Historic Letter written by Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar

I have in my possession a copy of the letter written by Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome. This Historic letter written by Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar Letter is from the "Archko Volume" containing manuscripts, in Constantinople, and the Records of the Senatorial Docket, taken from the Library at Rome, Translated by Drs. McIntosh and Twyman of the Antiquerian Lodge, Genoa, Italy. This has been checked and is in accord with the copy of the original lodged in the British Museum, which has verified the accuracy of the transcription. Verified in November, 1935. Historic Letter Resurrected Pilate's lengthy letter to Tiberius Caesar---Discusses at length the arrest, the trial and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

TIBERIUS CAESAR-EMPEROR OF ROME-NOBLE SOVEREIGN GREETING: The events of the last few days in my providence have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I should not be surprised if, in the course of, time, they may change the destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitous. I am almost ready to say, Cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Falceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.

On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the Praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour no guest appeared. This I considered an insult offered my dignity, and the whole government which I represent. A few days later, the high priest designed to pay me a visit. His deportment was grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeming, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high Priests of this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. So turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread of an insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested a reinforcement from the perfect of Syria, who informed me that he had scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole government. I lived secluded from the masses, for I do not know what those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.

I WAS TOLD IT WAS JESUS
Among the various rumors that came to my ears there was one in particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said, appeared in Galiee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of God who had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews. One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him. His golden-colored hair and beard gave him the appearance of a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years old. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a Contrast between him and his hearers, with their black beards and tawny completion!

Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued to walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Eturia waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering the Praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he replied: "Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's."

I EXTENDED TO HIM MY PROTECTION
It was on account of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was in my power to have him arrested, and exiled to Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman Government in all its dealings with men; this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by any Praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen {May the gods avert the omen!} should it ever happen, I say that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we call destiny.

This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews--not the poor, but the rich and powerful. It is true that Jesus was severe on the latter, and this was a political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees," he would say to them, "you are a race of vipers; you resemble painted sepulchers; you appear well unto men, but you have death within you." At other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, telling them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of God. Complaints were daily made at the Praetorium against the insolence of Jesus.
I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination of the Parthian War.

Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquility of the city without subjecting the Praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with him at the Praetorium. He came. You know that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood--as incapable of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance I was walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, though the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. When he came up to me he stopped,and by a signal sign he seemed to say to me, "I am here," though he spoke not a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary type of man--a type unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about him that was repelling in his character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous to approach him.

"Jesus," said I unto him at last--and my tongue faltered--"Jesus of Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage--I know not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know, there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you that liberty of which you are worthy. However. I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell victim of their hatred. Yours are doubly incensed--against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct; against me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even accuse me of being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the little civil power which Rome has left them. My request---I do not say an order---is, that you be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of them, lest you arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law."

The Nazarene calmly replied: "Prince of the earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the mountain-gorge: it will uproot the trees of the valley. The torrent will answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the Creator. God alone knows whither flow the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you, before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be spilt."

"Your blood shall not be spilt," said I, with deep emotion: "you are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all of the turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear, impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! they are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My Praetorium shall be an asylum both day and night."

"THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED"
Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile: "When the day shall come there will be no asylums for the son of man, neither in the earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is there," pointing to the heavens. "That which is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished."

"Young man," I answered mildly, "you will oblige me to convert my requests into an order. The safety of the province which has been confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in your discourses. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness attend you. Farewell."

"I CAME NOT TO BRING WAR INTO THE WORLD, BUT PEACE, LOVE AND CHARITY."
"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus. I come not to bring war into the world, but peace, love and charity. I was born the same day on which Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not from me. I expect it from others, and I will meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of expiation."

So saying he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilica--to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of which I could not relieve myself of in his presence.

JESUS APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THOSE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS THAT GREAT NATIONS SOMETIMES PRODUCE
To Herod, who then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be afraid of a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the Praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling conversation, asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to that freedom of speech which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.

