23 December 2014 A.D.
Archaeological Discovery: Synagogue Jesus Preached at Discovered in Mary
Magdalene's Hometown
Zaimon,
Stoyan. “Archaeological
Discovery: Synagogue Jesus Preached at Discovered in Mary Magdalene's Hometown.” Christian
Post. 23 Dec 2014. http://www.christianpost.com/news/archaeological-discovery-synagogue-jesus-preached-at-discovered-in-mary-magdalenes-hometown-131587/.
Accessed 23 Dec 2014.
(Photo: Grace Hill Media)
Diogo
Morgado portrays Jesus Christ in Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s “Bible” series
which will premiere on The History Channel on March 3, 2013.
Catholic
group the Legions of Christ have reportedly uncovered a 1st-century synagogue
in the ancient town of Magdala in Israel, where they say Jesus Christ is likely
to have preached to the people.
"Eighty
percent of Jesus' public life was here," Father Eamon Kelly said about
northern Israel, according to Haaretz.com.
Kelly
revealed that his organization uncovered the synagogue after starting
archaeological excavations at a site in the town of Magdala, believed to be the
home of Mary Magdalene, known as one of Jesus' female disciples. The plots of
land are supposed to be used to build a pilgrims' hotel, inter-faith chapel, a
restaurant and a women's shelter.
"This
is the first synagogue ever excavated where Jesus walked and preached,"
Kelly said, adding that it is "hugely important" for both Jews and
Christians.
Experts
have reportedly agreed that it is highly probable that Jesus would have
preached at the Magdala synagogue, which is believed to have been built in year
1 A.D., before being upgraded in 40 A.D., and destroyed by the Romans sometime
in 67 or 68. The town was located along an ancient trade route running from the
Mediterranean to Egypt and Syria.
"He
was a clever rabbi. He knew where to set up shop," Kelly said. "If
you walk from Nazareth to Bethsaida to Capernaum, you're going to come out
here."
He added
that in ancient times, townsfolk would gather at synagogues for meetings.
"So
if a strange rabbi came to town, a new rabbi, a new preacher, a new teacher,
the logical place was to meet here."
The other
discoveries at the site included a Magdala Stone, a menorah, fishing pools and
Jewish ritual baths.
"Actually
what the archaeologists are saying now is we're digging up an entire 1st
century city," Kelly noted.
The
Legions of Christ says that its mission and purpose is to share the Gospel with
the world.
"We
eagerly desire that Jesus Christ may come to reign in hearts, families and
society through the transformation of all people according to the 'new creation
in Christ' that we are all called to become (2 Cor 5:17)," the group says
on its website. "We
seek to make the transforming message of the Gospel reach every corner of
society and culture. For this reason, we work to build the civilization of
justice and love that Christ preached in the Gospel."
Previous
claims made about discoveries relating to Jesus have stirred much debate and
controversy, such as the 2010 finding of a supposed tomb in Jerusalem where Jesus
and his family are buried.
The tomb is marked with
a Christian symbol and a cross, and was presented in a documentary by archaeologist
James Tabor and filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici – though experts largely
discredited the legitimacy of the discovery.
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