The Jesus Discovery

The Resurrection Tomb that Reveals the Birth of Christianity

By: James D. Tabor, Simcha Jacobovici

Narrated by: Jason Culp

The Jesus Discovery shows how a recent major archeological discovery in Jerusalem is revolutionizing our understanding of Jesus and the earliest years of Christianity.

The Jesus Discovery is the story of a stunning new discovery that provides the first physical evidence of Christians in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and his apostles.

In 2010, using a specialized robotic camera, authors Tabor and Jacobovici explored a previously unexcavated tomb in Jerusalem from around the time of Jesus. They made a remarkable discovery—two ossuaries, or bone boxes, one carved with the earliest known image of Jonah; the other displaying a reference to resurrection. Since the newly discovered ossuaries can be reliably dated to before 70 AD, it is possible that whoever was buried in this tomb knew Jesus and heard him preach. In addition, the newly examined tomb is in close proximity to the so-called Jesus Family Tomb, and its discovery increases the likelihood that the “Jesus Family Tomb” is, indeed, the real tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

Caveat Emptor

If you could sum up The Jesus Discovery in three words, what would they be?

Provocative, unabashed, incomplete

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Typical Tabor

Which scene was your favorite?

None stand out.

Any additional comments?

The authors reach a couple of conclusions without clear evidence, or without taking into account the contrary evidence. Overall, a very good book. I would not recommend to people who do not have an open mind about the origins of Yesuha or the Jesus movement.

Very presumptious

With all the effective equipment and expertise there is too much speculation.
These folks congratulate themselves on the find of the century, but they are still
speculating on a string of evidence. Couldn't finish it.

Very Interesting!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had some new insights into first century Christian belief. The use of the tetragrammaton name was quite interesting. No early manuscripts of the Greek Testament Scriptures have been found that use the Hebrew YHVH, but it's a usage was found on one of the ossuaries in the Jesus tomb. This family tomb dated before 70 CE, before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, thus the use of the tetragrammaton is quite compelling to modern scholars... Mainly because it is understood that Jews at this time did not speak the name of God. Jesus and his family, and his early disciples were Jews. This gives insight to some of that understandings and behaviors, and symbols used by early Christians, especially the symbol of the Jonah fish. I think the argument that this family tomb is indeed the tomb of Jesus and his family, is quite compelling. Worth reading.

quite audacious

We need more research to allow listeners to make their own conclusions. I felt like much was lacking

A more plausible explanation

I loved the humility and honesty of the authors. They aren’t trying to destroy anyone’s faith, but they are giving more realistic story of Jesus death and burial. I always found it implausible that a Jewish man in the first century, would not be married or have children. Judaism celebrates, family and life. And while it’s not conclusive that Jesus was married or had a son it sure seems more likely. As Paul Harvey would say, “now you know the rest of the story.”