It is nearly impossible today to find a historian who disagrees in the existence of the historical Jesus.
For the most part there’s a common agreeance that Jesus was a man who lived around 2000 years ago, was a religious leader of some description who gained a following.
In fact, almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher, that he was a good moral man.
When it comes to Jesus the debate nowadays rarely rests in his existence, but begins with whether the events listed in the Bible regarding Jesus are real or not. Meaning this - the debate is really hinged around Jesus’ full identity as the “Son of God” as revealed in the Bible.
CS Lewis, author of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, wrote the following in his book Mere Christianity:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus Christ): ‘I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God'. That is the one thing we must not say.
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of hell.
“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.
“You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.”
The suggestion CS Lewis was making was believing Jesus to be only a good teacher is not an option.
A reading of Jesus’ life through the eyewitness letters recorded in the Bible reveal Jesus clearly and undeniably claimed to be God.
If He is not God, then He is a liar or a fraud, and therefore not a prophet, good teacher or a good moral man.
So why is the question over Jesus’ true identity so important?
Life in all its fullness, forgiveness, healing relationship is available only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus being God is why He is the only way of salvation. Jesus being God is why He proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
Not sure what you think regarding Jesus? Why don’t you find a Bible (you can find a free version on any app store) and start reading, and then find one of the local pastors and ask them all the questions you have regarding what your reading.
Because discovering faith in Jesus is a journey, not a destination.
Rob Wiltshire
Epicentre Church
9°C