Isn’t that just divine? No need to worship me just because it turns out I’m probably a direct descendant of the Son of God.  This really won’t change me in any way. I’m still the same old Tim you always knew – only holier. Hey, if you’re really nice to me, I just might put in a good word for you with the Big Guy upstairs. Could come in handy on Judgment Day if you’re on the bubble.

Okay, perhaps this is getting to my head just a bit. Actually, I’m directly related, through my great grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. From the research I have done, I am fairly sure I’m a direct descendant of Christ. I mean, look at our profiles. I totally have his chin.

Turns out all that stuff about Jesus being a bachelor was bogus – probably made up by some sexist apostle with a chip on his shoulder about women. According to a Harvard scholar (and Harvard scholars are never wrong), they have deciphered a small fragment of faded papyrus that contains incontrovertible evidence that Jesus may or may not have been married. The text, written in the ancient Coptic language (the language of the ancient cops) shows Jesus referring to my wife and goes on to mention that my wife is able to be my disciple.

The text fragment (seen here at right), is only 1.5 by 3 inches – roughly the size of a business card. Some scholars believe it may have actually been an ancient business card because the reverse side reads Ezekiel’s Kosher Deli – Nobody beats our prices on olives and figs. Buy four bags of barley, get the fifth bag free – Family-owned since 87 BC.

A few irate Vatican priests vociferously dispute that this tiny scrap of papyrus, likely written a couple hundred years after Christ’s death, is any proof that Jesus was married. Of course, can you blame those priests for taking that stance? How would you feel if you found out you’d sworn off sex for centuries for no good reason? Naturally, they’re a little pissed off. Probably in the denial stage. Please don’t ask how the nuns are taking this news. Not good. Not good.

Biblical scholars have uncovered several additional scraps of papyrus from the same time period, which reveal startling details about Jesus’ married life. Turns out his wife was named Megan (Mary’s younger, prettier sister). They had two rambunctious kids, Trevor and Judy (I’m guessing named after her birthplace, Judea).

The family’s home was a bit of a fixer-upper, with a peak-a-boo view of dirt and rocks.  Tuesday was trash collection day. Jesus took Trevor to chariot racing practice on Thursdays (Jesus complained the coach never gave Trevor enough playing time) and took Judy to pottery class on Fridays – but only if they were done with their Old Testament recitation homework. The texts indicate they were strict parents, not letting their kids go on rock-throwing play dates on school nights. Megan was active in the Bethlehem Boosters Club, sometimes helping out as a camel crossing guard at their kids’ school, the Sea of Galilee Early Christian Academy.

There was one fascinating scrap of text which suggests that Jesus briefly played striker on a rec league soccer team called the Holy Grails but scholars question the authenticity of this passage, since it goes on to mention that Jesus considered Germany overrated and felt the smart money was on Argentina in the World Cup.

The authenticated texts portray Jesus as a doting husband – despite his annoying habit of conveniently forgetting to milk the goats unless Megan nagged him. And the ancient texts paint a picture of Jesus as an involved dad, telling his kids whimsical bedtime stories of walking on water and turning water into wine. He had quite the fanciful imagination.

So how does all of this prove I’m related to Jesus? It’s right there on another ancient papyrus scrap scholars found in the catacombs below an ancient Jerusalem 7-Eleven, which reads, And Jesus and Megan begat Judy, who begat Shelby, who begat … well, to be honest, the list of begats goes on for a while, but the last one says: and Betty and Robert shall beget the blessed Timothy who shall be swaddled and found in a bleacher. For he shall be wiser than his three elder brethren, and lo, all who know him shall bow down to him as if unto me.

That’s a loose translation, done by a guy I know named Bernie, who took two semesters of Latin in high school and once was a Cop. Another translation, by Dartmouth scholars (to which I give no credence because they are not from Harvard), claims a more accurate translation of this same passage is, and Jesus wept. I’m going with the first translation.

Pretty amazing, I know. It’s all there on that scrap of sacred ancient papyrus. I can’t actually prove I’m the great-great-great-great-great-great…… (insert 105 more greats) grandson of Jesus because DNA samples don’t exist from his time. So you’re just going to have to take my word for it. If I were you, I’d start acting really nice to me from now on. Why take chances, is all I’m saying. Now, go in peace, my children.

That’s the view from the bleachers. Perhaps I shalt be smited.

PS:  If you enjoyed this week’s post, please let me know by sharing it on Facebook, posting a comment or giving it a LIKE. I am fairly confident you won’t burn in Hell for eternity for doing so. But I could be wrong. 

© Tim Jones, View from the Bleachers 2014