Ripples

 

I figured I'd post a few observations about why we do not have a lot of archaeological and historical evidence for Jesus’ outside of the Gospels.

(1) The nature and scale of the early Christian movement was socially insignificant considering how large the Roman Empire was.

(2) Jesus from a Roman perspective was a basically a preacher/miracle-worker in an insignificant backwater Roman province that was eventually executed. This is a scenario that did not lend itself well to documenting His life.

(3) His own countrymen did not respond to His mission. Dare I say that even His own Disciples didn’t “get it” as is evidenced in Luke 24 and the Road to Emmaus. How can we expect that His death or teachings would’ve made “headlines”.

(4) Early historical context did not lend itself well to evidences and proofs. We are fortunate we have the evidences we have. The fact that there is any corroborating non-Biblical evidences is unique.

(5) It is an issue of notoriety after-the-fact or cause and effect. The Man/God Himself arose briefly from obscurity and faded quickly back into it but His movement and ideas did not. Just as we know wind exists, it is the effects of the wind in our lives that we see.

(6) It is Christianity that is first noted in Roman records, not Jesus himself. Not the Cause but rather the effect. Having seen the effect we then go in search of its cause and in this case-Jesus.

(7) Scripture itself tell us Jesus would make/made Himself of no accord...

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! ~Philippians 2:6-8

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:2-3

(8) He did purposely draw attention to Himself but it wasn't until His hour had come. Even when the attention did come it was to bring glory to the Father. We see in Jesus the image of what we are to be yet we do not actually see Him much in His earthly ministry do we? Because of this humbleness because of this meekness God exalts Him. Yet the documentation of Him consists mainly of four Gospels and passing historical references in a derogatory manner from Roman and Jewish historians.

Cause and Effect.

Like a stone that lands in the water. It sends ripples down through time and through lives and it will continue to do so. The ripples continue until the water ends or time. Starting small and going out in wave after wave-Never ending. Eternal. That is what He promised. He would be with us until the End of the Age. He would be with us in eternity.