1) When Jesus was 13 years old, he went to India and studied the Hindu Vedas, then he returned to Palestine and cited them.
2) Jesus married a woman named Mary Magdalene.
3) Jesus didn’t rise from the death at all.
All these allegations turned out to be false.
JESUS DIDN’T GO TO INDIA AT ALL
There is virtually NO evidence that Jesus studied in India, and there is no proof that Jesus cited the Hindu Vedas.
Jesus from age 12 remained in Palestine:
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man- Luke 2:52. This is a convincing truth that Jesus remained in Palestine. His growth was seen by the people around him.
Luke 4:16-22 is a key text to refute the idea that Jesus went to India.
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
Luke 4:16: He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.
Lk. 4:17: The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
Those in the synagogue recognized Jesus as a local resident.
Jesus never cited the Hindu Vedas
It is also noteworthy that Jesus read from the Old Testament Scriptures. The Old Testament, for which Jesus often displayed reverence (see Matthew 5:18), warns about staying away from false gods and religious systems such as Hinduism (Exodus 20:2- 3; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:14; 13:10; 2 Kings 17:35). The Old Testament clearly distinguishes the creation from the Creator, unlike Eastern (Hindu) pantheism, and teaches the need for redemption, not enlightenment.
JESUS IS A CELIBATE. HE DIDN’T MARRY MARY MAGDALENE
Jesus Christ was definitely not married. There are popular myths today that speak of Christ being married to Mary Magdalene. This myth is absolutely false and has no basis theologically, historically, or biblically.
At the crucifixion the gospel of Matthew tells us many women were present, looking from a distance. These were women who had followed Jesus from Galilee (Matthew 27:55), “among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 27:56).
It is also noteworthy that Jesus read from the Old Testament Scriptures. The Old Testament, for which Jesus often displayed reverence (see Matthew 5:18), warns about staying away from false gods and religious systems such as Hinduism (Exodus 20:2- 3; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:14; 13:10; 2 Kings 17:35). The Old Testament clearly distinguishes the creation from the Creator, unlike Eastern (Hindu) pantheism, and teaches the need for redemption, not enlightenment.
JESUS IS A CELIBATE. HE DIDN’T MARRY MARY MAGDALENE
Jesus Christ was definitely not married. There are popular myths today that speak of Christ being married to Mary Magdalene. This myth is absolutely false and has no basis theologically, historically, or biblically.
At the crucifixion the gospel of Matthew tells us many women were present, looking from a distance. These were women who had followed Jesus from Galilee (Matthew 27:55), “among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 27:56).
In verse 56 it would have been very easy to identify Mary Magdalene as “the wife of Jesus” if that had been the case. The other women were identified through their motherhood. Mary Magdalene is one of many women, a faithful follower of Jesus, but nothing else. If Jesus and Mary had been married, then we should expect that he would have entrusted her into the care of the Beloved Disciple at the cross, just as he did with his mother (19:27).
Luke 24:9-11 also relates that, “and (the women) returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.”
The Bible tells us Peter was married. If Jesus had been married to Mary Magdalene we would have been told. It wasn’t embarrassing in any way to disclose it. Note above that in Luke 8:3 Joanna is identified as the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Acts 18:2 tells us that Paul met Aquila and his wife Priscilla in Corinth, fellow tentmakers, and stayed with them.Luke 24:9-11 also relates that, “and (the women) returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.”
What about Da Vinci code?
The key part of the text is broken at 63:33-36 and reads (Ellipses represent the broken locations in the manuscript and may signify missing words or phrases),
“And the companion of the…Mary Magdalene…her more than…the disciples…kiss her…on her…”.
The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation, etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not (in Pal) the lips. Brown adds his own words to this manuscript to support point. Brown uses this manuscript and his imagination to say that Jesus was married to and had sex with Mary Magdalene.
Lk. 7:38 then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Lk. 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Lk. 22: 47-48.
In the countries kissing is a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect. It does not necessarily indicate sexual or romantic interest. The same ritual or social gesture came into Christianity.
Greet one another{men and women}with a holy kiss- Ro. 16:16, 1Co. 16:20, 1Th. 5:26, 1Pe. 5:14.
“And the companion of the…Mary Magdalene…her more than…the disciples…kiss her…on her…”.
The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation, etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not (in Pal) the lips. Brown adds his own words to this manuscript to support point. Brown uses this manuscript and his imagination to say that Jesus was married to and had sex with Mary Magdalene.
Lk. 7:38 then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Lk. 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Lk. 22: 47-48.
In the countries kissing is a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect. It does not necessarily indicate sexual or romantic interest. The same ritual or social gesture came into Christianity.
Greet one another{men and women}with a holy kiss- Ro. 16:16, 1Co. 16:20, 1Th. 5:26, 1Pe. 5:14.
JESUS HAS RISEN: THE HISTORICAL TRUTH
1. The large stone was moved, in spite of the Roman guards and seal Jesus' tomb was secured in three ways:
(a) A large stone was rolled against it. It was customary to roll big stones against tombs; the stones were generally too big to be moved by just a few men, so levers were used to move them. Some have estimated that the stone that sealed Jesus' tomb weighed 1-1/2 to 2 two tons (1,361-1,814 Kilograms), which is the approximate weight of a midsize car.
(b) A Roman guard unit--which usually consisted of four soldiers--was stationed at the tomb. Roman guards were strictly disciplined fighting men held to the highest standards. Failure often required death by torturous and humiliating methods.