CLAMORING FOR THE DEATH OF THE NAZARENE
The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation which always manifests itself at the solemnities of the Passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman centurion had been insulted. I wrote to the Perfect of Syria for a hundred foot soldiers and as many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the Praetorium, believing, as their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition, continued vociferating: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus. First, the Herodians and the Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives: they hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that bore the image of the Roman emperor; and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled in their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands, which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Besides these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join sedition, and profit by the disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus was dragged before the High Priest, and condemned to death. It was then that the High Priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered him to be sent thither. The wily Tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judea appeared to be pouring into the city.

"BEWARE, BEWARE, AND TOUCH NOT THAT MAN; FOR HE IS HOLY."
I had taken a wife from among the Gauls, who pretended to see into futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me: "Beware. Beware, and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I saw a vision. he was walking on the water; he was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to him. Behold, the torrent of Mount Kedron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with gemonide; the columns of the interium have given away and the sun is veiled in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil; awaits thee. If thou wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread the frowns of Caesar."

By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone what they demanded.

"The death of the Nazarene," was the reply.
"For what crime?"
"He blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God; the Messiah, the King of the Jew."
"Roman justice," said I, "punishes not such offences with death."
"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"

"Crucify him! Crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations.

There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to protect him from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, I adopted a measure which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save his life. I proposed a measure, as it was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions, to release Jesus and let him go free, that he might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified. I then spoke to them of the inconsistency of their course as being incompatible with their laws, showing that no criminal judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted one whole day; and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and the signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be executed on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on the day of his execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole proceeding; also, according to their law, a man was stationed at the door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback to cry the name of the criminal and his crime, and the names of his witnesses, and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and the prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times, and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might awe them into subjection; but they cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

I THEN CALLED FOR A BASIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS
I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted for.

Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared with what I witnessed on this occasion. it might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the Praetorium even into Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum.

By degrees the day darkened like a winter's twilight, such as had been at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was likewise the ides of March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilica, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom these fiends of Tartrus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers through the funeral gates that leads to Gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a distressed play of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the gods, than that of men. A loud clamor was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and setting over the city covered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed: "Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart."

Whilst these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.

THE SACRICIFICE WAS CONSUMMATED
Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went down into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohort pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief, and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt remain motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.

THEY ALL SLUNK OFF LIKE COWARDLY CURS
I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already overcharged with grief, we though strangers, wept together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who testified against him, those who cried, "Crucify him! we have his blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. As I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation after death, if such be the fact, I am sure it commenced in this vast crowd.

"Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings," who are you, and what is your request?"

PERMISSION TO BURY JESUS OF NAZARETH
"I am Joseph of Arimathaea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon bended knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth."

" Your prayer is granted." I said to him, and I ordered Manilus to take some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned.

A few days after the sepulcher was found empty. His disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. And to its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for yourself see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.

Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after he was buried one of the priests came to the Paetorium and said they were apprehensive that his disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that he had risen from the dead, as he had foretold and of which they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard {Malcus} to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, and place as many around the sepulcher as were needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and not the Romans.
When the great excitement arose about the sepulcher being empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulcher. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred there that morning I sent for this man Isham, who related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances; He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch; He saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulcher. He at first thought the women had come to embalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their graveclothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard: and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. he said the earth seemed to swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he knew not what did occur. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have come from being awakened and getting up too suddenly, as it sometimes had the effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but he thought it was nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of the day. I asked him if he went to the sepulcher after he had come to himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief came they all went to their quarters. I asked him if he had been questioned by the priests. he said he had. They wanted him to say it was an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the disciples came and stole Jesus; but we saw no disciples, he did not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the Virgin in Bethlehem; that the same person had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and places.
It seemed to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he could calm the seas, still the storms, call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth. Now, I say if he could do all these things, which he did and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that created this enmity against him-- he was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was he charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as well by his foes as by his friends--I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross: "Truly this was the Son of God."
Now noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear Antipater has said many hard things of me in this matter. With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble Sovereign.

I am your obedient servant.
Pontius Pilate.

