"Did Jesus' Disciples Make It All Up?" by Pastor Adam Barton of Akron Ohio

The English author Henry Fielding once remarked that the "greatest things in the world are subject to the greatest abuse; and religion is no exception to the instance."

 

We've all seen news headlines of those who profess to follow God are caught taking people's well intended money and using it to finance their own luxurious lifestyle. We've seen preachers that appear more consumed with their own personal glory than for God's. Jesus said that the Pharisees of his day were guilty of seeking their own glory.  They loved for men to call them "Rabbi."  They loved having the best seats in the house at weddings and other events.  Others throughout history have claimed to be prophets or to have had a special connection to God and used their power and influence to get people to do what they wanted.  There's nothing new about "God" being used for financial gain, personal glory and social coercion.

That being said, think about this...

 

Some skeptics of Christianity have claimed that the disciples and gospel writers simply made it all up.  Walking on water, raising the dead, claims of diety, the resurrection--all just a hoax.  If this indeed was the case, if Jesus was not really the messiah, if Jesus never performed miracles, if Jesus never raised the dead and himself conquered death, then why did the disciples make up a new religion?  What did they gain from such a hoax?

 

After all, had the disciples and gospel writers benefitted financially from fabricating a new religion, we could see why perhaps they chose to do so.  If they were held in high esteem, treated with great honor and able to use their political power to control those around them, we would have reason to be suspicious of their radical claims about Jesus.

 

Well, you can see where we're going with this.  During the time of Christ, his followers gained nothing from a worldly perspective for what they claimed--in fact, just the opposite.  Their lives were put in jeopardy. They were persecuted and despised. They gained nothing financially and probably were worse off than what they were before they met Christ (especially Matthew the tax collector).  They were beaten, chained and killed for their beliefs.  They even went beyond their previously established beliefs--beliefs that not only were sufficient to secure their eternal destiny, but beliefs, if altered, could mean stoning in the present life and hell/separation from God in the next.  Why change or alter your faith if it's already working for you?  Why subject yourself to the cultural backlash and theological consequences?

 

The best explanation seems to be that they must have truly seen something amazing. 

 

That is the most logical reason to account for thousands of Jews in Jesus' time deciding to follow and worship him as the Messiah.  They must have seen him feed thousands from a single boy's lunch.  They must have seen him tell a storm to "stop".  They must have seen him beaten and pierced to death, buried, and then...

 

Considering what the lives of the earliest followers of Christ were like, it's hard to imagine any other reason to account for their claims other than the fact that what they saw was true.

 

Pastor Adam Barton

Akron, Ohio

 

Comments

[Bryan]

Pastor Adam Barton,
Thanks for this. A great perspective and something I think about often. I have heard the reflexive argument made for modern day martyrs of other religions but the difference is stark...the disciples would have known they were making it up whereas now people are hearing everything third or fourth hand. How could a person endure such torture knowing with 100% confidence that everything they are saying is false? I know I couldn't.

Bryan
Akron, Ohio

[Pastor Adam Barton]

Bryan, you are most welcome. Good point about this situation being differnt than other religous martyrs that didn't witness their "faith" event first hand as the disciples did. Appreciate it,
Pastor Adam Barton
Akron, Ohio

[Brian]

Pastor Adam Barton,

This really helped me today, thanks

M. Patton

Akron Ohio

[mike]

Pastor Adam Barton,

A great point to use in our witness. Thanks for sharing.

Mike
Akron Ohio

[Carrie]

Pastor Adam Barton,

Once I saw a list of how most of Christ's disciples died and it was very enlightening. It defintitely speaks for something. Every single one of these men (including John, who wasn't killed, but boiled in oil and lived) went to their death for Jesus. Why would they die for something they believed to be a lie? This is a very powerful proof to me that they indeed believed He rose from the dead. Thank you for your thoughts. I wish more people knew this.

Carrie
Akron, Ohio

[Todd M. Burton]

Pastor Adam Barton:

Truly inspiring! I never have thought about this until reading you exerpt above. To give up everything I have an follow a complete stranger would require me to have some very convincing proff of deity...not simply a false claim. The to think after following a man to his death they continued to preach his message in spite of bodily harm to themselves...I find that much harder to say that they simply did it for fame and fortune as it clearly i not for that rather they gave up fortune and inherited persecution.

TB

Akron, Ohio