This month Christians all around the world celebrate Easter—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in the history of the world. In fact, the Christian faith rises or falls on the fact of the resurrection that Jesus physically got up out of the grave. As the Apostle Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, if Christ be not raised from the dead “we of all people are most to be pitied.” Our preaching is vain, our faith is vain; all that we have believed and hoped for is vain.

At the end of February, many people all over the world were troubled and shaken by a claim made by James Cameron, creator of two major movies “Titanic” and “Terminator” and author Simcha Jacobovici that they believe they had found the lost tomb of Jesus. Their claim was not that they had found his bones, but the tomb that had contained his bones. In fact the claim went even further stating that it was Jesus family burial tomb and that in addition to the bones of Jesus it had also contained the bones of Mary Magdalene whom He had married and their son whose name was Judah. These claims contradict the scriptural accounts of Jesus’ life, which say nothing of His being married or having children. They seem to parallel the contents of the book “The DaVinci Code.”

It seems that every year around Easter some book or claim comes out regarding Jesus and His life. None of these claims can be substantiated or made credible. Such is the case with the claim made by Cameron and Jacobovici. There are a number of problems with the claim from the outset.

First, their discovery is not supported by any archaeological proof or finds. As they say, their claim is supported by statistical probability. Any findings that are not supported by archaeology are suspect. No reputable or credible archaeologist has spoken out in support of these claims, and in fact to the contrary has labeled them as farfetched and unreliable. Some have gone so far as to say this is simply a grab for money and a ploy to stir up controversy.

Second, as has been said they base their claim on statistical probability. The tombs contained on the outside markings that spelled the names Jesus, Mary and Judah. Statistical experts they say have said that it is highly unlikely that more than one tomb would have the names of Jesus, Mary and Judah carved on them. The odds heavily favor this being the tomb of Jesus family. The problem with this argument is that all three names, Jesus, Mary and Judah are common names from that era. Hundreds, if not thousands of people had the names Jesus, Mary and Judah. Further, and more importantly is that there is no evidence that Jesus and Mary married and had a child. This is nothing more than worldly speculation.

There are other problems with the claim, but I make the last, the major one. That is again we have an empty tomb. To suggest that this is the tomb that contained the bones of Jesus not only infers, but states that Jesus did not rise from the dead but that His bones were in the tomb long after “the third day.” For His bones to have been there means that His body had to have been there after the time the Bible claims He arose. This feeds the story of which Matthew’s Gospel speaks (28:12-15). And the story goes on.

I found it very interesting that most of the newspapers and television stations did not give much credence or time to this claim, which both Cameron and Jacobovici said would be the greatest discovery in the history of the world. Perhaps it is because they understood that rather than being the greatest discovery, it was another sad attempt to make money and exploit and undermine the Christian faith. The reason there were no bones in the tomb is because the bones of Christ were never in the tomb. As the angel said, “He is not here; He is risen as He said.” (St. Matthew 28:6)

Early Easter Sunday morning churches are filled, ministers preaching, choirs singing and parishioners celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our gathering more than 2000 years later and the continuing presence and witness of His church promoting His kingdom in the world are the greatest evidence of His resurrection.

We rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection is assurance that our fight is His fight and the outcome has already been determined. As the hymn writer declares, “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, life is worth the living just because He lives.”

Rev. Jackson is pastor of St. Matthew A.M.E Church, Orange, NJ and Executive Director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey.