Lost Bones of Jesus - FOUND!!

[Highway of Life]

I'm sure by now you have all heard about the documentary that will be airing on the Discovery Channel on March 4th.

Here is a summery and analysis by Kerby Anderson...

Do we have the bones of Jesus?

by Kerby Anderson

The last week in February started out with an incredible announcement. James Cameron (director of the film “Titanic”) and Simcha Jacobovici announced that they have found the bones of Jesus! At their news conference, they promoted their Discovery Channel special “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” that will air on March 4th and also promoted the book by Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino entitled The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History released by Harper-Collins.

The foundational claim is that they have discovered the family tomb of Jesus Christ. But is this really the tomb of Jesus or his family? There are many good reasons to believe this tomb has no relationship at all to Jesus and his family. Many are asking what to think about these claims. Therefore, I put together a quick summary of some of the criticisms and concerns that surfaced in the first few hours after the announcement. Before we look at those criticisms, let’s first review the history of this tomb.

We have known about this tomb since it was discovered in 1980. Back then, Israeli construction workers were digging the foundation for a new building in a Jerusalem suburb. Their digging revealed a cave with ten limestone ossuaries. Archeologists removed the limestone caskets for examination.

When they were able to decipher the names on the ten ossuaries, they found: Jesua, son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Mathew, Jofa and Judah, son of Jesua. At the time, one of Israel’s most prominent archeologists (Professor Amos Kloner) didn’t associate the crypt with Jesus. He rightly argued that the father of Jesus was a humble carpenter who couldn’t afford a luxury crypt for his family. Moreover, the names on the crypt were common Jewish names.

All of this hasn’t stopped James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici from promoting the tomb as the family tomb of Jesus. They claim to have evidence (through DNA tests, archeological evidence, and Biblical studies) to prove that the ten ossuaries belong to Jesus and his family. They also argue that Jesus and Mary Magdalene might have produced a son named Judah. However, a number of biblical scholars say this is a really just an old story now being recycled in an effort to create a media phenomenon that will sell books and guarantee a large audience for the television special.

First, does it really make sense that this would be the family tomb of Jesus? Remember that Jesus was in Jerusalem as a pilgrim and was not a resident of the city. How would his family be able to buy this tomb? As we already mentioned, Joseph (who probably was not alive and died in Galilee) and his family did not have the funds to buy such an elaborate burial site. Moreover, they were from out of town and would need time to find this tomb location. To accept this theory, one has to believe they stole the body of Jesus and moved it to this tomb in a suburb of Jerusalem all within about a day’s time.

Second, if this is the family tomb of Jesus and his family, why is Jesus referred to as the “son of Joseph?” As far as we can determine from history, the earliest followers of Jesus never called Jesus the “son of Joseph.” The record of history is that it was only outsiders who mistakenly called him that.

Third, if this is the family tomb of Jesus, why do we have the name of Matthew listed with the rest of the family? If this is the Matthew that traveled with Jesus, then he certainly was not a family member. And you would have to wonder why James (who remained in Jerusalem) would allow these inscriptions as well as allow the family to move the body from Jerusalem to this tomb and perpetrate a hoax that Jesus bodily rose from the grave. Also, the fourth-century church historian Eusebius writes that the body of James (a relative of Jesus) was buried alone near the temple mount and that his tomb was visited in the early centuries.

Fourth, there is the problem with the common names on the tombs. Researchers have cataloged the most common names at the time. The ten most common were: Simon/Simeon, Joseph, Eleazar, Judah, John/Yohanan, Jesus, Hananiah, Jonathan, Matthew, and Manaen/Menahem. These are some of the names found on the ossuaries and thus suggest that the tomb belonged to someone other than Jesus of Nazareth and his family. In fact, the name Jesus appears in 98 other tombs and on 21 other ossuaries.

Finally there is the question of the DNA testing. Apparently there is evidence that shows that the DNA from the woman (in what they say is the Mary Magdalene ossuary) and the DNA from the so-called Jesus ossuary does not match. So they argue that they were not relatives and thus must have been married.

But does the DNA evidence really prove that? It does not prove she is his wife. In fact, we really don’t even know who in the ossuaries are related to the other. Moreover, we do not have an independent DNA control sample to compare these findings with. At best, the DNA evidence shows that some of these people are related and some are not.

All of this looks like sensationalism from Simcha Jacobovici (who has a reputation as an Indiana-Jones type) and James Cameron (the director of the “Titanic.”). The publicity is certain to sell books and draw a television audience, but it is not good history or archaeology.



-- Probe's mission is to present the Gospel to communities, nationally and internationally, by providing life-long opportunities to integrate faith and learning through balanced, biblically based scholarship, training people to love God by renewing their minds and equipping the Church to engage the world for Christ. Visit Prove Ministries (http://www.probe.org) for more information.

