'King of Israel' before Pilot, he said 'His kingdom was not of this world'.
John [the diciple whom Jesus was closest] in his opening to his gospel said 'In the beginning the Word was with God and the Word WAS God. He existed before all else was made'. Are you suggesting John was wrong too!
Jesus was the last of the line of the prophets. No prophet came after Him. Why do you think that was? The Old Testament predicts the Coming of Christ? If He was not the Christ, then where is He?
Left behind in the temple at age 10, 'his mother was worried about Him and going back to find Him he said: 'did you not know that I must be about my fathers business'!
In the temple when he turned over the stall holders tables he said: this is my Fathers house and you have turned it into a den of thieves'. Therefore is claiming to be the Son of God.
But, Jesus gave us a model of how to live, He lived in total humility. Therefore He never clung to His equality with God but assumed the condition of a man and being as all men are, He was humbler yet even to accepting death, death on a cross'.
Eye witnesses including the convert [the Centurian] witnessed that when they came to His body He was already dead. So they pierced his side with a lance and out flowed water [they didn't know it was plasma, they didnt have modern biology!!
When He was buried, His mother was with Him. Thye had to bury Him quickely as it was preparation day [the sabbath, after sunset]. A huge stone was rolled against the entrance. You are saying that a man who was crucified, who the Roman execution party [who were used to executions] were so concerned in case He died on the way, then underwent crucifixtion, lay in the grave for over two days, with a Roman guard outside, some how recovered without any medical intervention.
How do you explain the Angelic presence?
How do you explain the modern day visitations by the BVM who consitently tells devout followers to 'make ready' 'confess their sins' and 'renounce their sinful way of life in preparation for the iminent return of her Son. How do you explain that one?
How do you explain His OWN prophecy that He was to be killed and on the third day rise again?
How do you explain the Holy Spirit at Pentecost the Advocate He promised after He had ascended?
How do you explain the continued presence and intervention of His Holy Spirit which continues, of whom I am an eye-witness?
Why would He have eloped to leave his apostles witnessing for His mission, most of whom suffered the same fate crucifiction. Why would the Son of God the last of the line of the messianic prophets lie?
If He was not the Son of God how did He cure so many, make the lame walk, the blind see, even raise the dead?
Peter the Apostle also healed in Christ's name. From where did this power come?
How do you explain the Church surviving 2000-years of persecution and policical effort to destroy it?
How do you account for St Anthony and the Child Jesus?
What about Padre Pio?
What about Clement, Cornilous, Sixtus, Linus, what about Joseph His custodian? A devout Jewish man of the inner temple. Do you think that Jesus would have deceived His own father with whom He worked for over 20-years?
What about His mother witnessing to His mission for Human Redemption?
Why did He advocate celibacy as the highest state but only for those who were strong? Why did He model celibacy when as you allege, he couldn't control His bodily urges?
You do not know about Jewish Weddings if you think that Mary Magdalene washing His feet with her tear and drying them with her hair, is a marriage ceremony!
His followers all lived very chaste lives, so why would He not have been able to live the same life?
The Messiah spoken of, was the Son of God. He fullfilled the prophecies. He was SEEN to ascend. How do you explain when He ascended and His apostles saw Him go, feeling very saddened, the angel said: 'Why are you so sad, you will see Him come back at eh end of time'. Why would he have said this?
How do yo explain the peace that comes from an encounter with the risen Christ. It is a peace this world does not know nor can comprehend. Unless you have felt it, you cannot possibly know what it feels like.
What other human institution has survived for 1000 years let alone 2000?
The Church has not only survived but succeeded thousands of attempts to destroy it. Which is exactly what Christ predicted 2000-years ago, that 'the gates of death and the underworld would never hold out against His church! You conveniently ignore this. If you are right then you will have an answer not a 'maybe this' or maybe that' but an answer.
What about exorcists who cast out powerful demons in the Name of Jesus of Nasereth? Why would a being vastly superior to us obey the wish of a mere man? Why would they? They would tell him to get stuffed. But on the Name of Jesus of Nasereth even the Demons obey, which is exactly what Christ said would happen.
I do not know what you believe or who. You are sadly mistaken as you have not 'yet' met the risen Christ. I have along with millions of others. When you do [and I pray that you will] then you too will see!!
You believe in what you want. I worship the risen Christ, the Holy One of God who lives
Deo Gratius
