Dear [Missionary’s Name Withheld]
Yes, time has flown so fast and I do remember all the good times we had together, just talking and baring our hearts to each other. I miss those times. YHWH is so good. You left for Davao first and went back home to the US, I decided to stay in Baguio and manage Haven of Rest. And now, after 30 years, we are again talking like old times, only this time, I am sharing my convictions with you. And like then, have the choice to investigate, research, study, and look at ourselves and see what we believe in. And through this, I am sure YHWH is with us.
You asked, what answers the theologians at ATS gave me? Of course, they said all Scriptures are inerrant and infallible and inspired. The library at ATS was available for research and the textbooks they gave us to study were all supportive of their convictions. And with the naivete of a new believer, I took their word and what the books convey as truth.
Looking back, I now realize that my walk of faith is a journey. Like a child that God takes by the hand, He reveals to me what I can take at a given time. As I matured, He loosens up His Hand and allows me to explore a different path. I am in the last quarter of my life now and I am so grateful that YHWH has chosen to open my heart, mind and soul to the full counsel of His Word. That HE IS THE ONLY GOD, AND NO ONE ELSE.
Now, back to your question, “Who is Jesus?”
There is no doubt that Jesus has, by far, the highest name recognition throughout the world. A third of the world’s population call themselves Christians. Islam, which is almost as much as the Christians recognizes Jesus as the second greatest prophet after Mohammed. Of the remaining world’s population, most have heard of the name of Jesus and know about his life. But what do we really know about Jesus?
If one were to put together a summary of the life of Jesus, from his birth to his death, it would be somewhat sparse. All we know of him is found in the New Testament, specifically in the four gospels, which narrates that:
- He was born of Jewish parents in the town of Bethlehem, could be in the region of Galilee, or a town south of Jerusalem.
- He grew up in Nazareth.
- His father, Joseph, was a carpenter, so most likely in his early age, learned the trade.
- He was baptized by John the Baptist,whose example he may have followed.
- He began his public ministry in Galilee soon after and preached the coming of the Kingdom of God.”
- He did a lot of healing and miracles, and exorcism.
- He gathered a following and achieved a measure of fame around Galilee.
- The synoptic gospels suggest that Jesus ministry was about one year, but the gospel of John mentions 3 Passovers.
- Traditionally, it is believed to be 3 years.
- The gospel says, the Jewish leaders oppose him and asked the Roman authorities for his death.
Historical evidence is miniscule, as we have to rely on the writings of the early Christians, who wrote 3 or more generations after him, so we could deduce that what they know were merely hearsay. There occurs no contemporary Roman record that shows Pontius Pilate executing a man named Jesus. No contemporary writing of his time mentions Jesus. All documents about Jesus came well after his life, which came from unknown authors, people who never met Jesus. So as you can see, we really cannot know more about Jesus, because very little historical evidence exist.
When we first shared this belief with the elders of our congregation, citing to them the ONENESS OF GOD as declared by the Hebrew Scriptures, the one reply we got was “Where does faith come in?” Meaning, where does faith in Jesus come in?
From this reply, I realized that the quest for the historical Jesus operates under the premise that the New Testament does not necessarily give an accurate historical picture of the life of Jesus. The New Testament description of Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Christ of Faith.
The historical Jesus is thus based on the ancient evidence for his life such as in fragments of early gospels, and so preserved in the writings of neutral or hostile witnesses of the period. The purpose of research into the historical Jesus is to examine the evidence from diverse sources and critically bring it together in order to create a composite picture of Jesus. Historical Jesus implies that the figure thus reconstructed will differ from that presented in the teachings of the ecumenical councils which is the Christ that dogma proclaimed.
To me, I think the answer is so simple. It is:
WHAT DOES GOD PROCLAIM IN HIS WORD?
YHWH proclaims:
- Deuteronomy 4:35
You are the ones who have been shown, so that you will know that God is the Supreme Being, and there is none other besides HIM.
- Deuteronomy 4:39
Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
- Isaiah 40:25
To whom then will you liken me, that I should be his equal?” says the Holy One.
- Isaiah 43:10-11
“You are My witnesses, “declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am Me. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me. I, even I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Saviour.”
These are YHWH’s PROCLAMATIONS. And to this I will abide.
Will respond to your other questions in my next email.
BAN@S6K
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