JESUS My Daily Strength

Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." Most of us carry wounds we've learned to hide well. A careless word from years ago, a betrayal that still aches, or a part of us we quietly believe is broken beyond repair. Jesus didn't look at that brokenness from a safe distance. He let Himself be wounded so that what is damaged in us could finally be made whole, and He took every blow knowing exactly who He was taking it for. Healing doesn't always come all at once, but it comes from Him, and it is real. Whatever is still hurting in you today, bring it to the One who was willing to bleed for it. #HealedByHisWounds #TheCross #MadeWhole

You don’t have to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, but you can’t honestly deny the historical evidence that he existed. Even atheist and agnostic scholars agree on this. As Bart Ehrman (a prominent agnostic New Testament scholar) has put it: “He certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees.”

The claim that “there is no first-century scholar who writes about your fake Jesus” and that it’s only a “Caucasian Bible fraud” is simply wrong on the historical record. Scholarly consensus is not in dispute. Virtually every expert on the period—Christian, Jewish, secular, and atheist—agrees that a Jewish preacher named Jesus lived in 1st-century Galilee, taught, gathered followers, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. The idea that he never existed (the “Christ myth” theory) is a long-rejected fringe position. As the agnostic New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman puts it: “He certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees.” Historians such as James Dunn, Michael Grant, and others state the same: nearly all modern scholars accept the basic existence of the historical Jesus. The consensus settled this in the early 20th century; mythicism has essentially zero support among actual specialists. Non-Christian sources exist and are independent. • Josephus (Jewish historian, writing Antiquities of the Jews around 93–94 CE, so late 1st century): In Antiquities 20.9.1 he refers to “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James” (executed by the high priest Ananus). This passage is accepted as authentic by the overwhelming majority of scholars; it is incidental, non-laudatory, and fits the context. Josephus also has the longer Testimonium Flavianum (Book 18), which has Christian interpolations, but most scholars reconstruct an original core affirming Jesus as a wise teacher who was crucified under Pilate. • Tacitus (Roman senator and historian, Annals ~116 CE): Hostile to Christians, he writes that “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” This is widely accepted as genuine. • Pliny the Younger (Roman governor, letter to Trajan ~112 CE): Describes Christians singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.” These are not Christian propaganda. Josephus was a Jewish aristocrat; Tacitus and Pliny were Roman elites with no reason to invent a Jewish preacher. Why no flood of contemporary non-Christian sources? This is a weak argument from silence. The overwhelming majority of people in antiquity (even famous ones) leave zero surviving contemporary literary mentions. Surviving first-century writings about Judea/Galilee are scarce; Josephus is the main one who covers the region in detail and does mention Jesus. The earliest Christian writings (Paul’s letters, from the 50s CE) already treat Jesus as a recent historical person—Paul knew his brother James and disciples such as Peter. The Gospels are early biographical accounts by followers, written in Greek by Jewish authors drawing on Aramaic traditions from the region. Calling the New Testament a “Caucasian Bible fraud” is historically inaccurate; the core documents come from 1st-century Jewish Christians in the eastern Mediterranean. You can reject the later theological claims, miracles, and resurrection as matters of faith. But the basic historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth as a 1st-century Jewish teacher who was crucified is the mainstream scholarly position, backed by multiple independent sources. The opposite claim is the outlier.

Jesus existing as a real person isn’t a “lie for children.” It’s the consensus of historians—Christian, Jewish, secular, and atheist. Virtually every expert on the period agrees that a Jewish preacher named Jesus lived in 1st-century Galilee, taught, gathered followers, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. The idea that He was completely invented is a fringe theory that almost no serious scholar accepts. Even skeptical scholars like Bart Ehrman (who is not a Christian) say: “Jesus certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees.” Non-Christian sources back this up: • Roman historian Tacitus (c. 116 AD) wrote that “Christus… suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of… Pontius Pilatus.” • Jewish historian Josephus (c. 93 AD) mentioned “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James.” • Paul (writing within about 20 years) personally knew Jesus’ brother James and the disciple Peter. No ancient opponent of Christianity denied Jesus existed—they argued about other things. You can reject the religious claims without denying the history. The evidence that a real person named Jesus lived is solid. As Christians, we follow Him because we believe He is more than just a historical figure—He is the fullest expression of God’s love. Scripture says “God is love,” and we see that love perfectly revealed in Jesus: the One who came not to condemn, but to seek, heal, forgive, and lay down His life for others. The most freeing part is that His love isn’t something we earn by being good enough, trying harder, or checking the right boxes. It’s a gift we simply receive. He loves us as we are, not as we should be, and invites us into relationship with Him on the basis of grace—not performance. That’s why so many of us follow Him: not out of fear or obligation, but because we’ve encountered a love that changes everything and asks for nothing in return except that we receive it.

Everyone, my dad is not doing well. His been bedridden for 2 days now. Please pray for healing upon his body and for strength to return to him 10 folds. GOD is Good, Faithful, and Able to do all things. AMEN.

The person across the table is not your enemy. Fight your battles with prayer and love.

God’s love is wide enough for the whole world and personal enough for you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your tongue today.