Many are aware of the sensationalistic claims of filmmaker James Cameron, who lent his name and resources to a “documentary” claiming that the ossuaries “bone boxes” that contained the bones of Jesus and Mary Magdalene have been found in Jerusalem. The show aired on the Discovery channel in February, 2007.
Mature Christians were dismissive of the claims, as they deny the Biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Cameron, and director/producer Simcha Jacobovici claim that the evidence suggests Jesus and Mary Magdalene married, fathered a child, and later died and were buried in the city of Jerusalem. This directly contradicts Paul’s claim in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve… 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” In his testimony, Paul claims Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. This directly contradicts the contentions of Cameron and his television documentary.
But the gullible were enthralled with the claims made by Cameron, and the supposed “evidence” supplied to bolster the case. Those who objected to the validity of, and the interpretation of the evidence were immediately dismissed as having an agenda. The press had a field day, and the faith of some was shaken.
I recently came across a quote from Archaeology Magazine, (January/February 2008 issue, page 23), that comments on Cameron’s claims. This is a secular viewpoint. Archaeologists who have no concern with whether the Biblical account is true have rejected the idea as “wishful thinking.” Note the quote:
Much farther out on the archaeological fringe is the claim that limestone boxes found in Israel once held the remains of Jesus, his family, and Mary Magdalene. At a circus-like press conference, filmmaker and deep-sea enthusiast James Cameron (flanked by, among others, University of North Carolina-Charlotte theologian James Tabor), explained that the ossuaries have inscriptions referring to Mary Magdalene and “Yeshua bar Josef,” or “Jesus, son of Joseph.” The conclusions—based in part on a bit of statistical sleight-of-hand involving the rarity of the name “Ringo” in 1960s Liverpool—have been largely dismissed as wishful thinking, at best.
-Samir S. Patel
The lesson to be learned from this is an important one. First, when attacks such as these are made on our faith, there is no cause to lose confidence in the truthfulness of scripture. Further, when amazing “discoveries” are made that seem to conveniently corroborate the Biblical account, we still must be skeptical. Claims that the ark of Noah has been discovered, and that an ossuary containing the bones of Jesus’ brother James was found, are two recent examples of claims that turned out too good to be true. The truth of God has long been established and validated. Modern day efforts to either corroborate or deny that truth should have little bearing on the Christian’s confidence and faith.
