Yes,
Virginia
By Don Campbell
Several yeas ago a reporter, in response to a young girl’s inquiry, wrote a column entitled Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. The reporter was not arguing for the real, objective existence of a super man from the north pole who brought toys, but for a spirit, mythological though he be, which permeated the season and produced good in the lives of people. Many people view Jesus in much the same way. But there is more than sufficient evidence to convince any open mind of the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth. Whether or not he was who he said he was—the Son of God—is a matter of faith.
Consider the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth lived—evidence outside the New Testament Scriptures:
The Roman historian Tacitus (AD 112) said that Christ was "…put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius" (Annals IV, 44).
Lucian, the second-century satirists, referred to Christ as "…the man who was crucified in Palestine, and who "persuaded [his followers] that they were all brothers," and that they should deny the Greek gods and worship him" (On the Death of Peregrine).
The first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote of Jesus "the so-called Christ" whose disciples "reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive" (Antiquities XVIII. 33; XX. 9.1).
Suetonius (AD 120) alluded to the Jews who were expelled from Rome because they were "making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus" [another spelling for Christ] (Epistles X. 96).
Thallus, the Samaritan-born historian (AD 52), wrote in the third book of his histories, "It was at the season of the paschal full moon that Christ died" (as recorded by Julius Africanus, AD 221).
Jesus of Nazareth is not a mythological figure, a spirit of love and good will. His historical existence is well documented. But each of us must make a decision. Was he who he said he was? If he was not, then he is not worthy to be followed. If he was who he said he was, then each of us must someday give account of ourselves to him.