(c) The Roman seal was affixed to the stone that secured the tomb. The seal stood for the power and authority of the Roman Empire. Breaking the seal meant automatic execution by crucifixion upside down. Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb's entrance would have broken the seal and thus incurred the wrath of Roman law.
On resurrection Sunday morning, the first thing that impressed the people who approached the tomb was that the large stone was moved. Certainly the entire guard unit would not have fallen asleep with torture and death as the consequences. But even if the guards did fall asleep, how could thieves have sneaked by the guards and moved the massive stone without waking them up?
2. The tomb was empty
Jesus' tomb was near Jerusalem (John 19:42). Had the tomb not been empty, claims of the resurrection, which were first made in Jerusalem, could not have been maintained for even one hour-- people in Jerusalem could have gone to the tomb to check for themselves. Both Jewish and Roman sources and admit an empty tomb. Those resources range from Josephus to a compilation of fifth-century Jewish writings called the "Toledoth jeshu."
3. There were many witnesses to Jesus' appearances
In studying an event in history, it is important to know how many participants or eyewitnesses were still alive when reports about the event were published. If the number was substantial, the event can be regarded as fairly well established, because the eyewitnesses could have refuted an inaccurate report. For instance, if several people witness a murder, and the police report about it contains numerous lies, the eyewitnesses can refute it.
The apostle Paul wrote that Christ had been seen by more than 500 people at one time. What's more, most of the 500 were still alive when Paul was proclaiming the resurrection, so skeptics could simply question the eyewitnesses:
1 Cor 15:3-6 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.
4. New Testament accounts were circulated among people who were alive at the time of the resurrection
Archaeological discoveries have confirmed that New Testament accounts of the resurrection were written within the lifetimes of people who were alive at the time of the resurrection. Those people could certainly have denied the accuracy of the Gospel writers' accounts.
5. The followers of Christ were persecuted and killed for proclaiming the resurrection
Jesus' disciples fled when Jesus was arrested and taken away for trial prior to being crucified. They were apparently afraid that they would be imprisoned or killed for of their association with Jesus. Peter even denied that he knew Jesus.After Jesus was crucified and buried, they remained in hiding, afraid and depressed, until Mary and others came to tell them that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Why would these men, who had displayed such cowardice, risk their lives in going from city to city proclaiming the resurrection, if they did not truly believe that Jesus had risen from the dead? They certainly gained nothing for doing so. The disciples did not receive wealth or prestige for preaching the resurrection; there were no material benefits whatsoever. In fact, they were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to lions, tortured, and crucified for their preaching.
Weakness of theories given to deny the resurrection
1. Maybe the women who reported the missing body had mistakenly gone to the wrong tomb
This would mean that the disciples also went to wrong tomb.
Also, the Jewish authorities and the Roman guards were not mistaken about the location of the tomb. If the women and the disciples had gone to the wrong tomb, the Jewish and Roman authorities would have immediately produced the body of Jesus from the proper tomb in order to stop the rumor of the resurrection.3
Also, the Jewish authorities and the Roman guards were not mistaken about the location of the tomb. If the women and the disciples had gone to the wrong tomb, the Jewish and Roman authorities would have immediately produced the body of Jesus from the proper tomb in order to stop the rumor of the resurrection.3
2. Maybe those who claimed to have seen the risen Jesus were hallucinating
It's difficult to imagine that more than 500 people had the same illusion or hallucination. Here again, the Jewish and Roman authorities could have produced the body to squelch the rumor.
3. Maybe Jesus swooned
The swoon theory is that Jesus didn't die, but merely fainted from exhaustion and loss of blood. Everyone thought he was dead. When He later resuscitated, the disciples thought that he had risen from the dead.3
It contradicts medical science to believe that Jesus could have survived the crucifixion, let alone survived another two days in the tomb, removed the large stone, overpowered the Roman guards, and then convinced His followers that He had conquered death and the grave.3
4. Maybe Jesus' body was stolen
Who would have stolen the body?
As mentioned above, Jesus' disciples fled in fear when Jesus was arrested and taken away for trial prior to being crucified, and then they stayed in hiding until hearing of the resurrection. Why would these men, who had displayed such cowardice and depression, risk their lives trying to overpower the Roman guards and steel Jesus' body? And why would they have wanted to? There was nothing for them to gain by steeling the body. They were persecuted, tortured, and eventually killed for preaching the resurrection, so there was no motive for them to fabricate a lie.
What's more, even if the disciples would have wanted to maintain a conspiracy, they would not have been able.Every conceivable method was used by Roman and Jewish officials to stop them from talking. Self-preservation would have eventually won over the disciples' commitment to a conspiracy. If the resurrection were a concocted hoax, the disciples would have testified against one another before succumbing to beatings or the death penalty.
Think about America's Watergate: The Nixon administration, the most powerful group of men in the world at the time, could not maintain a conspiracy for even a few weeks. They buckled under pressure and chose self-preservation over maintaining a lie to save their leader.
Consider also that the Romans must not have believed that the disciples stole Jesus' body--had the officials believed it, they would have killed them for breaking the Roman seal.
Theft of Jesus' body by Jewish or Roman authorities doesn't make sense either. If the authorities had the body in their possession or knew where it was, they could have produced the body of Jesus and put an end to Christianity. But they didn't.
