well friends it's another memorable Monday the 19th of June welcome to let's talk I'm your host Rocky Stevenson pastor of Benoni Bible Church and on Mondays we look at memorable Monday where we explore some of the Church history events and we look back so that we can look in our present and find hope and look forward to the hope that we have in Christ and So here we are and we are looking at this morning one of Josephus' Testimonies, bit of a tongue twister there, Josephus Josephus, Josephus, Josephus, his testimony on John the Baptist as well as on our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a historical verification as well as biblical validation of the events that we have in our Bibles. Now we don't need any external force or external source to tell us that the Bible is inerrant, that it is inspired, that it is exactly what God would give us and sufficient, but it is always helpful to think about some of the external sources that do validate and look at the Word of God and actually you have these historical sources that speak to this so good day dear listener and welcome to this episode this exciting episode on memorable monday here on radio pulpit today we have a captivating topic that delves into the intersection of history and biblical count and we'll be exploring josephus's testimony on john the baptist and on jesus examining the importance and the fascinating insight that it provides. So let's dive right in. Now some of you may be wondering who is Josephus. Flavius Josephus was a first century Jewish historian whose writings have proven invaluable in shedding light on the historical context surrounding the life of our Lord Jesus early Christianity. In his work Antiquities of the Jews which you can by the way buy and get you can get online you can also buy one from Augustine book room and it is available it's translated into English it's an excellent excellent book to add to your library if you're a history fundi and you're wanting to know a bit more about history Josephus is a first century Jewish historian, and he includes a passage that mentions John the Baptist and Jesus, a very interesting section, providing a very unique perspective from a non-Christian Jewish source. However, the illustration of this passage in Josephus' writings has really sparked a lot of controversy among scholars. Some have questioned whether a non-Christian Jew like Josephus would have written such a positive testimony about Jesus. They propose that the Christian elements in Josephus' account were later added by Christian scribes, but there's really no evidence of that. And here's the interesting part. that every single copy of antiquities that is available that has come down to us contains this passage and modern scholars have defended its authenticity and reliability so the best that we can tell is that this was actually written by him himself so let me read you this critical passage from antiquities of the Jews book 18 chapter 2 so if you ever want to get it get it in its book 18 chapter 2 of josephus antiquities he writes about john the baptist this is a good man who exhorted the jews to live virtuously be fair to one another and come together for baptism He goes on to mention the arrival of Jesus, a highly gifted man and miracle worker who is believed to be the Messiah by his followers. Josephus also notes that Jesus' teachings attracted both Jews and Gentiles and even though he was condemned to death on a cross by Pontius Pilate his followers continued to love him and claim his resurrection. This passage even provides us with an invaluable historical verification of the existence of John the Baptist and of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as their impact during their time. Josephus, being a prominent Jewish historian, adds weight to the biblical account and provides an outside perspective on the events that surround Jesus' ministry. Moreover, when we turn to the Bible itself, we find biblical validation of some of the details mentioned by Josephus. For instance, the execution of John the Baptist is recorded in the Gospel of Mark, where Herod Antipas ordered his execution due to John's condemnation of Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife. The infamous banquet and Herodias' daughter dancing and leading to the request for John's head on a platter are also found in the Gospels. Now Josephus gives a bit of a different reason. He says that Herod was afraid that there would be insurrection and that John's popularity that they would do exactly what John would want them to. But it's remarkable to see just how historical events or historical evidence such as Josephus testimony and antiquities aligns with the biblical accounts. and it reaffirms the authenticity and the reliability of the Scriptures. These historical verifications and even archaeological discoveries continue to emerge and they shed light on events and places that are mentioned within the Bible. It's important to recognize that these historical findings Do not replace the faith that we have in the Bible as the inspired and the inherent Word of God. Inerrant really, Word of God. But however, they serve as powerful reinforcements. They are reinforcing the truths that we hold so dear and it strengthens our confidence in the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative. So as we conclude, even in thinking through today's lesson and we think about the various historical events and we think about historical texts like Antiquities by Josephus we can marvel at the richness of the historical evidence that supports the biblical accounts the testimony of Josephus along with other historians and archaeological findings They not only affirm the truths of the scriptures, but also they challenge those who may doubt or deny its authenticity. Time and time again, we see how archaeological discoveries uncover ancient cities, valuable biblical events, and confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. It's fascinating to even witness how these historical verifications bridge the gap between faith and reason, strengthening our understanding of the biblical narratives. The testimonies of Josephus and other sources provide additional layers of evidence and corroboration regarding the accounts that we find in the Bible. It's important also to recognize the impact that historical verification has on our worldview. and on our personal faith. When we encounter solid historical evidence that aligns with the biblical narrative, it calls on us to make a decision. Will we embrace the truth of scripture and follow Christ, or will we continue in disbelief and reject the claim of the Bible? The Jewish historian Josephus, a non-Christian witness, testifies to the existence of John the Baptist and Jesus, affirming the significance during their time. The testimony carries weight. as it comes from an external source that doesn't hold a Christian bias and yet he still speaks of Jesus as the Messiah and yet was still not a Christian. Now you have the choice. What will you choose? Will you choose to turn to Jesus the Messiah? These powerful verifications of the events and individuals that we read about in the Gospels, it's just amazing. And yet Josephus remained a Jewish historian, not Christian. So that shows you the sad reality that even having some of these facts might still leave you cold towards the Lord. So as we explore these historical validations, it's important to remember that our faith in Christ and the authority of scripture are not dependent solely on historical evidence. We can have all the historical evidence. We must have a heart change. We must have the Holy Spirit work in our hearts, confirming the truth of the gospel and drawing us to faith. So however the presence of historical verification reinforces just the credibility of the biblical accounts and they provide this deeper understanding of the context as it unfolds, but we might still be left like a Josephus. So in conclusion, the testimony of Josephus to John the Baptist and Jesus offers this remarkable glimpse into the historical backdrop of the New Testament. But it serves also as a reminder that the message of the Gospel is not confined to the pages of Scripture alone, but it reverberates throughout history. It leaves a mark on this world. It's not just written about in the Bible. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were really burned. They're there. There's archaeological evidence. The fact that there was a worldwide flood, there's archaeological evidence. There's evidence written even by Jewish historians like this Josephus. And yet all of that is not enough if it is not for being born again. Having Christ take residency within our hearts. so thank you for joining us today as we've looked at this insightful journey into the historical verification of the Bible things like Josephus other archaeological evidence such weighty evidence and yet you might still remain hard and cold John 3 19 says this is the judgment the light is coming to the world but the people have loved darkness I pray that you will not love darkness this day but rather that you will turn to the one that can save you from your sin and give you eternal hope because of the glory of himself and the fact that he has gone to the cross, died in your stead and risen and is alive. So tune in next week as we continue to explore captivating topics on memorable Monday here on Let's Talk Radio Pulpit. Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.