Kwizera Edmond

LOCATION WHERE JESUS HEALED A BLIND MAN DISCOVERED

In 2004, a routine sewer repair in Jerusalem uncovered massive ancient steps buried beneath the ground.

Archaeologists soon realized they had found something extraordinary. Coins sealed within the pool’s plaster dated its construction to before the ministry of Jesus, while pottery and additional coins showed that it remained in use during His lifetime.

Its location and connection to Jerusalem’s ancient water system identified it as the Pool of Siloam, the very place described in John 9, where Jesus told a man born blind to wash. The man obeyed and returned able to see.

For centuries, John’s Gospel told us where this miracle occurred. Now archaeology has uncovered the very place the Bible described.

The stones themselves cannot prove the miracle, but they confirm that John described a real place within a real historical setting. Our faith is not built on legends detached from history. Jesus entered the real world, walked through real cities, and changed real lives. The same Christ who opened the blind man’s eyes still opens spiritually blind eyes today, bringing truth and salvation to those who trust in Him.

What does Amman, Jordan have to do with king David?

Modern-day Amman sits on the site of ancient Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites. While David’s army besieged Rabbah, Uriah the Hittite was fighting there. David arranged for him to be placed on the front lines, where he was killed in battle (2 Samuel 11–12).

This aerial view shows the ancient acropolis and Roman theater circa 1925 and the modern day.

The Apostle Paul was an Egyptian revolutionary who led thousands of assassins into the wilderness.

Well, no, not really. But he was mistaken for that man.

In Acts 21, the Roman commander asked Paul, "Are you not the Egyptian, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" (Acts 21:38).

Who was this Roman talking about?

According to the Jewish historian Josephus, an Egyptian Jew gathered thousands of followers around AD 55. He led them to the Mount of Olives, promising that, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would collapse, echoing Joshua's conquest of Jericho. Before anything happened, however, the Roman governor Felix attacked. Many of his followers were killed or captured, while the Egyptian himself escaped.

Why would anyone follow such a man?

Because first-century Judaism was on fire with messianic expectation. The prophets had promised a coming Messiah. Israel longed for deliverance from Rome. Charismatic leaders repeatedly arose claiming to be prophets, deliverers, or God's chosen instruments.

Acts itself mentions two such figures. Theudas gathered followers before being killed (Acts 5:36). Judas the Galilean led a revolt against Rome (Acts 5:37). Even after the New Testament period, Simon bar Kokhba was hailed by many, including the renowned Rabbi Akiva, as the Messiah during the Jewish revolt against Rome in AD 132-135.

Jesus entered a world filled with would-be deliverers. But unlike them, he never gathered an army, called for revolt, or promised military victory. He rode into Jerusalem, not on a warhorse, but on a donkey. He conquered, not by taking lives, but by laying down his own and taking it up again in his resurrection.

The Christian message did indeed turn the world upside down, or perhaps better, turned it right side up. But it did so not by bloodshed, military conquest, or political revolution, but by proclaiming the gospel, through which God destroys arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of him and takes every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

The shroud of Turin ( in 1350 france )🙆🤔

Rimwe na rimwe, biroroshe kudatahura akamaro k'umurongo umwe wo muri Bibiliya. Ivyakozwe n'Intumwa 18:12 bisa n'aho ari amakuru y'amateka aca gusa:
"Maze Galiyo abaye icegera ca Kayisari (Buramatari (Proconsul) muri Akaya, Abayuda bahuriza hamwe batera Paulo..."
Muri uwo murongo umwe gusa hihishije ikintu gifasha abahinga b'amateka gushira igihe nyaco c'ibikorwa vyinshi vy'ubumisiyoneri bwa Paulo.
None uwo Galiyo yari nde?
Izina ryiwe ryose ryari Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus. Yari mukuru wa Seneca, umuhinga mu vy'ubwenge (umufilosofe w'Abasitoyike), uwaje kuba umujanama w'Umwami w'abami Nero.
Hari icanditswe c'ibuye (inscription) cavumbuwe i Delphi, kivuga ko Galiyo yabaye Buramatari wa Akaya ku ngoma y'Umwami w'abami Klawudiyo (Claudius), kandi ivyo bishirwa hagati y'umwaka wa AD 51–52.
Kubera ko igitabu c'Ivyakozwe n'Intumwa kivuga ko Paulo yashikirijwe Galiyo igihe yariko akorera i Korinto (Ivyakozwe 18:12–17), abahinga bashobora kwemeza ko Paulo yamaze amezi 18 i Korinto hagati y'umwaka wa AD 50–52.
Iyo tariki imwe yemejwe ni yo yabaye ishingiro ryo gutunganya igihe c'ibindi bikorwa vyinshi vya Paulo.
Bafatiye kuri iyo tariki, abiga Bibiliya bashobora gusubiza hamwe urutonde rw'ingendo za Pawulo z'ubumisiyoneri, igihe amashengero yashinzwe muri Aziya Ntoya no mu Bugiriki, hamwe n'igihe cegeranye c'iyandikwa ry'amakete nka 1 Abakorinto, 2 Abakorinto, n'Abaroma.
Iyo ata bumenyi dufise ku gihe Galiyo yari Buramatari, vyari kuba bigoye cane kumenya neza urutonde rw'ibikorwa vya Paulo.
Ivyakozwe n'Intumwa 18:12 bitwigisha ikindi kintu gihambaye. Luka ntiyanditse inkuru z'idini z'ibihimbano zitagira aho zihuriye n'amateka. Ahubwo yanditse inkuru zishingiye ku bibanza nyavyo, ku bategetsi nyabo, no ku bintu vyabaye vy'ukuri bishobora kugenzurwa biciye mu vyatowe n'abacukuzi b'ivya kera hamwe n'ivyanditswe vya kera.
Incuro nyinshi, ivyo abacukuzi bavumbuye vyaremeje ukuri kw'inkuru zo mu gitabu c'Ivyakozwe n'Intumwa, kandi inkuru ya Galiyo ni imwe mu burorero bwiza busobanutse cane. Icanditswe c'Abaroma cavumbuwe haciye hafi imyaka ibihumbi bibiri, maze gishigikira mu buryo butomoye ivyo Luka yari yaranditse.
Ivyo vyose bikomoka ku murongo umwe gusa.
Biratwibutsa ko Bibiliya atari umugwi w'inkuru z'impwemu zidafise ishingiro ry'amateka. Ubutumwa bwiza bwabereye mw' isi nyakuri, ku butegetsi bw'abagabisha nyabo, mu bisagara nyavyo, kandi hagati y'abantu babayeho koko.
Rimwe na rimwe, akantu gato cane kavugwa mu murongo umwe wa Bibiliya gashobora kudufungurira idirisha rikerekana ukuntu Ivyanditswe Vyera vyizewe kandi bifise ishingiro rikomeye mu mateka.

