Is Jesus real, Reliable, and credible?

Title: Is Jesus real, Reliable, and credible?

By Jordan 01/02/25

Virtually everyone claims to point to the truth—religious believers signpost toward some form of God, atheists point away from God, and agnostics lead in a continuous loop of uncertainty. Most people on this planet, if not all, hold an idea that they believe best explains the reality around us and what they perceive to be true.​

So then the question is, “is Jesus reliable”?

When searching for truth you have to start somewhere, we believe the best starting point is with Jesus. Setting aside personal bias, the reality is that when exploring what best explains our existence. It only makes sense to start with the most talked-about and influential figure in human history.​

*** The ledgend called jesus

The Krishnas say Jesus was a spiritual master and a representative of Krishna in his age.

The Yogananda followers and other Eastern teachers believe Jesus had Christ consciousness and that his teachings were meant for all people.

Muslims recognize Jesus as a great prophet.

Buddhists say he was a Buddha, another incarnation of God, much like Buddha himself.

Hindus regard Jesus as a great spiritual teacher. Some believe he was a holy man, or Sadhu, who preached a universal message of love, while others see him as an avatar—an incarnation of God sent to fulfil a specific mission.

Regardless of belief systems, the name of Jesus remains a central topic of discussion. All these groups acknowledge Jesus in some way, saying, "Jesus is one of the ways," while also claiming, "but we are also one of the ways. However when Jesus was alive on this the earth he said a statement that to this day is still very controversial, (John 14:6), Jesus himself stated: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". It was an profoundly exclusive statement: the only pathway to God is through Him. He also declared that there is only one God—Yahweh—and that there is no other. This claim sets Christianity apart from other belief systems, as Jesus didn’t present Himself as merely one way among many, but as the only way to God. So the issue of who God is depends on whether or not Jesus was telling the truth or if He was a fraud. If Jesus is credible, then there is only one God, and the Scriptures have given us His name. and there are not multiple pathways to God—the pathway is small, narrow, and exclusive. However, if Jesus is not credible, then multiple pathways to God exist, multiple gods exist, and Allah and Yahweh are the same God.

So If all these groups recognize Jesus' authority, and yet he exclusively credits himself as the only way to God, then surely, he has to be a good place to start.

So, the question remains—is JESUS

***Is Jesus real?

Apart from all the religions mentioned above clearly affirming that an important man named Jesus existed, there are over 43 different writings from various sources, including Jewish and anti-Jesus scholars that confirm a man named Jesus walked this earth, claimed to be the Son of God, and died for this belief. Here are just a few writings from significant Roman figures of their time that confirm the existence of Jesus.

1. Tacitus (c. 56–120 AD) – Annals (c. 116 AD)

Tacitus, a Roman senator and historian, refers to Jesus in Annals (Book 15, Chapter 44) when discussing Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. He writes:

"Christus, from whom the name [Christians] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome..."

2. Pliny the Younger (c. 61–113 AD) – Letters to Emperor Trajan (c. 112 AD)

Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor of Bithynia (modern-day Turkey), wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan asking how to handle Christians. He describes their worship of Christ as a god:

"They were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery..."

3. Mara Bar-Serapion (Late 1st–3rd Century AD)

While not Roman, this Syrian Stoic philosopher wrote a letter (now in the British Museum) referencing the unjust execution of Jesus:

"What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished."

This suggests Jesus was seen as a wise teacher whose death had consequences for the Jewish people.

From these 3 examples (and there are more it is clear to see that Jesus was real and did preach and promote the things the bible talks of 

***Are the words of Jesus reliable?

​So the question now is: Are the words of Jesus and the Bible reliable? There are multiple factors to consider when assessing the reliability of the Bible, below are some  points that collectively paint a picture of its trustworthiness. 

1. Historical Accuracy

·       Archaeological discoveries confirm many biblical events, places, and figures (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Hittite civilization, and the Pool of Bethesda).

·       Non-Christian historical sources, such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger, mention Jesus and early Christians.

2. Manuscript Evidence

·       The New Testament has over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, far more than any other ancient text (e.g., Homer’s Iliad has about 1,800, Shakespear 0).

·       The time gap between original writings and earliest copies is much shorter for the Bible (50-100 years for the New Testament) compared to other ancient works (e.g., Plato’s works have a 1,200-year gap).

3. Consistency & Unity

·       Written by 40+ authors over 1,500 years in different cultures and languages, yet it maintains a consistent message of God's plan for salvation.

·       Despite being written in various genres (history, poetry, prophecy, and letters), the Bible presents a unified story.

4. Prophecy Fulfilment

·       The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ (e.g., Isaiah 53 describes His suffering, and Micah 5:2 predicts His birthplace in Bethlehem).

·       Other prophecies, like the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., were foretold by Jesus (Luke 21:20-24).

5. Scientific & Medical Foreknowledge

·       The Bible described concepts ahead of their time, such as:

o   The roundness of the Earth (Isaiah 40:22).

o   The importance of sanitation and quarantine (Leviticus 13:45-46).

o   The hydrological cycle (water cycle) (Job 36:27-28).

6. Early Eyewitness Accounts

·       The Gospels were written within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses, meaning those who saw Jesus could confirm or refute the accounts.

·       Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 references over 500 eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus.

7. Survival Against Opposition

·       The Bible has been banned, burned, and criticized for centuries, yet it remains the most widely read and distributed book in history.

·       No other ancient document has been as scrutinized and verified as the Bible. 

***Is Jesus credible?

​​​The issue surrounding Jesus' credibility lies in his resurrection. Personally, I believe that if someone rises from the dead, they at least deserve my attention, and further investigation is warranted. The Bible states that there were over 500 witnesses to the resurrection event. More notably, countless non-biblical sources confirm that people’s faith in Jesus did not die after witnessing his crucifixion. Instead, the opposite happened—their faith increased as they claimed to have seen him rise. The Bible has already proven to be a historically accurate book on many fronts, with reliable accounts of people, places, and historical events. It has demonstrated remarkable honesty, further adding to its credibility.

An extraordinary 63,000 cross-references connect all 66 books of the Bible, weaving them into a seamless narrative. Written over 1,500 years by approximately 40 different authors from diverse geographical locations and backgrounds, the Bible’s intricate themes and prophecies align with stunning accuracy.

Additionally, the names listed below reference the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in their literature, whether it’s previously mentioned.

Tacitus (c. 56–120 AD),

Pliny the Younger (c. 61–113 AD),

Mara Bar-Serapion (Late 1st or 2nd century AD)

or

Lucian of Samosata (c. 125–180 AD) or even

Josephus (c. 37–100 AD)

They all tell a story of the crucifixion of Christ from their own perspective. While none of these sources directly confirm the resurrection, they provide historical evidence that:

• Jesus was a real historical figure.

• He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

• His followers continued to believe in his resurrection, even in the face of persecution.

The belief in Jesus’ resurrection spread rapidly and widely. All of which could only of  really happened if the resurrection was a real event Countless people were persecuted for believing in and promoting the resurrection of Christ, the exact number of people persecuted for believing in the resurrection of Jesus is unknown, but historical records suggest that thousands faced persecution, especially in the early centuries of Christianity.

Historians estimate that at least 100,000–200,000 Christians were killed under Roman rule before Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD (Total Number of Christian Martyrs (First 300 Years) 

*** ​In closing.

A wise man once said, (yes you guessed it Jesus)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So, I implore you—just as Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God." Take some time to examine the evidence we have in this world to form a clearer picture of who God is. Start with Jesus and work your way outward with an open mind, being honest about what you discover. And watch as reality shifts around you.