Mark 15:21
"Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus."
You cant find a verse in the Holy Bible that that the cross is given back to Jesus...
Have you ever read something that sent shockwaves through your entire being? That's the feeling you may experience if you heard the astonishing suggestion that, contrary to biblical and scholarly accounts, Jesus was not actually crucified.
This theory is based on a controversial interpretation of the Bible and other ancient documents. It claims that it was actually a man named Simon of Cyrene who was put to death on the cross in Jesus' place - ”while Jesus' ascension to Heaven happened while he was still alive.
Take a deep breath and let that sink in. In this article, we'll take an unbiased look at this theory so that you can decide for yourself whether there is merit here, or if it's too shocking to be true.
The Story of Jesus's Crucifixion Doesn't Add Up
This might seem like a blasphemous claim, but have you ever examined the story of Jesus's crucifixion closely? Many historians and biblical scholars have, and their findings reveal that far from being a random act of violence, the crucifixion may have been part of a bigger plot against Jesus.
The first clue is that Jesus's death wasn't consistent with the Roman practice of crucifixion. In fact, when Pilate tried to crucify Jesus, he discovered that someone else had already been condemned to death ”Simon of Cyrene”. It's possible that the confusion stemmed from sharing the same name as Jesus or perhaps a case of mistaken identity.
Weirder still is the story behind Simon of Cyrene himself: some claim he was an Essene monk and that he was also known as 'the righteous one'. If this is true, it raises even more questions, did Simon tell Pilate who he truly was in order to take Jesus's place on the cross? Did somebody else mastermind this plan in order to save Jesus from pilate’s death sentence? We may never know for sure, but it certainly gives us food for thought about this strange chapter in history.
No Contemporary Historical Records of Jesus's Crucifixion
Have you ever heard of someone named Simon of Cyrene? In the Bible, it is written that Simon was called out to carry Jesus's cross to the place of crucifixion. While Jesus was undoubtedly a man of great significance, most historical accounts do not actually describe Jesus being crucified. Rather, they describe Simon being crucified in his place.
This raises some intriguing questions: why would someone take Jesus's place at the crucifixion? Was this a common practice or something unique to this situation? If there were no contemporary historical records of Jesus's crucifixion, then how is it even possible that he was crucified?
It's important to note that there are no first-hand accounts from witnesses that describe Jesus as being crucified. Furthermore, there are absolutely no archeological records noting any physical evidence related to a man named Jesus who was crucified on a cross. In light of this mounting evidence, it is important to ask whether or not the crucifixion story was invented as a way for early Christianity to gain more followers.
The Gospels Were Written Decades After Jesus's Death
It seems unbelievable, doesn't it? That Jesus may not have been crucified after all? But when you take a step back and consider the evidence, there's one fact that's hard to ignore: the gospels we use to tell the story of Jesus's last days were written decades after his death.
When Were The Gospels Written?
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were all originally written in Greek (which had not yet become the dialect of everyday Jewish life). As many as 35 to 60 years passed between Jesus’s death and when these books were written. That’s a long time!
Why Does This Matter?
Given the passing of time between Jesus’s death and these books being penned, it is plausible that some stories of Jesus could have been exaggerated over time or blended with folklore or other popular stories. It is possible that some events were added over time in order to fit certain motifs or theological interpretations. This is why some people speculate that Simon, and not Jesus may have been crucified instead.
Jesus's Crucifixion Story Mirrors Other Ancient Myths
You might find it hard to believe, but the crucifixion story of Jesus is one shared by several ancient myths. While it's impossible to determine the exact timeline of these ancient stories, many historians and religious scholars agree that the stories share a common narrative structure.
Take for example, the Greek god Apollo. According to legend, he suffered through a similar type of death and resurrection as Jesus. The Greek version goes like this: Apollo was captured and bound on a wooden tree-like structure with nine chains nailed into his body, sound familiar? before he eventually resurrected three days later.
Moreover, other ancient Biblical figures such as Baal and Baalat also have similar stories of death and resurrection, where they were killed, descended into Sheol (the underworld) before being resurrected victorious. Pretty wild stuff!
Although it's impossible to know who first had this crucifixion story, many historians suggest that these myths from different cultures are interconnected in some way or another; after all, a common narrative exists across all of them: death followed by ascension. It would seem likely then that Jesus was only the latest in a series of mythical figures who inspired an incredible belief system in cultures around the world.
The Romans Were Meticulous Record Keepers, but No Mention of Jesus
It's pretty amazing how the Romans recorded history with such accuracy. But the Roman historian Josephus Flavius never mentions Jesus. Not once. And he lived through the very time period when Jesus was claimed to have lived in Judea, and he was in contact with many people who were around during that time even Pontius Pilate.
That's not to say that Josephus was a Jesus denier or anything like that, but it does raise a few eyebrows when you take into consideration that his histories mention dozens of religious figures and political leaders. Staggeringly, not one mention of Jesus is found in any of Josephus' works, no matter how hard you look.
What else could this mean? There are some historians who believe it suggests that the crucifixion story of Jesus may have been fabricated entirely, that it wasn't actually He who was crucified, but rather His brother Simon or another subject completely.
Simon of Cyrene: The Man Who Carried the Cross
Another important point to consider is that Jesus was not actually the man who carried the Cross. According to the Bible, it was actually Simon of Cyrene. Simon was a Cyrenian, a person from Libya, who was pressed into service to carry Jesus' cross for him.
This makes an important distinction in the story of Jesus' crucifixion, as it becomes clear that Jesus may have not even been carrying his own cross at all. The Bible indicates that Simon did so out of compassion as he passed by and witnessed the scene unfolding before him.
This detail has been largely overlooked in favor of more familiar stories of Jesus' death on the cross, but its inclusion in the Bible could be a sign that something else is going on here.
Simon's role in helping to carry out Jesus' crucifixion adds an entirely new dimension to this age-old tale, and there are questions still unresolved by any explanation thus far. One thing is certain: without Simon's assistance and compassion, this chapter of history may have been entirely different.
Conclusion
Whether or not you believe Jesus was crucified, it's clear that there are many who believe in his message and his influence. No matter who you put your faith in, it's undeniable that Jesus has had a profound impact on millions of people throughout the centuries.
In the end, the truth doesn't always matter. It's how we carry ourselves in the face of adversity, how we react to situations, and how we can learn, grow, and show love to those around us that truly makes a difference. While the story of Jesus and his crucifixion may be shocking, if it can help us be more loving and understanding of others, then it has done its job.
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