Researchers Launch Hunt for Jesus’ Descendants

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Apr 19, 2017

Researchers Launch Hunt for Jesus’ Descendants

Researchers are undertaking a project to analyze old relics that may have belonged to Jesus or his earthly family members in order to determine who his descendants might be today.

Some of the items included in the research are the supposed bones of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, which were discovered in Bulgaria in 2010, the Shroud of Turin which is thought to be Christ’s burial shroud, and the James Ossuary, a box that is thought to house the bones of Jesus’ brother, James.

The Christian Post reports that the research was showcased on Easter Sunday on the History Channel.

"They [researchers] believe that if they can find a strand of Jesus' DNA it could help identify who among us today are descendants of Jesus and provide us with new insight into the man many consider to be the most important person in history, Jesus," the History Channel special explained.

It has been difficult in the past to study Jesus’ DNA since items such as the Shroud of Turin have DNA from many people. Now, however, science and particularly, genetic testing has developed to a point in which researchers can differentiate modern DNA contamination from ancient DNA.

Researchers are analyzing whether there might be a match between DNA on the Shroud of Turin, the bones of John the Baptist, and the bones of Jesus’ brother James. If so, they could perhaps go on to locate modern-day blood-relatives of Christ.

 

Publication date: April 19, 2017



Researchers Launch Hunt for Jesus’ Descendants