American Family Association – Tupelo, MS 38803

In case that was a bit long to read, let me highlight a few points:

The premise of these lost bones builds off the Da Vinci Code theme -- that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child. This tomb was discovered in 1980 -- it seems a thinly veiled ploy to produce this speculative documentary in the lucrative wake of The Da Vinci Code book and blockbuster movie. Money, money, money. The Discovery Channel is cashing in...

This tomb was unearthed in 1980 and the head archaeologist did not interpret it as the tomb of Jesus Christ. For a number of reasons:

1) The name "Jesus" appears in 98 other tombs and on 21 other ossuaries.

2) The ten most common names of Jesus' time were: Simon/Simeon, Joseph, Eleazar, Judah, John/Yohanan, Jesus, Hananiah, Jonathan, Matthew, and Manaen/Menahem.

3) As many as half of Jewish girls at that time were named Mary

4) Jesus' "father", Joseph, was a humble carpenter who would not have had the funds to purchase such a luxurious crypt for his family.

5) Jesus was a visitor to Jerusalem, not a resident. How would he and his family be able to buy this tomb?

Christianity is the only religion the American media has the nerve to openly mock... they would not have the nerve to shred Islam -- which purports to be a "religion of peace" ???!!!

What are your thoughts and opinions?

 

[Foundthelight]

The devil will do anything he can to cast doubt and turn us away from our faith.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

The devil will do anything he can to cast doubt and turn us away from our faith.

If this is the devil's work he's way overrated...

 

[Foundthelight]

The devil works on the weak minded in that fashion, not on those strong in their faith. For them he presents temptations and fantasies.

 

[Davidnic]

It is so fake and about money. Not a Lent goes by without something like this.

But this is also a direct attack on the nature of Christ and all Christians in these things.

I think your summation of the original archaeologists reasons really tell the whole story.

I think all Christians can be united in the condemnation of this and it shows that those who attack Christ and all Christians see us all as one. May our common defence of our Lord and the truth of His Resurrection bring us closer together.

 

[Number 81]

I'm still blown away that we have a 2000 year old sample of Jesus' DNA to compare the bones with.

 

[cavell]

What nonesense.

We can rest assured that had there been any bones about after his resurecction, the Jews of that day would have found them

 

[Knowledge3]

Yea, I found Jesus' sunglasses the other day.

 

[Ave Maria]

I seriously doubt that this is Jesus' bones. He ascended into Heaven, bones and all.

 

[faithfulchild]

It is the work of the evil one and money...

 

[Highway of Life]

I'm still blown away that we have a 2000 year old sample of Jesus' DNA to compare the bones with.

Isn't Science amazing!! *rollseyes*...

The Discovery Channel said about the program and the Christian faith: "All leading epigraphers agree about the inscriptions. All archaeologists confirm the nature of the find. It comes down to a matter of statistics. A statistical study commissioned by the broadcasters (Discovery Channel/Vision Canada/C4 UK) concludes that the probability factor is 600 to 1 in favor of this tomb being the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth and his family."

Don't you just love stats made up on the spot and called "facts" discovered by science!

Having watched how Hollywood portrays Christians and Christian values for the past 30 years, it is clear that Hollywood considers Christianity its greatest enemy. Because of our silence, Christianity is the only religion they feel free to attack.

 

[Tigg]

This is the same article that you gave, Highway of Life. Just love the name, part of which you left off. Tales from the Crypt, ... Love it. Tales from the Crypt. BWHahahahaha!

http://www.spcm.org/Journal/spip.php?article6981

-Peace-

 

[tadoflamb]

Looks like we have an opportunity to evangelize.

 

[Ave Maria]

Looks like we have an opportunity to evangelize.

You are right about that. It does give us another opportunity to evangelize.

 

[Globalnomad]

So when are they going to compare the DNA to that in the Shroud?

 

[Isaiah 53]

Biblical scholars reject filmmakers' claim about tomb of Jesus

Catholic biblical scholars and an Israeli archaeologist rejected filmmakers' claim that a tomb uncovered nearly 30 years ago in Jerusalem is the burial site of Jesus and his family.....

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0701131.htm

 

[stivvy]

I know James Cameron lost at least one (me) person who will never buy another thing he makes. Not even at my neighbor's garage sale.

I think we should show him the power of Christ and boycott him and all his "Art".

 

[PetertheRock]

I think Mr. Cameron should make a documentary about Islam being a fraud. Of course he won't because he knows he would be dead within a few days if he did.

 

[tadoflamb]

Yeah, you got to give Christianity it's due. At least we didn't rolll over any cars after the Duh-Vinci Code came out.

 

[Globalnomad]

I think Mr. Cameron should make a documentary about Islam being a fraud. Of course he won't because he knows he would be dead within a few days if he did.

Spot on!