What Should We Expect If Jesus Really Lived?

Does the Life of Jesus Exhibit a Pattern Unique to Real Historical Persons?

Was This Guy For Real?
Critics often challenge the "historicity" of Jesus. Did He actually live? Was He a real person in history? Can we trust that we know the truth about His life and teaching? Skeptics have attacked the person of Jesus from every angle, searching to find evidence that He was either a work of fiction, or a man whose life has been grossly distorted and exaggerated. But significant people have impacted history over the ages in a pattern that has demonstrated their true existence, importance and influence. Jesus of Nazareth was one such 'impact player'. The 'ripples' He created as a result of His life and teaching demonstrate the fact that He was not only a real person in history, but God incarnate.

When Someone Amazing Appears
When real historic 'impact players' appear in history, they leave dramatic evidence of their existence. Their arrival and presence creates a cultural response. We are familiar with this sort of historical reaction and pattern; we've seen it repeatedly over the millennia. In fact, the 'ripple effect' we've come to expect from the appearance of key figures in history provides us with a template that we can use to evaluate the historicity of people who seem too amazing to be true.

In 1962, one such group of 'impact players' penetrated the cultural consciousness of the world. When John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison released "Love Me Do" in the United Kingdom, they began a career as "The Beatles" that forever changed popular music. These four men were, of course, human beings who existed in history and lived among us. As we evaluate their lives and careers, we see the emerging pattern of historical impact that often follows the arrival and existence of influential historical characters:

 

History Was Ready
History seemed to be prepared for the arrival of the Beatles. The popular music scene had already evolved from 'Big Band' music through 'Rhythm and Blues'. 'Rock and Roll' was emerging as a legitimate form of popular music, and the worlds of advertising and music sales were becoming major industries. The stage was set for the appearance of the first true "Super Group".

 

Their Predecessors Foreshadowed Them
In the years that preceded the Beatles, popular musicians experimented with the nature of popular music. Many artists performed before the Beatles and foreshadowed their work. Some of their predecessors were tremendously popular 'impact players' in and of themselves. Performers like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry were incredibly popular prior to the appearance of the Beatles (the Beatles even performed a number of songs from these three artists as part of their early career).

They Surpassed the Expectations Set By Those Who Preceded Them
While the Beatles were preceded by other great artists who wrote, performed and shaped the nature of popular music, the Beatles took the aspirations and efforts of their predecessors and surpassed them in a way no one could have imagined or expected.

Their Appearance Caused An Uproar
The impact of this talented band was felt immediately. The incredible popular response to the group became known as "Beatlemania", but not everyone was a fan. Several social groups feared that the young people were unduly influenced by the music of the Beatles. Like other forms of popular music, the music of the Beatles caused some to draw generational 'lines in the sand'.

Eyewitnesses Recorded Their Lives
The world took notice of the arrival of the Beatles and utilized whatever power was at its disposal to record the lives and impact of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Their career and lives were chronicled by news media of every kind. Those who knew them best were the most trustworthy sources of information about the men who were about to change music forever.

They Influenced The World Around Them
The popularity of the Beatles was in many ways unparalleled. The "British Invasion" influenced everything from music, to fashion, to religion. Everyone wanted to dress like them, cut their hair like them and live like John, Paul, George or Ringo. When the members of the Beatles explored Eastern Mysticism in the late 1960's, many young people were exposed to Eastern Religions for the very first time.

Their Name Was Invoked
If you wanted to impact the culture in the 1960's, you would have been wise to attach the Beatles to your efforts. If you wanted your TV show to be watched, you invited the Beatles. If you wanted your party to be attended, you invited the Beatles. If you wanted your product to sell, you found a way to have it endorsed by the Beatles. Invoking the name of the Beatles became a sure way to legitimize your efforts.

They Were Often Misrepresented
While the Beatles were closely observed during their careers, they were also misrepresented on occasion, especially with the passage of time. The phenomenal interest in the Beatles resulted in misinformation, rumor and legendary tales of one sort or another. There were times when Paul was rumored to be dead, the band was rumored to be dissolved, or lost albums were rumored to have been found. The vast majority of Beatles rumors turned out to be nothing more than fiction.

They Redefined History
The worlds of music and popular culture were forever changed by the arrival of the Beatles. Their appearance in history marks a turning point in popular music. Their music continues to influence musicians across the globe. All of popular music can fairly be divided into "pre-Beatles" and "post-Beatles" eras.

Historical "impact players" are often recognized by this kind of historical pattern. Fictional characters, on the other hand, are incapable of emerging in history with such force and consequence. When we think about the impact that fictional characters like Mickey Mouse or Bart Simpson have had in the past, we are really recognizing the significant contributions of their true historical creators (Walt Disney and Matt Groenig); history records the impact that Disney and Groenig had as cartoonists. Disney and Groenig created the historical 'ripple' through their respective creations.

