II Corinthians 10:4-5

1. II Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

2. We Must Stand For Truth • Because of the danger of apostasy (Acts 20:29-31). • In order to be ready to answer others (I Peter 3:15). • To protect ourselves and the generations yet to come (Jude 3-4).

3. Jesus Family Tomb • Last Monday, Feb 25 2007, Simcha Jacobovici & James Cameron announced to the world the discovery of what they claim is the “Jesus Family Tomb.”

4. Jesus Family Tomb • The next day, Harper Books released a book entitled Jesus Family Tomb. • Tonight at 8:00 PM on the Discovery Channel, will air a documentary entitled The Lost Tomb of Jesus.

5. Jesus Family Tomb • In 1980 a tomb was accidentally broken into by a construction crew. • Archeologists excavated red clay about 1 meter high from the tomb and uncovered and removed 10 ossuaries (bone boxes).

6. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-500: (Greek) “Of Mariamne [also called] Mara”

7. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-501: (Aramaic) “Yehuda, son of Yeshua”

8. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-502: (Aramaic) “Matya”

9. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-503: (Aramaic) “Yeshua, son of Yoseph”

10. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-504: (Aramaic) “Yose”

11. Jesus Family Tomb • Of the Ten Ossuaries, six had the following inscriptions: IAA 80-505: (Hebrew-Latin) “Marya”

12. Jesus Family Tomb The “Jesus Tomb” Theory • The Yeshua bar Yoseph ossuary is Jesus of Nazareth. • Marya - His mother; Yose - brother (Mk 6:3); Matya - apostle Matthew; Mariamne - Mary Magdalene - His wife; Yehudah bar Yeshua - His son! • Jesus did not ascend bodily. • Statistics “prove” 1-600 this is Jesus’ Family Tomb.

13. Jesus Family Tomb • Amos Kloner was one of three archaeologists that excavated the tomb. • In 1996 he published the findings, “A Tomb with Inscribed Ossu- aries in East Talpiyot, Jerusalem” Atiqot 29(1996):15-22. • In 2003 he introduced Jacobovici to the find.

14. Jesus Family Tomb • According to Kloner there are more than 900 buried tombs just like the "Jesus" tomb within a 2-mile radius of Talpiyot. Of them, 71 bear the name Jesus. “Bones of Contention Archaeologist Disputes Claims in James Cameron's 'The Lost Tomb of Christ’” By Matt Gutman ABC News

15. Jesus Family Tomb • The name “Jesus son of Joseph” has been found on three or four ossuaries. These are common names. There were huge headlines in the 1940s surrounding another Jesus ossuary, cited as the first evidence of Christianity. There was another Jesus tomb. Jerusalem Post, Feb. 27, 2007 “Kloner: A great story, but nonsense” By David Horovitz

16. Jesus Family Tomb • Kloner says, “It makes a great story for a TV film, but it's impossible. It's nonsense.” “New film claims Jesus buried in Talpiot” Jerusalem Post, Feb. 25, 2007 By David Horovitz

17. Which One Is Jesus? • 1873 Claremont-Ganneau, near the Mount of Olives found a number of ossuaries with inscriptions including the name "Yeshua" (="Jesus") commemoratively inscribed on the outside.“Jerusalem Burial Cave Reveals: Names, Testimonies of First Christians” by Jean Gilman Jerusalem Christian Review

18. Which One Is Jesus? • Two ossuaries were discovered in 1945 by E.L. Sukenik, at Talpiot that bear the inscriptions “Jesus, Woe!” and “Jesus, Lament!” A Brief Survey of Early Christian Inscriptions as Witnesses to Christian Faith By Walter M. Shandruk

19. The “Jesus” Inscription “Yeshua(=Joshua), son of Yoseph” or “Teshua” - meaning “Salvation” (Psalm 144:10)

20. The “Jesus” Inscription “Yehoshua/Yeshua, is the sixth most common name used during Hellenistic and Roman periods in the land of Israel” Kloner, p.18

21. The “Mary” Inscription IAA 80-500: (Greek) “Of Mariamne [also called] Mara”

22. The “Mary” Inscription • The filmmakers appeal to a work a 4th apocryphal Acts of Philip to identify Mariamne with Mary Magdalene. • They suggest “Mara” should be understood “Master.”