This letter backs up the biblical account of the events of the Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     

THE GOD OF WOW

"The God of Wow" Words and music by Dave Fournier and George Romanacce. © 2015 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). From The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New. All rights reserved. Administrated worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. CCLI #7053016
Sung by Benjamin Hoppe

Lyrics:
VERSE 1
You have no birthday, You have always been
You alone have no beginning
And no middle and no end
You're always with me, You are everywhere
In New Jersey or in Egypt
Even outer space–You're there
Everything You are and do
Is unbelievable but true

CHORUS
You're the God of Wow!
Amazing! How could this be?
You're the God of Whoa!
You're more than I could ever, ever dream
The more I learn about You
Exclamation points abound
To the God of Wow!

VERSE 2
You're never needy, how could You be?
You made everything on Earth
And in the sky and in the sea
You're never lonely, the Trinity!
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Yet You're reaching out to me
Inviting me to come to You
Inconceivable, but true!

BRIDGE
I can't find the words that could be
Big enough, loud enough
There could be no song that I could
Sing enough or shout enough
When I want to praise Your name
But don't know how I just say
Wow! Amazing! How could this be?
And I say Whoa! You're more
Than I could ever, ever dream

TAG
Designer of the dinosaurs
Mapper of the ocean floor
Of all the wows below, above
The best of all is Your great love
You're the God of Wow!

The Ology a companion to The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New, a storybook theology by Marty Machowski. More info here: http://stores.newgrowthpress.com/the-...

Song information and resources here: http://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/...

Get it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the...

The Prince's Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul

In The Prince's Poison Cup, R.C. Sproul focuses in on the atonement to show that Jesus had to endure the curse of sin in order to redeem His people from their spiritual death.

When Ella gets sick and has to take yucky medicine, she wonders why something that will help her get well has to taste so bad. When she puts the question to Grandpa, he tells her the story of a great King and His subjects who enjoyed wonderful times together—until the people rebelled against the King and drank from a forbidden well. To their horror, they found that the beautiful water in the well made their hearts turn to stone. To reclaim His people, the King asks His Son, the Prince, to drink from a well of horrid poison. The poison will surely kill the Prince—but He is willing to drink it to please His Father and help His people.

Richly illustrated, The Prince’s Poison Cup will help children appreciate the great love of God for His people and the awful price Jesus had to pay because of sin. A “For Parents” section provides assistance in unfolding the biblical elements of the story.

Purchase The Prince's Poison Cup from Reformation Trust: http://ligm.in/vsMC3h

Evidence for the Historical Jesus by Professor Gary R. Habermas

History, Philosophy, and Christian Apologetics:

Specializing in Resurrection-of-Jesus Research

     "Billions profess to believe in the historical existence, death, and supernatural resurrection of Jesus. This man from Nazareth, a working-class Jew, made an exclusive claim to personal deity. The size of his popular religion and this one audacious claim refuse to be ignored, yet neither one amounts to evidence.

     Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. Christian believers as well as unbelievers may find within the contents of this site a strong argument for the philosophical possibility of miracles and the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, as well as the theological and practical implications of this event." by Dr. Habermas - http://www.garyhabermas.com/

Introduction
The subject of the Historical Jesus is perhaps the most popular religious topic in settings such as university and seminary classrooms, written volumes, and doctoral dissertations. Unlike many of these more formal situations, the question-and-answer format utilized throughout this text allows plenty of space to develop additional angles. Hence, the backtracking, necessary repetition, as well as viewing the subject matter from a variety of perspectives allow the conversation to deepen significantly before moving ahead. In the process, it is our hope that new ideas will be expressed and developed. The overall purpose is to provide a historical context for the original gospel proclamation as provided by Jesus’ disciples at a very early date after the crucifixion itself. If we have come close to providing such a basis, then we will have reached our central goal.

This volume is a transcribed and expanded version of six television programs that appeared originally on “The John Ankerberg Show.” The original material was used by permission, for which we begin by thanking Dr. John Ankerberg, Alan Weathers, and their associates. This explains the similar introduction which appears at the beginning of each chapter. (Continue reading by downloading the whole ebook HERE, in pdf format.)