The Biggest Celebrity of All?
If Jesus was a true person in history (and God Incarnate), we should expect Him to have an even more amplified impact on the history of mankind than any lesser celebrity. As it turns out, Jesus did have this sort of world changing impact, just as we might expect:

History Was Ready for the Arrival of Jesus
History seemed to be prepared for the arrival of Jesus. The Jewish people came to expect a Messiah on the basis of all that had been revealed to them by the prophets and the Scripture. Perhaps even more importantly, the nation of Israel found itself in the midst of yet another political and military captivity, this time under the rule of the Roman Empire. Rome had conquered most of the known world surrounding the Mediterranean and stabilized the trade routes leading from Europe, to Africa, and to the Easternmost regions of the world. Now was the ideal time for the arrival of Jesus. The appearance of the Savior came in response to the expectations of Israel, and the political conditions and infrastructure of the Roman Empire allowed for the easy transmission and dissemination of the eyewitness accounts. The stage was set for the arrival of Jesus.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that the appearance of Jesus in the 1st century is simply an opportunistic creation of fiction; Jesus was either created by those who started a religious movement, or was a normal human who claimed to be something he wasn't. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus' arrival was preceded by events that prepared the world for something amazing. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the historicity of the Beatles simply because historic circumstances were so perfectly aligned? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that it is within His power to prepare His creation for the coming of the Messiah.

 

Jesus' Predecessors Foreshadowed Him
In the years that preceded Jesus, humanity began to think about the existence and nature of God. Given what was available to them from what they could see in the world around them, men and women in virtually every culture began to imagine what God could be like. Many primitive estimations about the nature of God contained nuggets of truth. That really shouldn't surprise us, given the fact that every culture finds itself trying to understand the mysteries of common natural settings. For this reason, the mythological gods that preceded Jesus, (gods like Mithras, Horus and Osiris) shared some limited descriptions related to their power or actions.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that Jesus was simply a work of fiction that borrowed from prior mythologies. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus was similar to His 'predecessors' in only very minor ways we might expect, given what anyone can learn about God from the world around us. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles simply because there were prior bands that played the same songs? Of course not. If there is a God, then we ought to expect that ancient thinkers would be able to guess accurately about His nature on occasion, even before God revealed Himself to us.

 

Jesus Surpassed the Expectations Set By Those Who Preceded Him
In the years that preceded Jesus, people thoughtfully considered issues related to God. Jesus personified the expectations of those who pondered the existence and nature of God, and then He surpassed everyone's expectations in one way or another. The mythological gods of the ancient world shared common characteristics related to their power and wisdom, but Jesus surprised everyone with the way he commanded the natural elements, healed the sick, raised the dead and loved God's children enough to die for them. His teaching was often counter-intuitive and challenging.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that the teaching of Jesus simply reflected ancient truths that were commonly held by a number of prior religious teachers and systems. This claim often fails to examine Jesus' teaching beyond the 'sound bites' selected by His detractors. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus appeared within the context of His culture and region. It shouldn't surprise us that He would, on occasion, expound upon the wisdom that preceded Him. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles simply because they built upon the common themes of their predecessors? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that He would reveal enough to His children (through the natural world) for them to begin thinking about His nature. It is also reasonable to believe that His specific revelation (through Jesus) would surprise and surpass the teaching of His mortal predecessors.

 

Jesus' Appearance Caused An Uproar
Jesus had an immediate impact on those He touched with His words and His power, but not everyone was a fan. The radical love and wisdom of Jesus drew many admirers and disciples, even as His teaching challenged the authority and power of the religious leadership of the day. As a result, Jesus caused some to draw theological and authoritative 'lines in the sand'.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that Jesus was merely an invention of men who wanted to start a new religious movement. These 'myth creators' supposedly invented a character of unprecedented power and controversy in order to draw attention to their efforts. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus was a radical figure in history. Unlike others, however, Jesus was controversial because He spoke as God Himself and didn't simply echo the words of men. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles simply because they were remarkable and controversial? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that He would cause quite an uproar if He was to appear in history.

 

Eyewitnesses Recorded The Life of Jesus
The region surrounding Jerusalem took notice of the arrival of Jesus and utilized the power at its disposal to record the lives and impact of the Savior. The life of Jesus was observed by the disciples and communicated orally until they recorded the Gospels as eyewitness accounts. Those who knew Jesus best were the most trustworthy sources of information about the man-God who changed the world forever.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that Jesus' life was hardly noticed by the culture around Him. If Jesus was indeed God, wouldn't His arrival have drawn much more attention in His own day? But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus caused a dramatic response in His own cultural situation, even though there may not have been any news agencies or print media in existence to cover His appearance. Dozens of ancient documents were written about him, spanning the entire known world surrounding the Mediterranean. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles simply because nothing concurrent was written about them on the internet (still nearly thirty years from popular availability)? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that His appearance on earth would be recorded by humans, utilizing all the resources at their disposal.

