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     Considering the impact Jesus of Nazareth has had through the last 2000 years, even in the first century, we would expect first century secular historians to have written volumes about Him.  Not so!  The reason is simple – Why would a historian take note of a peasant born in a remote backwater province far from the capital (Rome) of the empire and who was crucified as a common criminal?
     That crucifixion is not a method of punishment in the modern era makes the fact and details of Jesus' crucifixion of particular interest.  In fact, the crucifixion of Jesus is the best documented in history.  However, crucifixion, the standard and very common death penalty in the first century Roman Empire, warranted little attention by historians – Roman roads were lined with crosses.
     One might surmise that Jesus' claim of deity would have piqued historians' interest, but such claims were not uncommon in the first century.  The Roman emperors claimed deity for themselves and commanded the citizens to worship them.  Many people in Palestine claimed to be the Jewish Messiah (Mt 24:4-5; Mk 13:5-6 ).  So, why would a secular historian give special attention to Jesus of Nazareth?  Superficially, there appears to be no significant reason.  No, there are not volumes written about him, yet, there are at least 39 ancient sources outside the New Testament that provide over 100 facts about Jesus' life, teachings, crucifixion and resurrection.
     Even if the New Testament did not exist, we can conclude several vital facts about Jesus from first and second century writers (Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, the Talmud, and other sources):  (1) Jesus was a Jewish teacher.  (2) People believed Jesus performed miracles and cast out demons.  (3) People believed Jesus was the Messiah.  (4) The Jewish leaders rejected Him.  (5) Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate during the reign of Caesar Tiberius.  (6) In spite of Jesus' death, His followers believed He was alive, thus they began a religious movement that spread from Palestine to Rome within the first century.  (7) People from the cities and countryside, both men and women, slaves and freemen worshiped Him as God.
     Aside from these secular sources, the religious sources are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament which contain brief accounts of Jesus life, miracles and teaching.  Significant is they make reference to particular times and places in history.  His birth was in Bethlehem of the Roman province of Judea during a census commanded by Caesar Augustus, (Roman Emperor) while Quirinius, was governor of Syria and Herod the Great was king of Judea (Luke 2:1-2; Matthew 2:1).  Jesus' three year ministry as an itinerant preacher is placed in Palestine during the reign of Roman Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod Antipas was governor of Galilee (Luke 3:1).  Also significant is the writers, Matthew and John, were eyewitnesses of Jesus' ministry.  Mark was a close associate of Peter, an eyewitness, and Luke gathered the information from eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-4).  The four gospels and these early secular writings reflect that Jesus lived in Palestine 2000 years ago.  If these writings had not been true, they would have been discredited in their day.  Thus, the logical conclusion is that Jesus was a real person in history, not a myth.  But is Jesus of Nazareth God or mere man?

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