FREE EBOOK AVAILABLE HERE.

TEST THE BIBLE

Let’s test some predictions in the Bible. As you look at them you will notice that they are not groping generalizations put in vague language but are detailed descriptions of the future. Though many examples of prophecies could be cited, I will focus on some predictions about the life and death of Jesus Christ.

1.  The prophet Micah predicted Jesus’ birthplace 700 years before Jesus was born. Micah did not say it would be in some little town somewhere in southern Palestine. He said it would occur in a town called Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). There is no way that anyone can say that someone wrote this prophecy in the name of Micah after it occurred, for when Herod asked the priests where Christ was to be born they quoted Micah’s prophecy as the answer (Matt. 2:6).

That this prediction would prove true was most unlikely, for during most of Mary’s pregnancy she and Joseph lived in Nazareth in northern Palestine, not in Bethlehem in southern Palestine. But a Roman tax decree brought them to Bethlehem during the last days of Mary’s pregnancy because Joseph was of the line of King David, and Bethlehem was David’s hometown. It is impossible that chance could have brought all these factors together at the right time. Only God could do it.

2.  The prophet Malachi, 400 years before Christ, said that Christ would be announced by a “forerunner”. John the Baptist fulfilled this exactly as predicted (Mal. 3:1 and Matt. 3:1-3).

3.  Many details of Christ’s ministry were predicted in the Old Testament. These details were fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry: Its location (predicted in Isa. 9:1-2 and reported as fulfilled in Matt. 4:13-16), its purpose (Isa. 61:1 and Lk. 4:16-18), its accompaniment by miracles (Isa. 35:5-6 and Matt. 11:4-5), its inclusion of Gentiles (Isa. 42:6 and Lk. 2:32), and its rejection (Isa. 53:1-5 and Jn. 1:11).

4.  Heaped on top of these are many additional predictions about the death of Christ. It may be possible to predict the place and even the approximate time of the death of someone who is dying, but to predict accurately the death of someone who wouldn’t even be born until hundreds of years later is beyond human possibility. But that is exactly what occurred.

The prophets of the Old Testament predicted that Jesus would be scourged and spit on (Isa. 50:6 and the fulfillment in Matt. 26:67), that He would be given vinegar to drink (Psa. 69:21 and Matt. 27:34, 48), that His hands and feet would be pierced (Psa. 22:16 and Lk. 23:33), that He would agonize with thirst (Psa. 22:15 and Jn. 19:28), that His garments would be distributed when He died (Psa. 22:18 and Jn. 19:23, 24), that no bone would be broken (Psa. 34:20 and Jn. 19:33-36), and that He would be buried with the rich (Isa. 53:9 and Matt. 27:57-60).

5.  Jesus claimed to be a prophet, and He was. To cite only one area, He predicted details of His own death specifically and accurately. He said that He would die in Jerusalem, that His death would be instigated by the leaders of the Jewish people (Matt. 16:21), that He would die by crucifixion, and that three days later He would come back to life (Matt. 20:19). No one could do this in such detail months before he actually died unless he was truly a prophet.

Could these predictions have happened by chance? If so, then they would not validate the Bible. If, however, they could not possibly happen by chance, then we ought to take notice of what the Bible says in other matters, since it has proved itself to be reliable to the testable area of fulfilled prophecies.

Extracted from A Challenge To Any Thinking Person by Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, PhD. You can read the whole article by clicking HERE.

Why Did Jesus Come into the World?

Imagine the creator of this vast universe who has all knowledge, all power coming to the ones he created to make himself known to them. Well that’s exactly what took place almost 2,000 years ago. To communicate with us in the best way possible, “God “became flesh,” He became one of the creatures he made, man.

Why did God do this? Because our greatest need is an eternal one. It’s not about what we can gain in this life, in profits or pleasure or making a lasting imprint on this earth. None of these will satisfy our soul. Ours is a spiritual need, one that we were created for, to have fellowship with God and do His will.

