With a Subtitle: How fulfilled prophecy, archaeology, art, and morality reveal Jesus as Messiah
A brief Excerpt: Jesus Christ stands at the center of history. From fulfilled Old Testament prophecy to archaeology, art, music, and morality, the evidence converges to reveal Him as the promised Messiah and Lord of all creation.
Jesus Christ: The Center of History
Have you ever considered the massive influence Jesus Christ has had on the world throughout the ages? He truly is at the center of history. You see His influence everywhere: in architecture, art, culture, history, literature, morality, music, and prophecy. All of these effects stem from and converge upon one Cause, one Person, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He was not simply a good moral teacher who would die someday, as all mortals do, and remain dead. No, He was and is and forever will be the one and only God-Man, the divine Son of God, who proved it by dying and rising from the dead. He is the Creator and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see — such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together (Colossians 1:15–17, NLT).
The Evidence for Jesus Beyond the Bible
J. Warner Wallace is a retired homicide detective turned Christian Apologist and Author. In his books Cold Case Christianity and Person of Interest, he demonstrates that the evidence for Jesus Christ is not limited to Scripture alone. His books illustrate that even if every New Testament document were lost, the “cultural fallout” of the life of Jesus Christ would remain visible in art, music, architecture, literature, and moral philosophy. This convergence of prophecy, history, and culture reveals that Jesus Christ is not only the Messiah of Israel but the Redeemer of the whole world.
The Past Impact of Jesus: Prophecy Fulfilled in History
Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ
Hundreds of prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament have already come true. For example, the prophet Isaiah foretold His suffering and atonement:
But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, BSB).
The minor prophet Micah prophesied the location of His birth:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (Micah 5:2, BSB).
During the Babylonian captivity, the faithful Hebrew, Daniel, predicted the timing of His coming and the purpose of His death (His mission).
A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place (Daniel 9:24, NLT).
These prophecies, and many more, such as those in the Psalms (2, 8, 16, 22, 23, 24, 40, 41, 45, 68, 69, 72, 89, 102, 110, and 118), formed the divine blueprint that only Jesus fulfilled. In Cold Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace ties together multiple independent lines of evidence (fulfilled prophecy, eyewitness testimony, and historical corroboration) to conclude that this convergence creates a compelling case that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be. [1]
Archaeological and Historical Evidence for Jesus
The Pilate Stone, the “James” Ossuary, the “Jesus Boat”, and an ancient heel bone pierced with a crucifixion nail are among the physical evidence for the existence of Jesus discussed by Titus Kennedy in his book, Excavating the Evidence for Jesus. [2] These discoveries, along with extra-Biblical accounts by ancient first-century writers Tacitus and Josephus mentioning Jesus, His followers, and His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, corroborate the historical setting of His life and also many of the details in the Gospels. All of this evidence points to the fact that Jesus was a real person whose life altered the course of history.
Archaeological digs at sites such as Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Capernaum in Israel also bear witness to the events described in the Gospels. The Church of the Nativity marks the traditional site of Jesus’s birthplace, and ancient harbors on the Sea of Galilee align with the Biblical record of His ministry. [3]
The Present Impact of Jesus on Culture and Society
J. Warner Wallace points out in his book Person of Interest that even if every Bible in the world were gone, details about the life of Jesus could easily be reconstructed from the cultural evidence He left behind in the arts, music, paintings, sculpture, and architecture. [4]
Christ’s Influence on Music, Art, and Architecture
Examples of His impact on music include Christian hymns, the masterpieces of Bach and Handel (such as the Hallelujah Chorus), and Mozart. Examples of His impact on painting and sculpture include the frescoes of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci (such as The Last Supper), the statues of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and Michelangelo’s Pieta and Risen Christ in Vatican City and Rome. Examples of His impact on architecture include majestic cathedrals, chapels, and churches around the world, standing as witnesses to the reality of Christ and His kingdom.
Christ’s Influence on Morality, Law, and Human Rights
Jesus has influenced calendar systems, which are based on His birth (B.C./A.D.). The moral foundations of Western law and education are based on His teachings. Human rights have Jesus to thank for their existence. His command to love one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44) and to serve the least of these (Matthew 25:40) introduced a radical ethic of compassion that transformed societies.
The Christian concepts of human dignity, equality, and justice trace their roots to the biblical worldview centered on Christ. These principles were responsible for the birth of hospitals, universities, and charities.
The Future Impact of Jesus: His Second Coming and Kingdom
Since Jesus has already fulfilled over 300 prophecies about Himself, there’s no reason to believe He won’t fulfill the remaining ones concerning His Second Coming and Millennial Kingdom. While we don’t know the exact timing, these future events will take place, and we can rest assured that God’s plan for mankind will be fulfilled completely in His timing.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9–11, NLT).
Conclusion: Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Lord of All
All of this evidence of the impact Jesus has had on society and culture throughout the ages, permeating the entire world through history, art, morality, and prophecy, points to the same conclusion: that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of all creation.
References
Person of interest by J. Warner Wallace. (2024, September 23). Cold Case Christianity. https://coldcasechristianity.com/person-of-interest-by-j-warner-wallace/
Wallace, J. (2021, November 8). Why Cumulative Cases — Including the Case for Christianity — are Powerful (Video). Cold Case Christianity. https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/why-cumulative-cases-including-the-case-for-christianity-are-powerful-video/
Excavating the evidence for Jesus. (2022, July 21). Think Biblically — Biola University Blogs. https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2022/excavating-the-evidence-for-jesus
Randall. (2019, May 22). Evidence for Jesus. AllAboutArchaeology.org. https://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/evidence-for-jesus.htm
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