Jesus Was Extraordinary
Jesus has had a remarkable impact on the world because he was an outstanding and extraordinary person in so many ways.
Many historical sources record that he was able to perform outstanding miracles. There were many alternative explanations for his source of power, but no one could disregard his abilities.
Take, for instance, the viewpoint taken by the Jewish leaders:
“And an announcer went out in front of him, for forty days [saying]: ‘He is going to be stoned, because he practiced sorcery and enticed and led Israel astray” (Sanhedrin 43a; cf. t. Sanh. 10:11; y. Sanh. 7:12; Tg. Ester 7:9)
Sorcery was the only way they were prepared to explain his outstanding abilities.
The historian Josephus takes a more pragmatic approach in saying:
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man... for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles.” (Antiquities, XVIII, 33)
It was correct to associate the miracles Jesus performed to his wisdom and morality. Indeed, he only had this power because God was with him.
Josephus provides us with this independent account concerning Jesus:
- He was a wise man;
- He was a doer of wonderful words (or deeds);
- He was a powerful and respected teacher;
- He was delivered by Jewish leaders to the Romans (probably out of envy);
- He was crucified; and
- He had a group of followers named Christians.
