The Fuse and the Fallout

Truth will come to sight; murder cannot be hid long. ~ William Shakespeare

CASE BRIEFING

Do you know anyone who is skeptical of the New Testament? Have you ever doubted the accuracy of the Gospels? In this opening investigation, we’ll examine a detective technique you can use to examine the historicity and deity of Jesus from an unusual perspective: without any evidence from the New Testament.

You read that correctly.

When I investigated the existence and deity of Jesus, I quickly realized the Bible wasn’t the only available source of information. I didn’t need the evidence provided by the New Testament gospels to know the truth about Jesus. In fact,

if some evil regime had destroyed every existing Christian Bible before I was born — if there hadn’t been a single biblical New Testament manuscript to testify about the life or deity of Jesus — I would still have been able to determine the truth about Him.

How? By investigating the case for Jesus like a “no-body homicide” cold case. 

In this opening session, I’ll describe the simple investigative strategy I’ve used to solve no-body homicide cases, which we can also apply to the case for Jesus. If you’re someone who rejects the New Testament, as I did, you may be shocked at how much you can still learn about Jesus, even without relying on the Bible for information. 

When your investigation is complete, you’ll determine if Jesus matters. You’ll discover if He was a work of fiction, just another ancient sage, or history’s uniquely divine person of interest.

When detectives gather to “brief” before a long investigation, they usually have the advantage of being familiar with one another. That may not be the case for your group. Take a few minutes to introduce yourselves. Then, to start off the investigation on the right foot, briefly engage one of the following topics:

Share one hope or expectation you have for this examination of Jesus as a person of interest.

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Share why you think some people are skeptical about the existence or deity of Jesus.

OPENING CLUES

Before watching the video, invite someone to read aloud the following passage from the gospel of Mark. Listen carefully to the way Jesus is described:

Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away to follow Him.

They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. — Mark 1:14–22 

Now ask someone to read this passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. — Colossians 2:1–3 

STATEMENT ANALYSIS 

Spend a few minutes reflecting on the verses you just read, then discuss these questions with your group:

From what you read in Mark’s gospel, what is different about the teaching of Jesus? What separated Him from others teaching at the time? What do you think He said that impressed His listeners? 

From Paul’s letter to the Colossians, why is the teaching of Jesus unique? How would you rate the intelligence of Jesus compared with that of others, and on what are you basing your rating?

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO 

Play the video for session 1. As you watch, use the following section of your investigator’s guide to record any thoughts or concepts that stand out to you.

Write down your notes related to Tammy Hayes’s no-body homicide case.

Write down your notes related to J. Warner’s experience in church.

Watch the Video

NO-BODY HOMICIDES

No-body homicide cases are incredibly difficult to investigate and prosecute. Few of these cases are ever filed with the district attorney because prosecutors must

(1) prove the victim was murdered (and isn’t simply missing) and

(2) prove that the defendant committed the crime.

These types of murders require a special approach to solve and communicate to a jury. This unique approach can also be used to investigate the case for Jesus.

Write down your notes related to the pastor’s claim about Jesus.

Write down your notes related to the fuse and fallout technique.

FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION

Now that you’ve watched the video as a group, engage the following questions and discuss what you’ve just examined with other members of your investigative team:

Why are people interested in wisdom, even if it comes from an ancient source?

What is valuable about the fuse and fallout approach to solving mysteries?

Read Luke 2:41–52. Jesus’s wisdom impressed His listeners, even when He was a young boy. What kinds of questions do you imagine Jesus was asking of the teachers in the temple? What is the importance of Jesus’s statement to His parents about being in His father’s house? What is the connection between Jesus’s identity and His wisdom? Why is the deity of Jesus important to a world that is trying to decide why Jesus still matters?

Read Matthew 13:53–58. Once again Jesus’s wisdom is recognized, even early in His ministry. Why is it sometimes hard for those who know us best to accept our advice, knowledge, or wisdom? Why are some people today hesitant to embrace the teaching of Jesus?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18–25. In this passage, one form of wisdom is compared with another. In the last two verses, why is the deity of Christ essential to the notion that He is uniquely wise and worthy of our attention? 

Consider the fuse and fallout model described in the video. Which aspects of ancient history (from the fuse, prior to 1 CE) would you expect to prepare for, anticipate, or predict the arrival of Jesus?

Which aspects of modern history (from the fallout, after 1 CE) would you expect to reflect Jesus’s influence?

DEBRIEF, DELIBERATE, AND PRAY 

Pray as a team before you close your time together. Ask God to prepare you to rethink your notions of Jesus. Ask Him to prepare others in your life to hear what you are going to learn in this investigation. Identify the prayer requests of others on your team so you can pray for them this week.

Excerpted with permission from Person of Interest Investigators Guide, copyright J. Warner Wallace.

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Your Turn

Come share your thoughts on session one of Person of Interest! We want to hear from you!