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According to the Gallup poll conducted in 1983 in America, people were asked a question: “Who do you think Jesus is?” 70% interviewees said Jesus was not just another man. 42% stated Jesus was God among human beings. 27% stated that Jesus was only human but divinely called. 9% states that Jesus was divine because He embodied the best of humanity.
How about you? What is your view on Jesus? One crucial thing is that your view on Jesus Christ affects your behaviour and your choices in life.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) The one and only Son that John proclaimed was Jesus Christ. So, who really is Jesus Christ?
If you study the New Testament accounts about Jesus with an open and humble heart, I am certain you would come to understand who He really is.
- A Mythical Christ
Have you heard of the saying, “History is written by the victors”? History is often told based on the interpretation and biases of prevailing historical participants. These people were often those who won in geopolitical disputes or they had become dominant forces in society. In other words, history can be very biased and subjective.
According to some intellectuals around the world, Jesus is just a myth. Many individuals deny the historicity of Jesus Christ. They do not simply relegate Jesus to the status of a wise teacher or a prophet. They flatly deny that the Jesus of the Bible ever existed.
Many folks like to surf the Net. Believe or not, some idlers love to browse trivial things on the internet every day. Unfortunately, some bump into some harmful websites and certain people stumble across some internet infidels. One of the many thesis they put forward is that Jesus never existed. This theory comes with many fancy names, such as the Christ myth theory, or the Jesus myth theory, or Jesus mythicism, or the Jesus ahistoricity theory.
If you believe Jesus is just a mystical figure, let me post a question to you: “How can you explain so many lives were touched and changed by Jesus Christ?”
- A Human
54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
55But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
57So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:54–59 ESV)
Jesus conversed with the Jews because He wanted to reveal that He was the eternal One. However, His countrymen only perceived Him as an ordinary folk. Because of that, these Jews wanted to kill Him.
Jesus Was Just Human
Many so-called scholars and experts reckon if Jesus really did exist, He was an obscure person whose story became patterned after mystery religions and Jewish wisdom literature. Among these intellectuals, they assume Jesus was probably an obscure peasant.
Jesus Was Just a Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the most popular and successful rock Although the storyline contains many elements of the biblical narrative, Jesus is portrayed as just a human, nothing more and nothing less.
The influence of pop culture is massive. It could influence the way young people dress, behave, think and believe. I was young once and I truly understand its impact on me and my peers.
Concerning who Jesus is, pop culture has its roles as well. Popular art and media can influence people how they perceive Jesus. Pop culture has the ability to portray a biblical Jesus, but at the same time, people can use art and media to create a character that they think is Jesus.
Jesus’ Divinity and Humanity
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1–5 ESV)
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV)
The authors of the Bible and Jesus Christ taught the triune nature of God. The author of the Gospel of John explains clearly to his audience who Jesus is. In chapter 1, he talks about the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Although Jesus Christ is the second person of the triune God, He took on human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus. God’s Son became flesh when He was miraculously conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Like John said, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, became flesh and dwelt among human beings (John 1:14).
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, is truly God and man. On the one hand, He possesses attributes that only God has and He does things that only God can do. On the other hand, Jesus is fully human. In a word, the union of the divine and human natures in one person is likely one of the most difficult notions to comprehend in theology.
I refute the teaching that Jesus Christ is simply a man because the Bible does not say so (John 1:1–18; Philippians 2:5–11). At the incarnation, Jesus is fully God and man. It is a biblical fact that all followers of Jesus Christ should uphold.
- A Fraud
Hermann Samuel Reimarus (1694–1768) was a German deist and biblical critic. He once served as a rector in a higher education institution and a professor of Hebrew and Oriental languages at a school in Hamburg.
Hermann Samuel Reimarus
Reimarus declared the biblical writers to be frauds and deceivers. In short, Reimarus thought that the disciples were just fanatics. He insisted the followers intentionally made up the miracle accounts of Jesus and came up with something so-called revelations. Can you imagine a religious authority could come up with such a conclusion about Jesus Christ?
According to Reimairus, Jesus Christ sought neither to establish a new religion nor to bring in any new ceremonies. In essence, Jesus did not see Himself as the Messiah, but He simply called His audience to personal purity and moral elevation in preparation for the Messiah and His imminent kingdom.
In short, Reimarus insisted that Jesus did not resurrect from the dead. He concluded that the story of the guards is very doubtful and unconfirmed, and it is very likely the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus. He regarded the disciples’ testimony were both inconsistent and contradictory. Finally, he declared the prophecies about Jesus appeared to be irrelevant, falsely interpreted, and question-begging. I would sum it up like this: Reimarus saw Jesus was a fraud.
Definition of Fraud
How do you define a fraud? According to Concise Oxford English Dictionary, a fraud is “a person or thing intended to deceive”. Also, a fraud is a person who engages in “wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain”.
Serious Accusations
Based on this definition, Reimarus regarded the biblical writers and Jesus as frauds. More or less, he thought Jesus’ followers were engaged in wrongful deception, and these are serious accusations.
In Matthew 8:20, Jesus stated that “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20 NIV) In Acts 3:6, the apostle Peter told the man who was lame from birth that he did not have silver or gold, but he could heal him through the name of Jesus Christ. If you studied the Bible without any presupposition and partiality, I think you would deduce that Jesus and His followers were penniless and did not possess any religious and political dominance.
Rasputin the Fraud
In contrast, Rasputin was really a religious fraud. He was seen as one of the most notorious characters in modern Russian history.
Rasputin grew up in a Siberian peasant home. For a time he was trained as a monk at a monastery, where he learned a doctrine that he corrupted into his own belief that the best means of salvation is to indulge one’s sexual appetites as much as possible. Instead of being a monk, Rasputin married and had children. However, he left his wife and his four children. He travelled to Greece and Jerusalem as a self-proclaimed holy man with the ability to heal the sick and predict the future.
With the healing power that Rasputin claimed to have, he ended up as an influential favourite at the court of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra.
On the one hand, in the presence of the royal family, Rasputin acted as a humble and holy peasant. On the other hand, he led an immoral lifestyle outside court. He preached that physical contact with his own person had a purifying and healing effect. Because of this distorted teaching, he acquired mistresses and he attempted to seduce many other women.
Jesus Is No Fraud
As you can see, Rasputin was really a religious fraud, but Jesus and His followers were not religious tricksters at all. No frauds could have predicted their own deaths and resurrections with pinpoint accuracy. Not only Jesus foretold His death, He clearly proclaimed that He would raise from the dead in three days’ time. The greatest proof that Jesus is not a fraud is that the accurate prediction of His death and the fulfilment of His resurrection.
- A Lunatic
Most human beings are superstitious. Many people believe in irrational belief or practice. When some folks cannot explain a phenomenon, they would make up a strange theory, or they would turn to trust in a widely held but unjustified belief.
Superstition
Believe or not, some so-called religious individuals are superstitious as well. Take the example of the fear of the number 13. At the Last Supper of Jesus, including Jesus and His twelve disciples, there were 13 individuals, and one of whom was Judas, the traitor, and some people reckoned he was the 13th person to sit at the table. Since this theory has become popular, numerous people are scared of the number 13. Even to this day, quite a lot of tall buildings would omit a numbered 13th floor, skipping instead from 12 to 14.
The Meaning of Lunatic
The roots of “lunatic” are superstitious in nature. The English word lunatic links with the moon as it is derived from the Latin word Luna. Ancient people called people who were affected by the moon lunatics. They believed sleeping under moonlight would make a person “moonstruck,” or mad. in other words, he or she would then become a “lunatic.”
People Regarded Jesus as a Lunatic
Jesus revealed He was the Good Shepherd. He also explained the significance of this title to the Jewish audience. A division took place among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” (John 10:20 NIV) In other words, among the audience, many people thought Jesus was a lunatic or insane.
Jesus Is No Lunatic
In the New Testament times, some people might regard Jesus Christ as a lunatic. Even now, certain individuals might think the same. Lunatics are erratic, irrational and incoherent, but according to the Gospels, the behaviour of Jesus Christ is consistent, logical and intelligible
Jesus Christ cared for and healed the sick and needy. He claimed to be God’s Son and the Saviour of the world (John 10:36; Mark 10:45). On numerous occasions, Jesus Christ predicted His death and spoke about His resurrection (Luke 9:22, 44–45; 17:25; Matthew 12:40). Not only that, He accepted people worshipped Him as an equal with the Father (John 20:28–29).
If Jesus was not the person that He claimed to be, He would be the most horrible person, the worst blasphemer and the most hopeless lunatic since the existence of humankind.
Dear friends, think of this, how could a lunatic transform world history and personal lives? First of all, Jesus Christ has definitely left a mark on history and He is pivotal to world history. The calendar era that is widely used around the world today is based on the birth of Jesus Christ. Anno Domini is a Latin term which means in the year of the Lord. BC stands for before Christ, which means a date is before the Christian era. Interestingly, the BC/ AD dating system was to make the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. Secondly, if you go and ask genuine Christians about how Jesus Christ has changed their lives. I am certain you would hear many touching and amazing stories.
Definitely, Jesus Christ is not a madman, but He is God’s Son and Saviour of humanity instead.
- A Tragedy
37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews.
38Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads
40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:37–40 NIV)
Public Punishment and Ridicule
Crucifixion is a death penalty to punish and ridicule death row convicts publicly. The Roman authorities sent Jesus to be crucified, with a mocking title nailed to the cross. When Jesus was being nailed on the cross, passerby took turns to mock at Him. To sum it up in a word, these mockers saw Jesus as a loser because He ended up with a tragic death. As for some people around the world, they call Jesus’ life a tragedy.
Tragic Death of Crucifixion
Indeed, crucifixion leads to tragic deaths. The pain induced by crucifixion is very severe.
Generally speaking, a cross consists of a stake and a crossbeam. Prior to the death penalty crucified, the victim was beaten with a leather whip with pieces of metal or bone. The condemned victim was then forced to carry the crossbeam to the place of execution. The crossbeam was fixed to the top of the pole, and the victim was either tied or nailed with his arms stretched along it. Death on a cross was a slow process and could take up to several days.
According to a Bible scholar, crucifixion is really excruciating. A condemned victim on a cross would have suffered dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation and mortification of untended wounds. Moreover, his wounds would have developed gangrene. Also, especially of the head and stomach, the arteries would become swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood. All in all, crucifixion is extremely excruciating.
His Tragic Death for Humans
Definitely, Jesus Christ suffered a tragic death, but He died for a good reason. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NIV) The Son of Man that Mark spoke of is Jesus. Jesus, the Son of Man, came to fulfil God’s plan. He came to serve and minister to the most basic and important of all human needs. Most importantly, He came to give His life as a ransom for the salvation of humanity.
- God’s Son the Messiah
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 16:13–17 ESV)
Although God revealed Himself through His creation, numerous individuals still affirmatively deny His existence.
Special Revelation
We can know about God’s character through nature; it is called general revelation. God is gracious and kind beyond measure. As He knows human stubbornness and ignorance so well, He reveals Himself in a supernatural way, so that flawed human beings will get to know Him better; it is called special or supernatural revelation.
The Messiah
God revealed to the apostle Peter that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13–17) It was a supernatural revelation that Peter received at that moment. Interestingly, this revelation happened before Jesus’ crucifixion.
The word Christ literally means anointed. Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah. The Messiah is the long-awaited deliverer of Israel, who is their coming High Priest, King, Prophet, and Saviour.
The “Son of God” does not mean Jesus was literally born of God, and the Bible clearly indicates that there is no physical relationship between God and Mary. This title stresses the equality between Jesus and God (John 5:18; 5:23; 10:30,33; 14:9-10). Also, this name speaks of the fact that Jesus as the one sent by God (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 21:37; Mark 12:6; John 3:16-17; Romans 8:3,32). Finally, it is a title for the Messiah (Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 14:61-62; Lk 22:70-23:2).
Yahweh
26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26–29 ESV)
After the crucifixion, Jesus intentionally appeared to His followers on several occasions. Thomas had doubts if Jesus had resurrected or not. For Thomas’ own benefit, the risen Messiah mercifully appeared to him.
At the appearance of Jesus Christ, Thomas quickly addressed Him as my Lord and God. Thomas realised Jesus was in fact somehow God incarnate. Moreover, “Lord” and “God” are frequently set close to one another with reference to Yahweh in the Old Testament (Psalm 35:23–24). In a nutshell, Thomas addressed Jesus as Yahweh.
Your Saviour
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31 ESV)
The purpose of the Gospel of John is very straightforward. The author wishes the readers might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have eternal life.
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and He is the Son of the living God. He is the One who can forgive sins (Mark 2:5–12; Luke 24:45–47). He can still perform miracles like He did in the New Testament times. He is the One who can grant eternal life (John 3:16; 5:39–40). He foretold the future (Matthew 24; Luke 24:1–7; John 6:64) because He is the One who holds the future. He will come at the end of time to judge the world (Matthew 25:31–33).
Dear friends, I sincerely urge that you commit your life to Jesus now.
Dear fellow Christians, since Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour, let’s re-dedicate our lives to Him once again, and live the rest of our lives to magnify His name.
Kenneth Thumb Ministry 譚約珥事工 