Jesus came to earth because he loves us; He came to deliver truth in a world of false beliefs. But the main reason He came to earth was to be the final sacrifice for our sins. The simple reason is because we are not good, some may think they are, but none are as good as they think when compared to God’s standard--Jesus Christ.

His love prompted him to become man to accomplish what only He could, to rescue mankind.  Because we are sinful, in a spiritually wrecked condition we are in need of redemption but could not redeem ourselves. Nothing short than the eternal creator could accomplish this; no man with sin could qualify to redeem us with his life. God would come to earth as man to cleanse the affect of the disease of sin inherited to all humanity. That is what is so amazing about the Bibles story of Jesus. The creator came to earth; God who is perfect, righteous and holy lived among his creatures that are unholy, unrighteous, even those who were enemies of him.

After man was made and given dominion over the earth, Satan, an angelic creature smarter and more powerful came to Eve in the garden to deceive her. Through tempting Eve to disobey God’s command, it resulted in Adam also disobeying God and brought sin to earth. When Adam sinned, it confirmed him and all of us in a change of nature, unholiness. Sin entered into mans nature and spread to the offspring of all people. Because God is holy and righteous he had to judge them for their disobedience. Because God is also holy and righteous and loving He had to do something to reverse the separation of sin that took place to his creatures.

“But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).

John 6:38: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” As a servant, he, the Son came to do the will of the Father. 1 John 4:14: “That the Father sent the Son as the Savior of the world.” God did not send an angel nor a good man, the savior is God who became man. The Bible says, “the grace of God has appeared to all men.” Christ came for all. Christianity is for everyone but not everyone will respond; only those who acknowledge they are sinful. For one to know this they only have to look at God’s standard, his commands and his law to find they have not obeyed them perfectly and have fallen short of keeping them.

Heb 10:7-10 “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come--in the volume of the book it is written of Me--to do Your will, O God.’ “ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The sacrifices show that sin tore apart the perfect harmony man once had with God and man.  

Notice that Jesus says the whole of the Old Testament is concentrated on him. God began the sacrificial system with Adam but it was not to continue, it was given temporarily to point to the Messiah, (until he came Gal.3) until the final covenant would be established. These sacrifices were given to show how sinful man is and to cover our sins until the last one took place. He even gave more laws to make it more apparent to man that we are sinful, guilty of disobedience, falling short of keeping his requirements. (Galatians 3:19;

John 8:12 Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 12:46: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Darkness is representative of sin and judgment. Sin darkens our understanding and ruins our living. That we need one that can show us the way to live, as a light in darkness so we will not stumble. We all know what light is we depend on it today when we are in the dark so we will not stumble. This is why the gospel is associated with light because it shows us our sin and presents the savior. 2 Cor. 4:3: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Most may not want to think of themselves as in darkness but this is how God looks at them without the truth of knowing Christ.

I John 1:5-6: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

The light is His Word and His way, Jesus said, “I am the Way the truth and the life” to come to the Father. To have this life He offers you must accept him as the way and embrace the truth.

John the apostle writes that Jesus “was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” (John 1:9-10)

The people responded in John 6:42: “Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’? 

Those Jesus lived among were very aware of his claim of not originating from earth though not all believed him. They could not understand it. But they knew he was different from other men.

Jesus explained his purpose for becoming man Luke 19:10: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” God came to those who had the most knowledge of him first, those he was working through for centuries, those he entrusted his words to. His intent was to explain himself as being fulfillment of all the rituals and laws He gave them.

Matthew 18:11-12 “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”

God uses human shepherds to explain how the chief shepherd would act. This is God’s heart to not lose a single one that is in the fold. He will go far to retrieve the one who leaves. This was his mission, to come to earth and save us. It was for everyone, because everyone is lost. No one is born not lost. This is what sin does, it has the nature of darkness and we become comfortable living in a fallen world. But no one has to live in the world or leave this world the same way.

He did not come as their ruler but as a man who served them so they could understand better how to relate to God. Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The greatest service one can do is to give their life for another; Jesus gave his life for all, not just a few. Many a soldier has given his life on the battlefield to save his fellow soldier which is the greatest human sacrifice. Jesus gave it for those who were enemies. We were all enemies; even those who are Christian a should not forget this was once their state as well.

