Do you really think that the've descovered the The Lost Tomb of Jesus?

Question

The Lost Tomb of Jesus," produced by Oscar-winning director and scheduled to air March 4 on the Discovery Channel, argues that 10 small caskets, called ossuaries, discovered in 1980 in a Jerusalem suburb may have held the bones of Jesus and his family. One of the caskets even bears the title, "Judah, son of Jesus," Jacobovici said that a name on one of the ossuaries — "Mariamene" — offers evidence that the tomb is that of Jesus and his family. In early Christian texts, "Mariamene" is the name of Mary Magdalene. Imaging if it's trueee!!!

Answer 1

No,they have not found it.Sorry.
The theory relies heavily on statistics.But,they start out with false premises and assumptions.
To come up with the statistics on the film,they had to assume 5 things.These things are:
1.That the ‘Jesus’ and the ‘Jose’ in these caskets,are brothers.
2. That the ‘Mariamne’ in the tomb, is Mary Magdalene.
Guess where the makers of the film get this idea? From a book known as the ‘Gospel of Phillip’,written by a group known as the Gnostics in the 4th century AD,hundreds of years after Jesus.It is not a reliable historical document at all.
3. That Jesus was married to Mary, and they had a son named Judah.
There is absolutely no evidence for this claim,in either credible Biblical or non-Biblical sources.None at all.Why assume something you have no proof of?
4.That the Matthew found in this tomb was somehow related to Jesus’ mother but is not her son.
The New Testament does not say anything about a brother of Jesus being called ‘Matthew’,but it does mention Jesus’ other siblings.There is no evidence of this Matthew being a brother of Jesus anywhere,and the makers of the film have to somehow provide an explanation as to why he would be in the tomb.In addition,the tomb is missing the other brothers of Jesus.
5. They also assume that the ‘James,son of Jospeh,brother of Jesus’ ossuary,discovered a few years ago,originated from the same tomb as the recently discovered caskets.That is a major piece of evidence that they use to try and back up their claims.
The problem?If the ‘James,son of Jospeh,brother of Jesus’ ossuary had originated from the tomb,it would have needed to be discovered after 1980,as that was when the recent tomb was opened.But was the James ossuary discovered after that? No,not at all.The James ossuary was discovered in the 1970’s.That puts a huge hole in the movie.How couild the ossuary have come from an un-opened tomb?

The film-makers were also choosy with what evidence thaty would use to come up with their statistics.They excluded the names of Matthew and Judah,yet kept in the name of Mariamne,based on the Gnostic book!
After this,the probability decreases dramatically.There is only a 1 in 15,000 chance that the tomb is that of Jesus’ family.

Now,onto the DNA evidence they have supposedly used.
They cannot look at the DNA they have taken from the Jesus casket,and conclude that it is Jesus’.They do not have a sample of Jesus’ DNA to compare it to.
The scientists were only able to extract DNA from two of the caskets.Just two.What did this DNA evidence prove? That the one in the ‘Jesus’ casket,and the one in the ‘Mary’ casket,were not maternally related.Hardly groundbreaking evidence.

There are other reasons why the tomb is not that of Jesus.


1.Joespeh,who was born in Bethlehem,lived in Nazerath,and died in Galilee,would not have bought a tomb in Jerusalem.He had no connections there. It is highly unlikely that he would have bought a tomb in Jeruslame,which is over 131 miles from Nazareth.
2. The two Mary ossuaries,which suppsedly prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene,do not even mention Migdal anywhere!

3. The tomb and ossuaries are the type which only the rich would have been able to afford.Jesus and His family were certainly not rich.

4.The names on the tomb,while sounding convincing,were extremely common in that time.In fact,21% of Jewish women in the era were named Mary,with the names of the males on the caskets also being extremely popular.

The experts:

Prof. Amos Kloner, the Jerusalem District archeologist who officially oversaw the work at the tomb in 1980 and has published detailed findings on its contents, on Saturday night dismissed the claims. "It makes a great story for a TV film," he told The Jerusalem Post. "But it's impossible. It's nonsense." “"They just want to get money for it,"

Professor Amos Kloner,"..those were the most common names found among Jews in the first centuries BCE and CE"


Prof. Kloner said there was no way the tomb housed the Holy Family.
The senior Israeli archaeologist who thoroughly researched the tombs after their discovery, and at the time deciphered the inscriptions, cast serious doubt on it.
"It is just not possible that a family who came from Galilee, as the New Testament tells us of Joseph and Mary, would be buried over several generations in Jerusalem."

Kloner said the names found on the ossuaries were common, and the fact that such apparently resonant names had been found together was of no significance. He added that "Jesus son of Joseph" inscriptions had been found on several other ossuaries over the years."There is no likelihood that Jesus and his relatives had a family tomb," Kloner said. "They were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem. The Talpiot tomb belonged to a middle-class family from the 1st century CE."

