreds of years before His birth. Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself, for instance, repeatedly taught His talmidim (disciples) that He would in accordance with the Scriptures suffer and die and rise from the dead (cp. Lk.18:31-34). After His resurrection, too, He plainly declared that in His life, death, and resurrection the Scriptures had been fulfilled (Lk.24:25-27,44-48; also see Figs.1-3 below).

Fig.1 Messianic Prophecies & Their Fulfillment Arranged Chronologically

Prophecies   Fulfilment
Gen.3:15 Would be the offspring of a woman Gal.4:4 (Lk.2:7; Rev.12:5)
Gen.18:18 (Gen.12:3) Promised offspring of Abraham Ac.3:25 (Mt.1:1; Lk.3:34)
Gen.17:19 Promised offspring of Isaac Mt.1:2 (Lk.3:34)
Num.24:17 (Gen.28:14) Promised offspring of Jacob Lk.3:34 (Mt.1:2)
Gen.49:10 Will descend from the Tribe of Judah Lk.3:33 (Mt.1:2-3)
Isa.9:7 (11:1-5; 2 Sam.7:13) The heir to the throne of David Mt.1:1 (Mt.1:6)
Mic.5:2 Place of birth: Bethlehem Ephrathah Mt.2:1 (Lk.2:4-7)
Dan.9:25 Time of birth Lk.2:1-2 (Lk.2:3-7)
Isa.7:14 Born of a virgin Mt.1:18 (Lk.1:26-35)
Jer.31:15 Slaughter of infants Mt.2:16 (Mt.2:17-18)
Hos.11:1 Escape into Egypt Mt.2:14
Isa.9:1-2 Ministry in Galilee Mt.4:12-16
Deut.18:15 As a prophet Jn.6:14 (Jn.1:45; Ac.3:19-26)
Ps.110:4 As a Priest, like Melchizedek Heb.6:20 (Heb.5:5-6; 7:15-17)
Isa.53:3 (Ps.2:2) His rejection by Jews Jn.1:11 (Jn.5:43; Lk.4:29; 17:25; 23:18)
Isa.11:2 (Ps.45:7; Isa.113-4) Some of his characteristics Lk.2:52 (Lk.4:18)
Zec.9:9 (Isa.62:11) His triumphal entry Jn.12:13-14 (Mt.21:1-11; Jn.12:12)
Ps.41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mk.14:10 (Mt.26:14-16; Mk.14:43-45)
Zec.11:12 (11:13) Sold for thirty pieces of silver Mt.26:15 (Mt.27:3-11)
Zec.11:13 Money to be returned for a potter's field Mt.27:6-7 (Mt.27:3-5, 8-10)
Ps.109:7 Judas' position to be taken by another Ac.1:18-20 (Ac.1:16-17)
Ps.27:12 (Ps.35:11) False witnesses accuse him Mt.26:60-61
Isa.53:7 (Ps.38:13-14) Silent when accused Mt.26:62-63 (Mt.27:12-14)
Isa.50:6 Struck and spit on Mk.14:65 (Mk.15:17; Jn.19:1-3; 18:22)
Ps.69:4 (Ps.109:3-5) Hated without cause Jn.15:23-25
Isa.53:4-5 (Isa.53:6,12) Suffered vicariously Mt.8:16-17 (Rom.4:25; 1 Cor.15:3)
Isa.53:12 Crucified with sinners Mt.27:38 (Mk.15:27-28; Lk.23:33)
Ps.22:16 (Zec.12:10) Hands and feet pierced Jn.20:27 (Jn.19:37; 20:25-26)
Ps.22:6-8 Mocked and insulted Mt.27:39-40 (Mt.27:41-44; Mk.15:29-32)
Ps.69:21 Given gall and vinegar Jn.19:29 (Mt.27:34,48)
Ps.22:8 Hears prophetic words repeated in mockery Mt.27:43
Ps.109:4 (Isa.53:12) Prays for his enemies Lk.23:34
Zec.12:10 His side to be pierced Jn.19:34
Ps.22:18 Soldiers cast lots for his clothes Mk.15:24 (Jn.19:24)
Ps.34:20 (Ex.12:46) Not a bone to be broken Jn.19:33
Isa.53:9 To be buried with the rich Mt.27:57-60
Ps.16:10 (Mt.16:21) His resurrection Mt.28:9 (Lk.24:36-48)
Ps.68:18 His ascension Lk.24:50-51 (Ac.1:9)

Fig.2 Suffering & Kingly Messiah Prophecies

Suffering Messiah Prophecies
(1st Advent)
Kingly Messiah Prophecies
(2nd Advent)
Psalms 22:18 & 69:21 Psalms 2:6-8; 118:22; 68:18
Isaiah 50:6; 52:14; 53:1-10 Isaiah 9:6-7; 32:1-3; 42:1-4
Daniel 9:26 Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14; 5:2
Zechariah 11:12; 12:10; 13:7 Zechariah 6:12-13; 9:9-10
  Jeremiah 23:5
  Micah 5:2
  Malachi 3:1