Luke 9:56: “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.” With simple message encapsulated in love, God the Father sent the Son from heaven to earth to become a man to demonstrate what life is like living in obedience to their creator. Jesus was the perfect example of man having fellowship with his creator, to have joy and live life in its fullest; in purity. It was the way God intended it to be from Adam onward. As we allow Christ to Lord over our lives we are offered peace through trials, harmonious living, and a clean conscience. One day we will have beyond what words can describe, beyond our dreams and imaginations (1 Corinthians 2:9).

God’s message to us through His Only begotten Son John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John continues in v.19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Evil has been with us since Eve and Adam disobeyed God and ate the fruit from the forbidden tree. It springs from our fallen nature and mankind’s history tells the story and bears witness to this evil that is part of mans living. We were made to be peaceful in the likeness of our creator. In a sinful condition we were born “to be wild,” in the new spiritual birth we were born to have God’s nature of righteousness (I John 2:29).

John 10:10:  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” This means a changed life from sin to righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit instead of the works of the flesh. These are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23) Ephesians 5:9: (goodness, righteousness, and truth).

Speaking to Pilate just prior to his crucifixion (John 18:37-38) Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” “You say rightly that I am a king. “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

Many people do not understand when they reject what Jesus says and refuse His way they are siding with Pilate and admitting they do not understand nor want to know truth. Some people believe they already have the truth without Jesus. But Jesus said He is the truth, the truth is found in a person and that person is God’s Son who spoke only truth. No one is born in this world with the truth, one must be reborn spiritually to know this truth (John.3:3-6).

Jesus came to earth because of God's love for all of us; no matter what religion, country or culture we were born into He wants fellowship with us. He wants us to experience the mercy and forgiveness that is needed to make us whole.

1 Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” Paul did not look at himself as holy than any other, but put himself as lower, calling himself the greater of sinners. Understanding he needed to be forgiven just like anyone else. We are all sinners that need the salvation that Jesus paid for.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) God’s love holds him back from judgment, he is merciful and does not want to see any perish so He continues to allow his message of forgiveness and reconciliation to him be proclaimed by those who know him. But there is a day coming when this message will not be allowed the freedom it now enjoys.

Many men have tried to find the right way when Jesus said He is the way. They embraced all that was offered but only those who take the one way will find life.

Following rules and regulations of religion is not good news, Jesus said to follow him and explained how.

Christianity is an internal religion because of the indwelling of the Spirit of God in the believer, the spirit of life is given and begins to transform us from the inside. No other religion or way can offer you this because only Christianity deals with the sinfulness of man, which is our spiritual nature.

No other religion can offer this nor can it deliver it because it is the life of God himself.

Only Christianity is based on faith, hope and love. We have Faith to live in a fallen world where things do not often go the way we would like. Yet we can trust God who is watching over us and personally cares for our life. We have Hope for our life today no matter what may happen and hope for our future. Hope that the life to come is going to be more fulfilling and than anything we experienced on earth. We can Love God who gave the ultimate sacrifice in laying down the life of his human body to save us from the penalty of our sins. Now we are able to love Him who we once hated. Because of this new life, love is indwelled in us that we are also able to love people in a greater manner, even those we may not know.

Source: LET US REASON MINISTRIES

The Uniqueness Of Christ in History

In this lecture, Dr. Zacharias addresses the teachings and person of Christ against the curtain of history. Quoting historians and such artists as George Frederick Handel and William Cowper, he examines four distinctives of Christ's teachings which are unique in the span of history. This message was part of a forum on the uniqueness of Christ held in several major cities in the Republic of South Africa.

Ravi Zacharias On THE TRINITY

Ravi Zacharias explains the Trinity

Ravi Zacharias Q & A: The Contradiction of the Trinity and DesCartes

Ravi Zacharias answers questions from college students about the whether or not the concept of the Trinity is self-contradicting and what his views of Rene DesCartes are.

The meeting took place at Cornell University.

The audio can be downloaded from www.rzim.org under the "Let My People Think"