"Archeological evidence shows that chances of these being the actual
burials of the Holy Family are almost nil," said Motti Neiger, a spokesman for the
Antiquities Authority.

"Simcha has no credibility whatsoever," says Joe Zias, who was the curator for anthropology and archeology at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem from 1972 to 1997 and personally numbered the Talpiot ossuaries. "He's pimping off the Bible … He got this guy Cameron, who made 'Titanic' or something like that—what does this guy know about archeology? I am an archeologist, but if I were to write a book about brain surgery, you would say, 'Who is this guy?' People want signs and wonders. Projects like these make a mockery of the archeological profession."

Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem who was interviewed in the documentary, said the film's hypothesis holds little weight. "How possible is it?" he said. "On a scale of one through 10 - 10 being completely possible , it's probably a one, maybe a one and a half."


The official report written by Prof. Kloner found nothing remarkable in the discovery. The cave, it said, was probably in use by three or four generations of Jews from the beginning of the Common Era. It was disturbed in antiquity, and vandalized.

Pfann is even unsure that the name "Jesus'' on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name "Hanun.''

Professor Juergen Zangenberg, an expert on the New Testament at the Dutch University of Leiden, said the documentary's claim was unrealistic, and more likely "about money and headlines".

Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site,also said the idea fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television.


William Dever, an expert on near eastern archaeology and anthropology, who has worked with Israeli archeologists for five decades, said specialists have known about the ossuaries for years.

"The fact that it's been ignored tells you something," said Dever, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. "It would be amusing if it didn't mislead so many people."

Answer 2

One cannot say conclusively until all the evidence has been collected and analysed under a scientific criteria, yet logically there isn't a theological reason why they shouldn't have found his Tomb.
I am sorry if I offend any devote Christians, though it is sincerely not my purpose if I state that most modern day Christians are quite ignorant of ancient Jewish culture in relation to Jesus and his family back ground.
In Judaism (which Jesus would have most certainly initially belonged too ethnically) would have frowned upon a man who did not get married and father children, as life is celebrated as reseeding Yahweh's, Elohim, or Jehovah's creation.
There are links between the Essenes (a Gnostic mystical Jewish sect, connected namely to John the Baptise) and the early formative years of Jesus's ministry.
To understand Jewish mysticism one must remember that many of their scriptures are metaphorical in context and not literal as orthodox Christianity would have use believe.
IE as in the statement; "water turned to wine" genuinely means to the nearest English translation, "turning a pigs ear into a silk purse", this could be concerned with turning non believers (water) into wine (converts to the truth of the kingdom of heaven).
With this in mind, the resurrection could be seen as spiritual and not as a physical resurrection, which defies all logic and modern scientific understanding.
If the tomb is genuine then I cannot see how it could damage Christianity, only the erroneous dogma of the Church and state.
It could even rejuvenate what is now a shrinking faith and lead to the true message of Jesus.
Why Christians cannot accept Jesus as a divine messenger or an enlightened teacher troubles me since Buddhist the world over venerate the Buddha as being a mortal man who found liberation through enlightenment.
It should be remembered that Jesus also meditated whilst in the desert and like Buddha resisted the temptation of Satan (Mara) or his own inner demons (psychologically).
So I can find no reason why they havent found the long lost tomb of Jesus.
As for those Christians who might mockingly disagree with me then they might take heed of the saying "There are non so blind as those who cannot (or will not) see.

Answer 3

Personally I do not think that James Cameron the film maker has found the lost tomb of Jesus Christ. Why would it be a film maker who was able to decipher the Hebrew text that was found on the coffin and not the original scientists who found it in 1980 or the professors in the museum who have studied ancient Hebrew all their lives? surely it would be the people who know what they are looking at not a film maker. Also as stated on the BBC web site: Israeli archaeologist Amos Kloner, who was among the first to examine the tomb when it was first discovered, said the names marked on the coffins were very common at the time.
"I don't accept the news that it was used by Jesus or his family,"
You have also got to look at what James Cameron say. like the thing about the DNA test. How can that be carried out on the two coffins? when we do not have any of Jesus' DNA to compare it with? Also how do you prove it, as its over 2000 years old. Here in the UK to find if somebody buried 100 years ago is related and the have 100 years old DNA, at lest 5 or 6 members of the modern day family have to give their DNA samples just to get it to work.
Another thing that I have just noticed! I have taken a look at James Cameron's web site, and in the part that talks about the Jewish tradition that Families were burried in tombs outside their home towns, what James Cameron and friend have not taken into consideration is that Jesus' family did not come from Jerusalem, but the came from Nazareth hence the name often given to Jesus of 'Jesus of Nazareth' so if as James Cameron say the Jesus' body would have had to have been burried in Nazareth Not Jerusalem.
So from me ITS A BIG NO. James Cameron is doing this for the publicity and Money!

