Who was Jesus?

[Bucky Ball]

If it had to be a yes or no answer, I would have to say yes. I believe in Jesus. Other people, who are not Jesus, have performed miracles as well.

I don't believe in any of that. I think it's all hogwash. 

Fabricated events.

2000 year old stories about laying on hands healing of leprosy? Resurrections? Please. No way. I think these stories are false and meaningless. I am not impressed. Nor do I think it's plausible that anyone has ever performed miracles. And even if they did, so what? How meaningful is that really?

In academia these days there is a (well-hidden from church goers) strong exegesis that the words Paul uses to describe the "resurrection" (in Greek), actually means for an Apocalyptic Jew, (which Paul was) "exalted" not "risen" from the dead. (See Bart Ehrman's book on the subject). It's the same Greek word Luke used when he had the prophet Simeon say at the presentation in the Temple "This child shall be responsible for the RISE and fall of many in Israel". "Rise" as in exalted to a different relative position, ... NOT risen from the dead. The Hebrews thought their apocalyptic heroes were "exalted' in the sense of the Seven Sons of Hannah, and some of the prophets. There is a great book called "The Trouble with Resurrection", by Dr. Bernard B Scott, a Christian seminary professor of New Testament, who actually teaches this in the seminary. 

It may be "hogwash" but it's there ... and some people obviously believed it, and virtually no one these days understands the cultural context.