23. The “Mary” Inscription “The name Mariamne, a variant of Miriam…is inscribed on more than 20 ossuaries in Israel State Collections” (Kloner, p. 17)

24. The “Mary” Inscription “Mara, a contraction of Martha, is used here as a second name. This too is common…” (Kloner, p. 17) Lit. “or also”

25. The James Bone Box • One of the 10 ossuaries has disappeared since its discovery. • The film makers suggest that the missing ossuary is the famous “James” ossuary “Yacob brother of Yeshua”

26. The James Bone Box • This ossuary came out of the antiquities market in the possesion of Oded Golan. • It is currently a part of a forger trial against Golan, but the filmmakers make a good case that it came from this tomb

27. Jesus Family Tomb • According to Kloner the tomb belonged to a middle- or upper-middle-class Jewish family during the first century and the cave was in use for 70-100 years by the family. “Biblical scholars reject filmmakers' claim about tomb of Jesus” By Judith Sudilovsky Catholic New Service

28. Problems With the Theory • The tomb was disturbed sometime in the past.

29. Problems With the Theory • “The blocking stone (golal), apparently removed removed in antiquity was not found” (Kloner, p. 16).

30. Problems With the Theory • “Sealing stones for the kokim [niches] were apparently removed in antiquity and were not found” (Kloner, p. 16).

31. Problems With the Theory • The tomb was disturbed sometime in the past. • Some inscriptions could be graffiti. Compare the “Jesus” inscription: …with the Judah bar Yeshuah

32. Problems With the Theory • The tomb was disturbed sometime in the past. • The names are common – or even imitated after the gospel is spread. • The filmmakers make too many “pop-culture” assumptions: • Mary – Jesus’ wife • Mariamne=Mary Magdalene. Why not Martha? • Jesus’ son – Jose= Jesus brother.

33. Problems With the Theory • The tomb was disturbed sometime in the past. • The names are common – or even imitated after the gospel is spread. • The filmmakers make too many “pop-culture” assumptions: • Symbol on door=Templars sign. • X before Yeshua=Cross=Jesus.

34. Problems With the Theory • The tomb was disturbed sometime in the past. • The names are common – or even imitated after the gospel is spread. • The filmmakers make too many “pop-culture” assumptions. • Too quick to accept apocryphal sources and reject the canonical.

35. The Testimony of Scripture • Jesus ascended before their eyes (Acts 1:9-11). • John took Mary into his house (John 19:25-27). • John is the “Disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 21:20-24). • Jesus came in flesh – arose & ascended (I Cor 15:1-7). • His resurrection body was a glorified body – but was not left behind (I Cor 15:47-53).

36. The Testimony of Scripture • Our own hope of resurrection rests upon Jesus’ resurrection. • If Jesus’ glorified body was left behind what hope is there for the Christian? (I Thess 4:13-17). • We will “caught up”… • …with the body that will “rise”… • …Just like Jesus (I John 3:2).

37. What Can We Say Then? • Is this Jesus’ bone box? – No. • It is either a common name… • Or graffiti (innocent or malicious).

38. What Can We Say Then? • Is this Jesus’ bone box? – No. • Does this prove Jesus was married with a child? – No. • Assumption with no proof. • Would not be wrong – but no record of family persecution. • Evidence of persecution of brothers (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History Bk 3.20).

39. What Can We Say Then? • Is this Jesus’ bone box? – No. • Does this prove Jesus was married with a child? – No. • Could this be the tomb of Jesus’ family? – Perhaps. • Or, even early Christians or Jews who knew the names of the gospels.

40. What Can We Say Then? • Is this Jesus’ bone box? – No. • Does this prove Jesus was married with a child? – No. • Could this be the tomb of Jesus’ family? – Perhaps. • Does it change anything about what has been revealed about Jesus? – No. • Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).