The Jesus Papers EXPOSED!
by David J. Stewart | March 2006
Never in the history of mankind, has the Lord Jesus Christ been under any greater attack than He is today. Godless author, Michael Baigent, has written a new book, THE JESUS PAPERS (ISBN: 0060827130, Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers), attacking the deity of Christ, the crucifixion, Christ's resurrection, Christ's miracles, and the life of our Saviour. In a March 2006 Fox News interview, Baigent claimed that Jesus never actually died upon the cross; BUT, was part of a massive cover-up. Below is the book cover.
In a malicious attempt to discredit the Word of God, Michael Baigent describes his book as "Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History." Baigent claims that Jesus was still alive when He was removed from the cross. In the same Fox News interview mentioned above, Baigent claims that his book explores the "historical Jesus" verses the "spiritual Jesus." Baigent claims there is a lack of secular history to substantiate the Bible's claims concerning the life of Jesus.
Baigent Tries to Discredit Credible Historical SourcesIn the publisher's introduction to The Jesus Papers, they say ...
"Baigent also uncovers the inconsistencies and biases in the accounts of the major historians of Jesus' time, including Josephus, Pliny, and Tacitus."
Isn't it convenient to simply DISCREDIT any and all credible historical sources that don't FIT your agenda? Michael Baigent claims that there is NO evidence supporting the Bible's claims of Christ, while at the same time casting aside what credible evidence does exist. To no surprise, Baigent conveniently dismisses such honest secular historians as Josephus, who spoke of Jesus the Messiah...
"The first historical evidence for the life of Jesus, mentioned outside of the Bible, comes from a Jewish historian named Josephus. Josephus was born in 37 A.D., just a few years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of a priest named Matthias and at the age of 19 he became a Pharisee in Jerusalem. Later in his life he was appointed a commander in Galilee during the Jewish revolt against Rome. After surrendering to the Romans, he was taken before the Roman Commander Vespasian and prophesied that God had shown him in a dream that Vespasian and his son Titus would soon become Emperor's of Rome. Shortly afterwards the dream became reality and Josephus became a member of Vespasian's household. During his stay in Rome he wrote two works dealing with Jewish history. In his work entitled Jewish Antiquities, which was written between 70 and 100 A.D., he mentions Jesus the Messiah." -SOURCE
It also does not surprise me that the same company which publishes The Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex ... Harper Collins ... would also publish such a blasphemous piece of literature as The Jesus Papers.
Here is a quote from the editors at Barnes and Noble Bookstore...
"Michael Baigent, coauthor of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, now discloses a cover-up even more astonishing than the Priory of Sion. His Jesus Papers offers explosive new evidence that challenges accepted truths about the life and death of Jesus." -SOURCEExplosive new evidence?
Baigent's Irrefutable Stupidity
Baigent claimed on Fox News to have IRREFUTABLE PROOF (a document) that Jesus wasn't deity. However, when Baigent was asked by the Fox reporter if he HAD ACTUALLY SEEN THE DOCUMENT, Baigent unbelievably said, "NO!" 'Com on! How can you call something "irrefutable proof" that you haven't even seen? And that's exactly what the Fox News reporter said to him, and I quote ... "Those are some strong words for something you've never seen." Then Baigent tried to weasel his way out of the embarrassment by claiming that a priest had shown him the document. I love what the reporter said to him next ... "It seems to me that documents which are claimed as irrefutable proof; but are not available to the public to see, would seem fishy." I couldn't agree more. For once I agree with Fox News.
Baigent's The Jesus Papers is just another a hoax! These Bible critics and skeptics crawl out of the sewer, desperately looking for any new con angle to sell a book. And the heathen world sucks it in. The Bible is, Itself, a wonderful History Book; but, the unsaved world rejects It. John 3:20 tells us why, "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." The sinful world hates God, Christians, and the Word of God (John 15:19; 1st John 5:19). In these last days, many false prophets are walking among us...
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (subtly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." -2nd peter 2:1
Michael Baigent is a false prophet! According to 1st John 2:22, Baigent is a liar and an antichrist, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." To deny that Jesus Christ died upon the cross is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
There Was NO Cover-Up Concerning Christ!
The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Acts 26:26 that the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ was in the open, for all to see, not done in some private corner...
"For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
Baigent isn't the first reprobate to call Jesus a deceiver. Here are the words of Matthew 27:62,63...
"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again."
Can you imagine ... the religious LEADERS of Israel, calling their own Messiah a "deceiver"? It was in response to their concerns and requests that a large stone was rolled in front of Christ's tomb, and Romans soldiers assigned to guard the tomb against theft. The biggest fear of the religious leaders was that Christ's disciples would steal Jesus' body; thus, making Him look like He had risen from the grave, and becoming an instant hero in the eyes of many people. Those foolish religious leaders didn't really believe the words of Christ concerning His resurrection. They sincerely expected to see Jesus' body laying in that tomb after the third day. Can you imagine their shocked faces, and the horror that filled their souls, when they found out that the sealed and guarded tomb was EMPTY? This was no cover-up friend; on the contrary, it was the exact opposite. 1st Corinthians 15:4,6 states that Jesus Christ "...was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures ... After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once." The Bible documents that Christ was seen by over 500 people after His resurrection.
The Bible is God's Word!
The Bible, Itself, is one of the most credible sources of historical information today. Not one spadefull of an archeologists dust has ever disproved the Bible; on the contrary, researchers are increasingly discovering that the Bible is extremely accurate. Of course, the Christian has no need for the world to prove anything to us. We believe upon Christ by faith. To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who believe not, no explanation is possible. Michael Baigent may get rich from his Christ-denying work of darkness; BUT, what will it matter 100 years from now when he's gone? All that will matter then is whether he received, or rejected, Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." —John 3:18
