The Lost Tomb of Jesus: An Inconvenient Truth, or an Invalid Dramatization?
The film by Simcha Jacobovichi is indeed a fine show of cinematography, and as a viewer I found myself (regardless of my personal faith and understanding of the scriptures) eager with anticipation and anxiety to see what the search would present, and what the results of the scientific evidence would prove. The film tugged at the heartstrings of Christian faith, but seemed to make some sort of evidence that this truly could be the tomb of Christ.
Immediately I pulled out a Bible and read along with the references given, and this is where things became a little fuzzy. Taken out of context, the referenced scripture could mean what they were saying, but putting it into context proved another story altogether. During the film, they proposed a scenario that when Christ was hanging on the cross, and moments from death he looked upon his "beloved follower" and Mary stating "This is your son," and "This is your Mother." The proposed scenario was that he was speaking to Mary Magdalene, and their "son" Judah. However, upon inspection of the scripture (and it doesn't take close inspection), it is made clear that He is speaking to his mother: "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26-27 KJV.
Aside from the convenient self paraphrasing of the scripture, there was convenient scientific "evidence" shown to prove their theory. Conveniently, the only ossuaries with enough DNA were the ossuaries believed to belong to Jesus and Mary Magdalene. When the DNA testing proved that the two people buried in the ossuaries were not maternally related, they jumped to the conclusion that they must be husband and wife. This claim fails to think of other relations, such as father and daughter, or in-laws, or the possibility that there was no relation whatsoever. To be scientifically proven, tests must be followed through till the end. The other ossuaries appeared to be too clean to look for DNA, so testing was not performed, leaving a gaping hole in the study's trustworthiness.
The point is that anyone can come to a predetermined conclusion if they work hard enough to find that conclusion. Using visual imagery to create a powerful bias without substantiating evidence does a disservice to the public. The filmmaker has said over and over that his job was only to tell the story, but Christian or not every mother has taught her child that a half story is still a lie. The story of the Jesus tomb requires a lot of "ifs" to be in place to work, including basing "evidence" on Gnostic books written centuries after the crucifixion, and it fails to acknowledge the proven historical validity of the scriptures.
Published by Sara Smith
Sara Smith is an artist specializing in graphic design, photography, jewelry design, and fiber arts. Area interests include interior design, travel, outdoor sports, writing, and the home. View profile
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26 Comments
Post a CommentSara, I enjoyed this article, and am sorry not to see any current work from you!
I think it's fascinating that all of your critics are unable to refute a single fact concerning the Christian faith. There is massive evidence for the historicity of the Bible. A Good, basic introduction can be found in Jack Wellman's Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, available on Amazon. The people with a blind, irrational faith are the one's criticizing you.
Besides the bible we also need to study history as there are maney protectors of tha christian faith. Look to the nights templar and what they have protected since the time of Jesus. Free Masonry also holds maney secrets. God wants us to be open minded not mindless drones to the wims of some men who only wrote their FEELINGS down in a book.
i believe that this film is an attack to the christian faith, proven that the romans cannot see the body of jesus, remember that jesus is the alpha and omega the begenning and the everlasting, the film the da vince code , the lost tomb of jesus are all scrap films
I agree with James on his post. I think unknown to the vast majority of the public there is a smear job going on against christianity and of course Jesus. The media masters, the elite jews of the world who own all of the media we see and read everyday are weakening the will and spirit of there most hated rivals, Jesus and his church. I encourage anyone right now to simply go ahead and do a little investagating and see how our society is shielded from the truth. ex whats really happening in israel, how they treat christians in israel, there views of christians. Then when you discover who really owns and controls virtually 99% of all news we see via television and newsprint you will understand how such a documentary even makes it to the air and is allowed to be discussed in a cival and open manner.
This is very good writing. I have to agree with you, Jesus was talking to his mother and John one of his disciples. If the findings were accurate (they are not), this would dispute that Jesus was risen on the third day. If Jesus had not risen the sacrifice of his body would have been for nothing. Where as the sacrifice was meant for us to have a chance for everlasting life. If this was true then doubting Thomas would not have had the chance to stick in his fingers in the side and hand were Jesus Christ had been tortured. The beginning of Acts would be null. After being resurrected Jesus made numerous appearances to his followers. Jesus died as a man but was risen as a King so that you and I could have a chance for everlasting life.
GOOD INTERESTING READ
1 the tomb was inthe wrong city as he was born in Bethlehem Joseph,s home city where his family would have had a tomb if they had the wealth.A carpenter was not of the upperclass therefor buryed in a field with no markings or cased out with the ashes from the grates. His mother Joseph and Mary with brothers lived and worked in Nazareth 66 miles as the crow flies from Jerusalem "if" the famly had a tomb it would never have been in Jerusalem,more than likley the family members would have been interned where they Died and the bones shifted to Nazareth later if the Family (uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers,and sisters)had a plot set aside for this.
I had a typo, that was suppose to say film and not feel. Sorry about this.While I am here, I might as well say it again, High Five.
Now I am going to have to look into this. I didn't know that they were even making a new feel about Jesus. I remember when that movies that Mel Gibson directed, came out, there was a lot of controversy over it. I don't discuss rather or not I believe them because my opinion would probably only upset a few hundred people and I'm not going to tell you which ones either. However, I can say that you wrote an amazing article and I give you a high five and I can't wait to finish reading all of the comments left on here.