Jesus and Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is described as an author's ability to reconstruct true events of the past through characters that may include fictional ones. Conversations within various scenarios of historical fiction are written with real characters and fictional characters. The goal is to keep the stories as real and as accurate as possible.
 For example, we often watch a movie or documentary that has the phrase " based on a true story," sometimes the movie is accurate while other times... the story may drift off course from what actually happened.
 It's been like this for centuries, some people even read the Scriptures this way, in a historical fiction frame of mind. The characters in a particular story may or may not be real, yet the story itself reveals truths and experiences in life that generate a betterment for the good of mankind.
  However, in reference to the Sacred Scripture, we are instructed to believe every passage we read as complete truth. Every person in the various stories are real. So, how has folk religion mixed with historical fiction changed the accuracy in the "greatest story ever told."  
  We were not there when Jesus related His life to His disciples for over 3 years.While it is true we read of certain events that happened or results of a particular event, we don't know how these conclusive moments actually arrived without an extensive research. This is where folk religion filled with historical fiction has influenced and changed the entirety of certain passages of Scripture. Certain passages in Scripture are sometimes hard to understand, relate to, or even comprehend. Historical  research of a past culture, lifestyles of that time period, and an understanding of a society that is foreign to how we live today, helps us to separate fiction from folklore. We need to create real "paintings" as we try and grasp what the author is conveying, including Scripture.

 "Folk Religion"...it's been around forever. It is the passing down of information about a society's belief system and is primarily done so through writings yet even more so by word of mouth. It's in all facets of cultures, both past and present, including Christianity. We read or hear of the Greek god Zeus and his son Hercules, we hear of the mighty Odin and the sacrifice he made to give his followers knowledge, and we hear of stories from Native Americans and their relationship to the "Great Spirit".  
 Christianity is not excluded from folk religion. Until I discover the real intent of the writings of the Scripture, it does seem a rather bland book.  


  Here are some examples of what I mean:

