Liar, Lunatic, or Lord
Very few people think Jesus was a bad guy. Most people like to say he was "just a man" who had a lot of "good teachings." People don't feel right labeling Jesus a false teacher, but they don't want to believe He was God. So, they lump Jesus into the same camp as Gandi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
C.S. Lewis addresses the problem with thins thinking: Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus can't be just a good teacher. Either He is the most devious liar in history, an insane person who should have been institutionalized, or He is genuinely Lord. A man can't be a "Good Teacher" and claim to be God unless He really is God.
things Jesus did that are only acceptable if He really is God:
- He lets people worship Him. In Matthew 8:2 Jesus lets a leaper worship him. Matthew 14:33 gives an account of the disciples worshipping Jesus after He calms a storm. They even call Him, "Son of God."In John 9:38 Jesus heals a blind man and reveals that He is the Son of God. The healed man responds with worship. Matthew 28:9,17 and John 20:28-29 shows the disciples worshipping Jesus after He raises from the dead. They continued to worship Him after His ascension into heaven. This would all be blasphemy unless He is God.
- He referred to Himself as "I Am" (John 8:58). The implications of this term cannot be understated. The formal name of God in the Old Testament is Yahweh/Jehovah, which means "I Am." The name references the self existence of God. God speaks to Moses saying, "I Am that I Am" (Exodus 3:14). It is an incredibly weighty term. It was considered so holy, that scholars would often refuse to write or speak it, instead abbreviating it. Yet, Jesus refers to Himself as "I Am." A first century claim to deity doesn't get more blatant than that.
- He alluded to being eternal (John 8:58). In addition to using the formal name for God to refer to Himself, Jesus claims to have existed before Abraham (the father of the nation of Israel).
- He promised eternal life through belief in Him (John 3:16, John 11:26, Mark 16:16). In directing people to God, Jesus directed people to Himself.
- He Forgave sin (Luke 7:48, Mark 2:1-2). Forgiving people for things they did to you is one thing. Forgiving people for things they did to God is another...unless you are God. Jesus forgives sin, something that only God can do.
- He gave commandments (John 13:34-35, Matthew 5:44-45). Arguably, anyone can give a command, but Jesus has the authority to do so as God.
- He used Messianic terms when referring to Himself (Son of Man). In passages like John 3:13 and Mark 10:45, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man. Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26, and Luke 21:27 illustrate the relationship to Daniel 7:13 messianic prophecy. In John 17:3 Jesus refers to Himself as "Christ."
Jesus' influence is profound. He loved like no other, sacrificed like no other, and claimed to be God. Those who follow Him reflect His love and servanthood in their lives and relationships. The reverberating effects of His life continue two millennia after His time on this earth. There is something about Jesus. I believe He is God.