Fig 3. Messianic Prophecies of the Book of Isaiah

History of Messiah Mission of Messiah Titles of Messiah Character of Messiah
Birth (7:14) Illuminator (9:2) Immanuel (7:14) Radiance (9:2; 42:6)
Family (11:1) Judge (11:3) Mighty God (El) (9:6) Wisdom (11:2)
Anointing (11:2) Reprover (11:4) Everlasting Father (9:6) Spiritual Discernment (11:3)
  Lawgiver (42:4) Prince of Peace (9:6) Justice (11:4)
  Liberator (42:7) Righteous King (32:1) Righteousness (11:5)
  Burden-bearer (53:4) Divine Servant (42:1) Silence (42:2; 53:7)
  Suffering Saviour (53:5) Arm of Yahweh (53:1) Gentleness (42:3)
  Sin-bearer (53:6) Anointed Preacher (61:1) Perseverance (42:4)
  Intercessor (53:12) Mighty Saviour (Yasha) (63:1) Vicarious Suffering (52:14; 53:10)
      Compassion (53:4)
      Meekness (53:7)
      Sinlessness (53:9)
      Saving Power (53:11)
      Greatness (53:12)

In the speeches of Peter, Stephen, and Paul recorded in Acts, and in practically all the books of the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) the life, suffering and exaltation of Yah'shua (Jesus) are repeatedly proclaimed as the fulfilment of the promises of Elohim (God) in the Tanakh (Old Testament). There is nothing in the history of the world comparable to the fact that hundreds of years before the birth of Yah'shua (Jesus) many things regarding Him - even the place of His birth (Mic.5:2) - had veen foretold and recorded in the Tanakh (Old Testament) Scriptures. And in many other aspects - from His supernatural conception to His ascension to Heaven - the life stands alone. Only in His life do we see Elohim (God) become flesh (the Incarnation). While the lives of all other founders of religion reveal to us men and women who sought after emet (truth) and strove to attain righteous insight, the life of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) alone reveals the Elohim (God) of ahavah (love) and righteousness seeking to save fallen humanity.

All the claims made by Yah'shua (Jesus) regarding His eternal and divine Sonship are confirmed by His life, death, resurrection, and triumphant ascension. He is unique among men. We invite you, if you do not know Him, to make a study of this ministry by following the links below and elsewhere throughout the website

D. The Website

The register that follows does not attempt to cover the hundreds of articles, sermons, devotionals and FAQ's on Yah'shua (Jesus) on this website which would be quite impossible and would serve no practical use since the whole website is about Him. These are, rather, scattered throughout dozens of other topical registries and directories which may be accessed on the main page. What follows here is an assortment of articles on the Messiah not necessarily covered by other collections of materials.

Endnotes

[1] Tacitus, Annals xv.44; Suetonius, Claudius 25; Nero 16; Pliny, Epistles x.96
[2] Josephus, Antiquities xviii 3.3
[3] N.T.Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (SPCK, London: 2003); Sir Norman Anderson, Jesus Christ: The Witness of History (Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England: 1985); Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 1995); Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 1998); Gary R.Habermas, The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ (College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri: 1996); Gary R.Habermas & Michael R.Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregal Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2004)
[4] Matthew 11:27; 28:18; Mark 1:11; 8:29; Luke 1:32,35; 2:11; 9:35; 10:22; John 1:1; 20:28, etc.

7 March 2021

Yah'shua: Saviour of Mankind
1. The Cross Schedule: 3 April 1994 Commemorative Sermon (Art)
2. Come, Follow Me: The Call of Yah'shua (Jesus) (Art)
3. Belief in Yah'shua haMashiach (Jesus Christ) (Art)
4. The Two Jesus' (Art)
5. Jesus Christ, The Righteous One: Baptismal Sermon (Art)
6. Rejecting or Accepting Christ (FAQ)
7. The Return of Christ: Soon? (FAQ)
8. Yah'shua (Jesus) Will Return Suddenly (FAQ)
9. Is Yah'shua (Jesus) Elohim? (FAQ)
10. Will Yah'shua (Jesus) Always Reign Over Us? (FAQ)
11. Official Church Policy Regarding the Use of Divine Names (FAQ)
12. The Days of Messiah (Art)
13. The Name Yah'shua (Jesus) in the Old Testament (Art)
14. Repentance and the Lordship of Jesus the Messiah (Study)
15. Is Christ the Same Always? (FAQ)
16. To Follow Yah'shua (Jesus) (Art)
17. The King (Art)
18. Who is Yah'shua (Jesus)? The Only Way Back to God (Art)
19. Of No Reputation: The Mystery of the Incarnation (Art)
20. Yah'shua the Messiah and His Place in the Godhead (Art)
21. The Names of Deity (FAQ)
22. The Receptor Tongue of the NT and the Saviour's Name (FAQ)
23. Yah'shua vs. Yahweh? (FAQ)
24. The Inconvenient Messiah (Art)
25. Your First Love: Whatever Happened to It? (Art)
26. Yeshua: Only Half a Name (Art)
27. Perfection & True Names: Is the Name 'Jesus Christ' a Complete Falsehood? (FAQ)
Also see the Godhead Page

Key: Art=Article | FAQ=Frequently Asked Question | Sc=Science | St=Sermonette | Occ=Occult | OB=Olive Branch | PCM=Patriarchal Christian Marriage | NCCM=New Covenant Christian Ministries | Sab=Sabbath | Sal=Salvation | 5Com=Five Commissions | AI=Apostolic Interviews

Purchase the WHOLE Website by clicking here

Return to Main NCCG.ORG Index Page

This page was created on 24 September 1999
Last updated on 14 December 2022

Copyright © 1987-2022 NCAY - All Rights Reserved