  The Son of God comes to earth to become one of us, a human in every sense of the word. Yet  the idea He is God who now offers Himself to live in a human heart is mind boggling.
  In this story an announcement is made: a myriad of angels arrive shortly before His birth to a rather motley group of guys called shepherds. These guys were a necessary part of economic life, but their profession was not a highly respected one, especially those within the church community. It would be like being a garbage man today.  
 He is born in a stable, through a woman who became pregnant by the Holy Spirit, instead of her fiance. This opening scene is not only difficult for me to comprehend, I don't know enough about the background of this scene to appreciate its value. It definitely needs a historical "background check." This story does verify a young girl named Mary did indeed become pregnant before she was officially married. Then, some "wise men" from the Far East show up. I really do not know who these guys are, yet they seem to be respected. They have a deep desire to see this Messiah that has been born in a stable.  The story gets a little blurry here. Did the wise men arrive the night of the Messiah's birth, or did they arrive a couple of years later? The Scripture seems to indicate a couple of years later, yet folk religion tells us they arrived the night of His birth. As far as these wise men, were they kings? Historical evidence indicates they were not kings, rather "king-makers." Hmmm? Now the story takes on a mystery effect. And, where does it say in the Scriptures there were three wise men?  No where in the Scripture does it state there were three, yet every nativity scene you see in our culture today have three wise men on the night of His birth. As far as the nativity scene in a stable and the wooden manger, this too becomes a question. The whole first century lifestyle in Judah did not include wooden mangers, but I must admit it sure is pretty in our front lawns today! Right? 
 Then, this story tells us Jesus grew up with earthly parents, even though He is really God's own Son. By age twelve He explains to His earthly parents He must "be about doing His Father's business". In this scene, Jesus had left His earthly mother and father without letting them know where he was going, and they went on an all out search to try and find Him in Jerusalem.  It was almost four days until they finally found Him, at the Temple asking questions to a group of local Jewish religious scholars.  He not only seem unconcerned about his earthly parent's demise, He was surprised they were so panicked trying to locate Him. I thought we were suppose to "honor our father and mother," isn't that one of the "Big 10 Commandments"?  Hmmm?
 Jesus Himself grew up in the region of Galilee...in the country of Judah. Historical data reports this was not an area known for higher education or wealth. What this region was known for in reference to Roman rule of the area and to the Jewish hierarchy...it was a breeding ground for zealots and rebellious leaders who wanted Roman rule overthrown and even Jewish leaders brought down because of their formalized belief system. 
 As Jesus travels throughout this region extensively, He then personally chooses 12 Jewish men to join Him in what we commonly call...His disciples....the 12 disciples. The 12 men He chose were comprised of fishermen, zealots, and tax collectors...not exactly the "pillars of society" as we think of it...like scholars, wealthy businessmen, or religious leaders. For over 3 years, they are together, perhaps even traveling and living together as Jesus shares and demonstrates to them...He is the Son of God. Then, things begin to unravel....
 On the "night of the Betrayal", Peter, a disciple Jesus seem to consider a close friend, draws a sword of some type (some think it may have been a long fisherman knife) and cuts off a servant's ear when an attempt is made to capture Jesus by Jewish leaders because they consider Him a threat to their society...and the Romans would back the Jewish leaders in His capture. Were the other disciples armed with weaponry?...Hmmm? Jesus then tells His disciples this was not the action He wanted them to take...and then it happened...one of the very 12 disciples Jesus had chosen...singles Him out with a kiss...and Jesus is identified. Suddenly, all the disciples He had been with for over 3 years...run and leave Jesus there alone...to face the charges against Him. Peter later that night denied on 3 different occasions that he even knew Jesus while the others fled away seeking to hide from what was about to happen.
 Jesus is then given a trial that was not adherent to Jewish law, scourged and beaten so badly He was almost unrecognizable, some historical evidence writes His back was ripped so bad His rib cage could have been exposed. Yet, in our Christian folk religion...we have fixed that...showing only a few drops of blood here and there...and other than the crown of thorns Jesus was adorned with...He was ok...right? The book of Isaiah writes He was unrecognizable...but Isaiah was probably wrong...you think?  Then, Jesus was given a common execution of that day by being sentenced to hang on a cross until He died...and this paradise thing...still hard to define this day. The End...right?
 Hardly...
 The plot thickens as the disciple who betrayed Jesus and turned Him in to the authorities...he ended up hanging himself because of his course of action. Some religious scholars claim it was ordained for this Judas Iscariot to carry out this action...yet in the book of John it writes how Jesus came to save all that were lost...and it doesn't say "except Judas". Hmmm?
 Then after 3 days 2 women go to the tomb where Jesus had been laid...and find the tomb open...and Jesus not there. These women had come to mourn His death...and now He is not even there. So, they go and find the 11 male disciples  who were deep in hiding for fear of their lives in knowing Jesus...which is kind of weird because if these 2 women knew where to find them...couldn't the authorities kind of figured that one out? Anyway, the door was locked, and when they opened the door and the women told them Jesus was not in His tomb...a couple of the disciples bust out of the room and go to the tomb to see for themselves. 
  Suddenly, everything starts to change. Now these disciples of Jesus start telling others He is Alive!...even though the fear of having their own lives at risk was very much real and evident.
 Then...comes the big moment (s)! Jesus begins to appear before others...after He had died on the Cross!
 In fact, one of His disciples called Thomas...this is the moment folk religion gives him a title for all of time..."Doubting Thomas". Yet, as I have read this over a number of times...I think Thomas may have gotten a "bad rap". When Thomas saw Jesus for the first time since He had died, he was with the other disciples...but this was the 2nd time the other disciples had seen Him...and in the first meeting where Thomas was not present, the Scriptures write Jesus showed them His scars from all the injuries He had received...to confirm it was really Him...yet when Thomas asked...he was given the title a "Doubter". Hmmm...and what makes this unusual to me...earlier in Scripture when Jesus insisted that He go to see Lazarus, all the other disciples thought He was crazy...for fear of death, yet the Scriptures write it was Thomas who spoke up and said "Hey, we have lived with this guy, we believe in this guy, let's go die with this guy (paraphrased)". Does that sound like a doubter to you?...or is that just our folk religion passing down historical fiction? Hmmm?
 Jesus appeared to a number of people for a 50 day period...and now the message is clear...He is Alive! Now, Jesus says it is time to return to His Father, and the Scriptures write of the disciples and perhaps other followers of Him looking up in the sky as Jesus leaves this earth to return to His Father...and an angel appears asking why they were still looking up...saying He would return.
 In the meantime, there is another part of the Godhead about to appear to all mankind...the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke and said it was necessary for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit to fulfill His part in bringing Jesus into the hearts of all men who would call upon Him. 
 There have been many stories of the Holy Spirit and how He operates in the heart of mankind ever since Jesus left the earth that day to return to His Father...and He is still to this day... a mystery to many.

 So...this is a synopsis of "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Far-fetched?...to some yes. True...Yes, I do think so.
 The thing about the Christian faith...you first must receive it by faith...not by our own logic or reasoning. Then, begin to research for yourself...what really happened...and separate the Scriptural content from Christian folk religion. As far as historical fiction...I would do my research...and create for yourself how this story developed...using the evidence you have discovered...that is what changes a boring passage of Scripture to one that is alive!...and gives it meaning! People will always try and frighten you saying you are "not to add or take away from what the Scripture states"...and I agree with that, but it doesn't mean you can't search out what was really going on, and create in your own mind the events that happened. It is the motive of your heart...that leads you into all Truth...we are simply made that way. Otherwise, we are like any other religion...trying to obey a set of rules to keep God from getting mad at us or attempts to better ourselves....which I find absolutely boring...and dead!

 That's basically what I do on this blog...and have to conclude with Peter, when one day Jesus asked him: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter responded: "You are the Christ...the Son of the Living God!" 

                      I would totally agree with that! Long live Our King!