Jesus' Bones Found?

Jesus’ Bones Found?
06 March 2007

Introduction
After the “Da Vinci Code” here comes “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” – a documentary film denying Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Recently, two articles about this arising controversy were published –“Documentary shows Possible Tomb of Jesus and Family” in the Philippine Star and “No Reason to Rewrite Christianity” in the Philippine Sunday Inquirer. The latter is a response to the reports of the former. In this regard, this paper aims to presents the claims of the proponents of the “lost tomb-theory” and the arguments of the scholars who said that the proofs of the documentary are weak. Discussions presented in this paper are taken and quoted from the said articles. This endeavor ends with a short reflection.

Evidences
The article, “Documentary shows Possible Tomb of Jesus and Family,” of the Philippine Star, February 28, 2007 issue, featured a documentary film entitled, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” The film was directed by Simcha Jacobovici (a New Testament scholar and Emmy-award winning documentarian) and produced by James Cameron (Oscar-wimming director). The film tries to prove that Jesus’ body did not resurrect and also the possibility that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they begot a son named Judah . The film, Cameron said, shows the tangible, physical, and archeological data of Jesus’ existence. What were / are their (Jacobovici / Cameron) evidences?
Cameron argued that ten small caskets (ossuaries) were discovered in 1980 in Talpiot, a neighborhood Southeast of Jerusalem. Two of the boxes may have contained the bones of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. One box bears the inscription “Judah, son of Jesus”, which according to the film, Jesus may have had a son. Jacovobici added that DNA evidences can be collected from the boxes. The DNA analysis has so far proved that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were not siblings and there is a speculation that they could have been husband and wife. James Tabor, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte , played with the idea that resurrection can also be interpreted as a spiritual resurrection than the bible’s literal interpretation of Jesus’ physical body rising from the dead. These claims, according to the article, were ridiculed by some scholars.
Let us look and deal with some reasons why some scholars derided the claim of the documentary film “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” Let us start with Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who stated that Christianity has always understood the physical resurrection of Christ to be at the very center of the faith. The archeologist Amos Kloner who noticed that the site, Talpiot, identified in the documentary is in Southern Jerusalem neighborhood which is contrary to the Christian belief that Jesus’ body spent for three days was at the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem ’s Old City . Kloner concluded that the documentary failed to hold up by archeological standard.
Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem , asserted that the film’s hypothesis holds little weight. He added that skeptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that many people hold dear. Randy Flores, SVD, a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew language at the Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, wrote an article in the Philippine Sunday Inquirer, March 4, 2007 issue, entitled, “No reason to rewrite Christianity” in response to the Philippine Star article. Flores pointed five loop holes on the claims of the documentary.
First, Flores says, the title “Jesus, son of Joseph,” which according to the documentary film inscribed in one of the stone boxes, was never a title used by the early followers of Jesus. It was used latter by the outsiders (see Luke 3:23, John 1:45, and John 6:42). It is difficult to understand why such a rare title was engraved on Jesus’ ossuary. Second, it was next to impossible to transfer the body of Jesus considering the biblical account of his burial: Matthew 27:60-66 asserts that the tomb was covered with a large stone rolled on it, was sealed, and it was guarded. Mark 16:2 and Matthew 28:1 state that the women discovered the empty tomb in the first hour of the Sabbath. Moving the body on a Sabbath is a serious violation of the Sabbath prescription.
Third, the Roman emperor issued an edict (Caesar’s edict) sometime during 50 BC to 50 AD, that sepulchers and graves should remain unmolested in perpetuity. The violators will seriously be punished. Fourth, the Church historian Eusebius, in 4th cent AD, wrote that the tomb of James (martyred around 62 AD), the brother of Jesus became a pilgrimage spot for the many Christians. If this was part of the family tomb of Jesus in Talpiot, Christian pilgrims would not have gone there since that would contradict their belief in a Risen Jesus. Eusebius’ description of the tomb of James appeared to be a singular tomb. Why was he not buried in the family tomb of Jesus?
Lastly, Flores asked, what is the significance of Talpiot as Jesus’ and his family’s final resting place? Jesus comes from Nazareth and most probably, some members of his close family (like Mary) were still alive at the time of his death. His followers could have buried Jesus in Jerusalem or somewhere in Jesus’ adopted hometown, Galilee in Capernaum . Flores ended his article saying that the documentary, “The Lost tomb of Jesus,” does not have compelling evidence to rewrite Christianity.

Conclusion
As the pilgrim Church continues expanding her mission and witnessing to the Word, she is all the more confronted with issues. Among the many is the claim that Jesus’ bones were found which totally contradicts a central Christian doctrine – Jesus’ resurrection (both body and spirit). The arising controversy might be a threat to the faith of the believers. How I wish that those who will watch the documentary film will be critical and attempt also to question the authenticity of its claims and evidences. How does this controversy affect our goal for repentance and renewal of life through prayer, almsgiving, and fasting in this season of Lent? Peter warns us, “be sober and vigilant. Your opponent, the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He stressed, “Resist him, steadfast in faith (1 Peter 5:8-9).”

Sources: Philippine Sunday Inquirer ( Philippines ), 04 March 2007;
The Philippine Star ( Philippines ), 28 February 2007.