I had a chance in my travels to listen to the Bill O’Reilly’s latest book, Killing Jesus. I have also in the past enjoyed listening to his books, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. I appreciate the fact that Bill O’Reilly reads the audio book. He has a good voice for it. For the most part, his books seem to be well researched, but then what do you expect, from a former history teacher?

 

In his book Killing Jesus, I found the background material on the rulers of the time period fascinating. He also did a great job describing the Roman crucifixion. I did take exception to some things, one being a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday resurrection, which is not surprising, considering that Mr. O’Reilly is a Roman Catholic and follows catholic theology on that teaching. This error in the book is to me is very crucial because the only sign that Jesus gave of His messiaship was the sign of Jonah. He said in Matthew:12:39-40[39]But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:[40]For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. “…An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” This is not part of three days, or part of three nights, but 72 hours. A Wednesday crucifixion with His body being put into a sepulcher before sunset that day and a late Saturday afternoon resurrection would be three days and three nights. Passover did fall on Wednesday in 31 AD, with a High Day beginning the days of unleavened bread, kept like the Sabbath on Thursday fits the chronology of the scriptures.

 

I also took exception to the age that he gave for Jesus at His death. Luke:3:23And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, tells us that Jesus began His 3 ½ year ministry when He was about 30 years of age. That would make him about 33 when He died.

 

Also, Jesus is described as having long hair, which is the traditional Christian interpretation. The common hair style of that day was not long hair down to a man’s shoulders. Jesus Christ inspired Paul to write, in 1 Corinthians:11:14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?”  Christ looked like any ordinary man of His day. He could slip away from opposition through a crowd. He had to be betrayed by a kiss.

 

We have literature on this. Check it out in more detail!

 

Rainer Salomaa

Pastor