Answer 4

I have seen this question posed over the course of the past few days, and all I have to say about it is, probably not the DNA and/or bones of Jesus, nor his supposed family. I am not a Jew, Christian, Catholic, and as such, I have no drive in this arguement whatsoever. My only point is that around the time that Jesus was on this earth, and the facts recovered about Mary Magdalene still do NOT support any evidence as to where the decendants of Jesus, if any, are to be found. It is mainly guesswork, vast assumptions and a lot of hoping. Beyond the fact that Jesus, Jessurriah, Mariamene, Judah were all very popular names around the time Jesus was still alive, especially due to the very small population of the area, Jesus, and Mary had been transcribed names on tombs and caskets for nearly a hundred years following the crucifixion as a blessing to those who died in Jesus' name and wanted the name to carry them into heaven and into the nobility of those who followed Jesus on Earth. So, to answer your question, yea and nay. Is it possible that it is Jesus' tomb, yes. Is it even remotely likely, still yes. But is it less of a probabilty than these scientists are claiming on the Discovery Channel, absolutely. Do you know how much prestige and money they would receive for the rest of their lives for that type of archeological find? Limitless. So, of course they are going to sell this idea. Watch it all again based on the premise that they are assuming a lot and just pretend, that you already knew they were wrong, and see what mistakes you can spot.

Answer 5

you need to stop watching so much TV.

1. Already proven this guy is a flake and all evidence he has is false and are lies.

2. The names of Jesus, Joesph and Mary are the most common names in that region and have been since the days of Jesus.

3. There are over 9 other graves in the area with those names. Why is his so special? Cause he says so?

4. The DNA scrapings that were done.....NOT BONES FOUND.....came back as there was no match from the tomb. It came back as all those that were in it, were not related or were married.

5. The TV is called the " Boob Tube " cause those that listen to it and believe it first hand.....are called BOOBS.

6. Stop spreading rumors and lies for that is past wrong!!!!

Answer 6

I'm tired of people not understanding the DNA tests and discrediting the entire find because of it. They did not perform the DNA tests to identify if it was Jesus Christ. The DNA test was only used to see if the Jesus in the tomb was related to Miriamne. (Wife or Mother). Mary of Magdala's real name was Miriamne; mara is the same term as Maranatha "Come, oh Lord [mara]" in 1 Corinthians 16:22. Then people refute the find because "Many people have had the name Jesus" This is true, but look at it this way (Science Daily)
______________________________...
The approximate population of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus was 50,000. If you could get all into the local hippodrome, and started asking, would all those whose name is Jesus please stand, 2,796 would rise. Then if you asked, would all those who father is also named Joseph remain standing, 351 would be left. If you ask all those also who mother's name is Mary, 173 would remain. Add the brother's name Jose, and only 23 would be left. Add the name James, and you are down to one.
______________________________...

This is it. Don't let people fool you into thinking otherwise.

Answer 7

this is just another money making sensationism piece like the Da Vinci Code..by David Brown..Yes, the movie makers will make a ton of money and a lot of people will believe as just read the tabloids at the super market and people like to read this type of literature as its interesting and some of its just unbelievable that you wonder..Hey maybe it is true?
Hitler said if you are going to tell a lie tell a big lie and people will believe a big lie better then a little lie..i know it works for my wife..LOL.
No, if they could prove this how would any of the Christian Churches keep their doors open? The Catholic Church is not only one of the richest churches in the world but its power goes around the world and they are not going to give up two thousand years of rule for a movie or a book...but it does make good television, books and movies...I do believe that over 90% of the so called history did not happen like it did. Just think who wrote these stories?? Only the winners and the kings and leaders who were in power...heck we can't even believe the new or TV today for the same reason.

Answer 8

I think it would be fantastic if it was true. It shows a human side to Jesus, and so far there hasn't been any archaeological evidence of the existence of Jesus. It's perfectly reasonable to expect that Jesus would have a family aswell. The only problem is that Jeshua and Judah and Marian were extremely popular names at the time, so it might not be the 'real' Jesus.

Answer 9

They just said that it was proven not to be authentic although the caskets were from about 2,000 AD. If something else has come up I haven't heard about it yet. One of the things said James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus and they were saying that Jesus had half brothers and sisters from a previous marriage of Joseph. It's all confusing but it doesn't change the fact that Jesus was a flesh and blood man period.

Answer 10

It is not and those who discovered the tomb in 1980 said it is not. This is done for money only and because James Cameron needs a career boost. He is the one going down like the Titanic.

Answer 11

Since the flesh of the Lamb of God had the be destroyed to fulfill the covenant of the Sacrificial Lamb of the Temple, there would not be any bones left. The Bible clearly states that all was left was the rolled up bandages. Not even a shroud.