 

Jesus Influenced The World Around Him
The influence of Jesus was unparalleled. Those who became Christians were utterly transformed by the power of God as they sought to live their lives in a manner worthy of the King. Jesus' words and deeds became the center of incredible interest and controversy. The world quickly found itself responding in one way or another to Jesus' life and teaching. Some came to love Him, others to deny Him, but few could ignore Him.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that the incredible transformation Jesus' teaching caused in the lives of his followers fails to prove that He actually existed. After all, couldn't the teaching and worldview of Christianity (even without a true historical source) be sufficient to influence its followers in such an amazing way? But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus is attested by eyewitnesses who testified to more than the work and words of Jesus; they also testified to His existence. If they are lying about the life of Jesus, why should we trust what they are saying about the teaching of Jesus? Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles, even as we acknowledge the music of the Beatles? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that His influence and impact on this world would most reasonably be the result of His true existence.

 

Jesus' Name Was Invoked
If you wanted to impact the culture in the 1st century, you were wise to do your best to attach Jesus to your efforts. If you wanted your view of God to be embraced, you included Jesus in your theology. If you wanted your religious text to be read, you claimed that a follower of Jesus wrote it. If you wanted your group to grow, you claimed that your sect was somehow an extension of Jesus' teaching and commission. Invoking the name of Jesus became the singular most powerful way to legitimize religious movements of the day.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that the stories about Jesus found in the New Testament cannot be trusted because there are so many additional stories invoking the name of Jesus in the 2nd to 4th centuries. All kinds of religious movements (including Gnostics and Docetists) invoked the name of Jesus to legitimize their own efforts. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus became a popular marketing tool. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles, simply because so many people tried to utilize them in their own movements and efforts? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that His name would become the name above all names, co-opted on occasion to further the efforts of mortal men.

 

Jesus Was Often Misrepresented
While Jesus was closely observed during His ministry, He was also misrepresented on occasion, especially with the passage of time. The phenomenal interest in Jesus resulted in misinformation, rumor and legendary tales of one sort or another. A great number of late legends and "non-canonical" texts emerged in the centuries that followed the life of Jesus. Many writers simply misrepresented Jesus intentionally, in an effort to co-opt the name of Jesus for their own purposes.

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that we cannot trust what we read about Jesus in the New Testament because there are so many 2nd to 4th century stories that describe Jesus in a markedly different way. With so much diversity related to the descriptions of Jesus, how can anyone be certain that we understand the truth about Him? But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus was often misrepresented by those who wanted to advance their own divergent notions about God. Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles simply because they were often misrepresented for one reason or another? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that He would have the power to deliver the truth about His appearance on earth, and provide us with reliable eyewitnesses that could stand up to the late misrepresentations.

 

Jesus Redefined History
The world was forever changed by the appearance of Jesus; His arrival in history marked the turning point upon which our calendars were set and culture was transformed. Every religious or political leader that followed Jesus acknowledged His existence and influence in one way or another. In spite of secular efforts to re-title the calendar into categories of "B.C.E" (Before the Common Era) and "C.E." (the Common Era), all of human history continues to pivot on the birth of Jesus. The world acknowledges the history of humanity and rightly divides it into the years "Before Christ" (B.C.) and the years "Of Christ" (A.D.).

 

Skeptics sometimes claim that the impact of Jesus' appearance on earth (even on our global calendar) is, in and of itself, insufficient to prove that He actually existed. But like all true historic "impact players" (the Beatles included), Jesus' ability to impact history is directly tied to His true existence. Can you think of a fictional character that has had the kind of global impact that Jesus has? Will we look back at history one-thousand years from now and deny the existence of the Beatles, attributing their incredible influence to a fictional group? Of course not. If there is a God, we should expect that His appearance in history would have the impact we have seen with Jesus. As the creator of time, He alone has the power to punctuate time and define our calendar.

More Than a Celebrity
It seems silly to compare Jesus to the Beatles, doesn't it? But when we examine the lives of true historical figures, especially those that have had a powerful impact on their culture, we begin to see an emerging pattern that is common to true-life, historical persons. The Beatles demonstrate the nature of this pattern, emerging into prominence at a time in history when their potential impact was at its peak, foreshadowed by predecessors, surpassing expectations on the basis of their talent, causing an uproar, being faithfully recorded by eyewitnesses as they influenced the music world, suffering the occasional co-opting of their name and the misrepresentation of their nature, but ultimately redefining the history of music.

Jesus demonstrated the same pattern we have come to expect from true, influential, historical figures, but He was far more than a celebrity; He was (and is) God Himself. The Beatles emerged in response to the foundation laid by the lesser known musicians who preceded them; Jesus arrived in response to the hope of fallen humanity and the predictions of the Old Testament prophets. The Beatles set the music world on its ear with their creative talent; Jesus changed the world altogether with the transcendent power and wisdom of God. The Beatles were observed and their career was documented in the form of print, audio and video media; Jesus was observed and His life was faithfully recorded and preserved as Holy Scripture. The Beatles were often used as a marketing tool by those who wanted to cash in on their popularity; Jesus' recognition was also borrowed by many who hoped to connect him to their own misguided religious projects. The Beatles changed the history of music; Jesus changed history.

If Jesus truly lived and walked the earth and if Jesus was who He said He was, we should expect to see exactly what we have seen in History. Jesus impacted the world like many other historical 'impact players', but with the unparalleled power and majesty of God.