Ivyo ni vyo vyiza vyemerwa mu nyonga z'Imana Umukiza wacu, igomba kw abantu bose bakizwa bagashika ku kumenya ivy' ukuri.
1 Timoteyo 2:3-4

Ni mwibuke ibihe vya kera,
Mwiyumvire uk' urunganwe rwagiye rukuranwa mu myaka yashize.
Bibaze ba so, barabibamenyesha,
N'abo hambere, barabibabarira.
Gusubira mu vyagezwe 32:7

🤔😃🤔🤔🤔

Hittite Cylinder Seal (see explanation in picture). The Hittites eventually clashed with Rameses II of Egypt and the result was that both kingdoms pulled back toward their own kingdoms. This set the stage for the days of the Judges of Israel followed by the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon.

Great historians who confirm the existence of Christ

NON-CHRISTIAN HISTORIANS

1. Josephus :Jewish historian, 93 AD
His Book: Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3 and 20.9.1

What he says: Mentions "James, the brother of Jesus, who is called Christ" and describes Jesus as "a wise man" who "was crucified under Pontius Pilate".

Why it matters : Jewish historian,not a Christian

2. Tacitus:Roman historian, 116 AD
Book: Annals 15.44
What he says: "Christus... was executed by Pontius Pilate" during Tiberius' reign. Calls Christians a group "hated for their abominations".

Why it matters: Rome’s greatest historian. He hated Christians but confirms Jesus existed and was crucified.

3. Pliny the Younger : Roman governor, 112 AD
Work: Letter to Emperor Trajan
What he says: Describes Christians "singing hymns to Christ as to a god" and meeting on a fixed day.

Why it matters: Shows early Christians worshipped Jesus as God within 80 years of His death.

4. Suetonius:Roman historian, 121 AD
Work: Lives of the Twelve Caesars - "Claudius" 25.4
What he says: "He expelled the Jews from Rome, because they were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus."

Why it matters: Refers to disputes about "Christus" in Rome around 49 AD.

5. Mara Bar-Serapion: Syrian stoic, -73 AD
Work: Letter to his son
What he says: Mentions the "wise king" of the Jews who was executed, and that "his new law lived on".

Why it matters: Non-Jewish, non-Christian writer shortly after Jesus.

JEWISH SOURCES

6. The Talmud - Jewish writings, 200-500 AD
What it says: Refers to "Yeshu" who was "hanged on Passover eve" and had 5 disciples😃🤔.

Why it matters: Hostile source that still confirms Jesus lived, taught, and was executed.

EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORIANS

7. Clement of Rome: 95 AD
Work: Letter to Corinthians
What he says: Mentions the apostles, the resurrection, and Jesus' teachings. He was taught by Peter and Paul.

8. Ignatius of Antioch - 107 AD
Work: 7 letters
What he says: Writes extensively about Jesus’ death, resurrection, and divinity. He was a disciple of John the Apostle.

9. Polycarp-110-155 AD
Work: Letter to Philippians
What he says: Quotes Jesus' sayings and affirms the crucifixion and resurrection. He was a disciple of John.

10. Lucian of Samosata - Greek satirist, 170 AD
Work: The Passing of Peregrinus
What he says: Mocks Christians for worshipping "the man who was crucified in Palestine" and calls Him their lawgiver.

Why it matters: Hostile pagan who confirms Jesus was crucified and had followers.

KEY POINTS HISTORIANS AGREE ON
Even with no Bible, these sources confirm:
1. Jesus existed : a real Jewish man
2. He lived in Judea under Pontius Pilate -30 AD
3. He was crucified
4. He had followers called Christians who worshipped Him as God
5. The movement spread to Rome within 20-30 years

No serious historian today disputes that Jesus of Nazareth was a real person. The debate is about who He claimed to be.

NB: 1 Corinthians 15:17

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.