Jesus was more than a man who created a new religion. He was a devout Jew who wanted to reform Judaism, not create his own religion. He spoke Aramaic and most likely understood Hebrew, and was fluent in at least two languages. He also had a sense of humor.
1. He Had Siblings
Whether or not you believe in the virgin birth, the divinity of Jesus, or even the existence of God, most serious scholars agree that Jesus really existed. In fact, Jesus is one of the most widely known figures in history.
But what a lot of people don’t realize is that Jesus actually had siblings. Mary and Joseph had other children after Jesus’ miraculous birth, including Jude and Amos.
But some Christians argue that these were not full-brothers or sisters, but rather step-siblings from Joseph’s previous marriage. This is a completely unfounded argument, as it goes against the clear teaching of Scripture.
2. He Was Multilingual
It’s common to think of Jesus as being the most powerful figure in history. But His story goes much deeper than that.
For starters, the Bible reveals that He had siblings. We know this because of an incident in which Mary and Joseph lose Jesus during a family trip to Jerusalem. When they realise he’s not with the rest of their group, they mount what we would call a missing person investigation.
Nathanael, one of the minor figures in the Bible, brings a bit of wit to the situation when he first hears about this miracle worker known as ‘Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.’ His snarky response says a lot about how people viewed Jesus’ hometown back then. It was a small town, not exactly the kind of place you’d expect the Messiah to come from.
3. He Didn’t Leave Any Written Records
The Gospels focus on key events and teachings, but Jesus’ ministry was so vast that it would be impossible to write down every act of compassion and miracle He did. The Greek word used here, khoresein, refers to an inexhaustible whole and conveys the sense that the works and words of Christ were boundless.
While some scholars debate the virgin birth, divinity, and resurrection of Jesus, most serious, mainstream scholars accept that He actually existed. And if so, He was quite an extraordinary figure.
He healed the lame, claimed to be God in the flesh, and accurately predicted the future. He was persecuted by the Jews for these beliefs, beaten with rods, given vinegar to drink, and forced to wear a crown of thorns. The fact that He resurrected is also beyond doubt. Obviously, He was no myth.
4. He Lived For Only Three Years
The Gospels offer a very limited snapshot of Jesus’ childhood. But it is fascinating to learn a few little known facts about this special time in His life.
When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, they encountered a man named Simeon who recognized Him through the Spirit’s prompting. He held the infant and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you.”
Despite the fact that Jesus was God in human form, He lived a very simple lifestyle. He didn’t seek out fame, even choosing a common name like Jesus. It was a sign of His humility and relatability. In addition to being a carpenter, He also worked with stone, harvested crops, and herded cattle. He was a very skilled and resourceful worker. This shows that He had a connection with the daily struggles of people in Nazareth.
5. He Was a Jew
We all know that Jesus was a Jew, but there are some details about Him that may surprise us. For example, He didn’t choose His own name. His mother Mary did.
The Bible reveals that Jesus was born to a Jewish couple and lived as a Jew. He frequently visited synagogues, taught from Jewish texts, and celebrated Jewish holidays. He even had a circumcision, which was an important ritual in Jewish culture.
The Gospels also mention that He grew up as part of a typical Jewish family. He had siblings, and some scholars believe that these were Joseph’s children or possibly step-siblings. There is debate about whether these siblings actually existed. Regardless, they are an important part of Christ’s story. The Bible doesn’t tell us their names, though. People in those days didn’t have formal surnames.
6. He Was a Roman
Despite the fact that Jesus is often seen as an all-powerful God in human form, the truth is he was actually a regular guy with a real life. He lived on Earth, he got married, he had kids, and he died.
While the Bible’s writers aren’t the best of historians, almost all serious scholars agree that Jesus really existed. The only other option is the Christ myth theory, which isn’t taken seriously by anyone outside of fringe Christianity.
When Jesus came upon a funeral procession, he spoke to the dead man in the coffin and turned everyone’s mourning into dancing. This resurrection was the first one he performed. The Greek word for craftsman used in the Gospels is tekton, which was a broad occupation involving woodworking as well as stonework and farming. Jesus probably worked as a tekton himself.
7. He Died on the Cross
Whether you believe in the virgin birth, God’s divinity or even His resurrection, there are few things about Jesus that are up for debate. Most serious scholars agree that the Bible is credible and that Jesus was a real person who lived and died.
Unlike many mythological figures, Jesus was a man of action. He healed the sick, taught publicly, and argued with people that disagreed with him. He also got angry, turning over tables in the temple when he didn’t like how people were taking advantage of others.
After Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and death, the Apostles had to select a replacement. They drew lots to determine which of them would be the new leader. Interestingly, the winner was none other than Jesus. Clearly, even as He was dying on the cross, His thoughts were still for those around him.
8. He Was Severely Anxious Before His Death
We know that Jesus got angry. He flipped over tables in the temple and didn’t appreciate people taking advantage of others. But it might surprise you to learn that He also suffered from anxiety!
One example is when He met a funeral procession in Nain. The dead man was his own mother’s son, and Jesus’ heart went out to her. He instructed his disciples to care for her.
Another time was when the Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died. This is why, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon recognized Him. It was a very emotional moment. Afterwards, Jesus began His ministry. He was very anxious about His mission. This may explain why He prayed so often. He was trying to calm himself.
9. He Didn’t Die on the Cross
A lot of people think Jesus didn’t die on the cross. Instead, they believe He swooned and then came back to life. But this is a very unlikely scenario.
First, if He did survive crucifixion it’s unlikely that he could make it to his disciples without being noticed. This is especially true because He was in a very weak state.
Second, Jewish burial practice required that the body be tightly wrapped and surrounded by a large stone that would block the entrance to the tomb. It would have been impossible to escape the linen wrappings in such a weakened state. And finally, the Roman guards were very familiar with death and they certainly wouldn’t have left a dead criminal lying around for anyone to see. They would have made sure that He was truly dead before they moved the stone.
