I felt it necessary to post about this topic as it is going to be huge after this weekend. In fact, it already is huge, as the media attention leading up to it has been enormous.
James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici have produced a “documentary” that claims that achaeologists have found the casket of Jesus and His family. It will be airing on the Discovery Channel on Sunday. These claims are not new – the caskets (they are technically called ossuaries) in question were actually discovered in 1980. But now, statistics and “DNA evidence” have been thrown into the mix, seemingly to give these arguments credibility. Of course, I believe that the evidence clearly displays that these claims are false. But, we must address them nonetheless.
So, I decided, instead of reinventing the wheel here, linking some other sites that have already addressed the issues surrounding this documentary.
Ben Witherington wrote a great piece on his blog.
Al Mohler was on Larry King Live on Monday.
James White has written on this topic a lot lately. Here is one such link.
Also, check out this entry on Jeff Downs’ web site for an even longer listing of resources you can find on the web.
I am personally perusing these links because I have a particular co-worker who will be all over this. I need to be prepared. It will not be enough for me to simply dismiss these claims – I will need to demonstrate for him that I have reason for dismissing the claims.
Also, carefully studying the topic and watching it unravel before our eyes strengthens the faith that I have. The fact is, they have been trying for centuries to prove that Jesus did not rise from the dead. Every attempt has failed. This is just one more in a long line of efforts to prove that Jesus is not who He said He was. In the case of my co-worker, he is looking for a reason to not believe – but I must be ready to give him a reason for my hope. What he does with it is up to him…
Blessings,
m.
