We all need to face the Jesus Question: Was Jesus God or simply a good man? The answer should dictate how one approaches the rest of their life. Why doesn’t it? ◊

Wouldn’t it be easier if Jesus was just a normal man. Yes, even a great man. Perhaps acknowledged as a wise spiritual leader that we could honor with a mere birthday holiday and just move on?

If we could keep Jesus at a human level, even a wonderful human worthy of our respect for his teachings, life would be so much less complicated.

Think about it.

There would be fewer religious arguments and heated debates. (Ever see a Hindu vs. Buddhist debate?) Just think of all the peace the world would have experienced and the lives saved over human history, if Jesus was a man who simply lived a good but one-and-done life.

Certainly he’d be a person who would be known and studied like any famous historical figure who lived an impactful life, then died, and then gets an honorable writeup in the pages of our history books.

Like Aristotle, Muhammed, Napoleon, Shakespeare, Lincoln, Ghandhi, or Martin Luther King.

Just think: no religious choices or heavy consequences. Just someone to admire and learn from and try to practice his “philosophy of love and charity.”

Yes, many would say, if Jesus was just a normal great man, then the world would be a better place.

Freedom From Accountability
But if we are honest, the reason many would dream or wish for such a notion is simply to avoid their own accountability. If Jesus is just a man and not God, or some cosmic judge who reminds us of any guilt, regret, or moral code, or holds us accountable for any of our own behavior, then life is free to be lived without consequences.

Let the party begin, or continue.

As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, of course. (Seems that even that old accepted social code is up for grabs.)

Without the hindrance of Jesus and subsequently Christianity’s moral guardrails, then one can have sex with anyone (male or female) without moral barriers, have an abortion without guilt, stigma or shame, believe Man is his own god or craft one’s own image of god as one who measures and rewards you by your good thoughts, deeds, and well-intentioned actions.

Yes, the world would be a better place and we’d all get along just fine.

But any one who believes that would be deluded.

The Deluded’s Dilemma
Of course, all so deluded are given the freedom to believe such a lie, to delude and even wrap themselves in Biblical illiteracy and ignorance of what the historical record notes that Jesus Christ actually said about Himself and His purpose. One can say they honestly don’t believe in gravity, but that doesn’t make it go away if they take their heartfelt belief and jump off the roof of a building.

Truth is truth. One should investigate the Bible and study the record of Jesus thoroughly and not just read clever articles, or listen to like-minded skeptics and doubters, or snicker and nod at the snide but urbane comments of cool academic professors.

Foolish is the man who seeks the counsel of other fools.

Yes, the deluded would do well to come out of the clouds and answer the Jesus question.

“Who Do You Say I Am?”
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples the following question:

“Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” – Matthew 16:13-15

There’s a reason why this pesky Jesus question has persisted for over 2000 years. It’s not because he was a loving man with a beautiful philosophy that makes people feel good about themselves and what happens to them when they die.

The question has implications for all mankind and for all of eternity. People answer it quite differently. Mormons say Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer. Islamists say he is only a prophet, lesser than Mohammed. Jehovah Witnesses say he is the archangel Michael who appeared incarnated as a mere human.

Who Do You Say He Is?
Here is who Jesus says He is:

• The unique Son of God, equating himself with God (John 5:18). The Jewish leaders tried to kill Him for this.
• The great I AM (John 8:58). Using the very words by which God revealed Himself to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. The Pharisees tried to stone Him for this.
• One with the Father (John 10: 30-33). The Pharisees tried to stone him again for “claiming to be God.”
• “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62). This in answering the direct question from the High Priest Caiaphas before the entire Sanhedrin. This is so significant that it sealed His fate for death by the Council. They knew the overt reference to Daniel’s Old Testament prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14) was His claim to be not only the Sovereign of the Universe, but also a prophecy that He would vindicate His claim by judging the very court that was now condemning Him.¹

Additionally, Jesus acted with omnipotence (all-powerful) in healing the lame and sick and raising the dead. He demonstrated omniscience (all-knowing) and professed omnipresence (present in all things). Other passages support Jesus as God (John 1:1, Colossians 1:24-26 and Hebrews 1:8). Ultimately He is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17).

It’s Everyone’s Choice
In truth, each individual, secular skeptic and earnest seeker alike, are all impacted by the Man from Galilee, the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Incarnate One.

And all should consider the implications of Jesus being who He said He is. Even current Christian believers. Many still pay lip service to the Lord God and live lives on the edge.

We all can confess our sins and even doubts and struggles with life and faith. Jesus can handle it.

He died for it. For us.

I’m currently listening to a podcast in which a now former pastor and an atheist share their disparate beliefs about Jesus on a podcast.² Turns out their beliefs weren’t that far apart.

The pastor is frank about his own crisis of faith; that is; his personal doubts about Christianity due to his own questions about a loving God allowing the presence of evil and tragedy in this world.

I have compassion for his wavering, but am surprised at his seemingly light understanding of Jewish Old Testament connection to Christ as the promised solution presented from Genesis all through the Old Testament prophets. A full and deep grasp of the sin of mankind and God’s working solution through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross, will yield an understanding of the still current state of sin, evil, and tragedy in this current dark world. The story is not over yet.

But as said, ultimately everyone is going to have to confront their own answer to the Jesus Question. It’s actually an amazing answer that brings meaning to the mystery of life when understood in the context of history without selfish human editing and turning a blind eye to the Bible and the evidence before us.

And the world really would be a better place, even now, if everyone knew and believed the truth about Jesus, the greatest story ever told.

Have you answered the Jesus Question?
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“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 16:15-17

¹ Note: “coming on the clouds” is apocalyptic language for judgment. Read Revelation chapters 6-20 as the horrific fulfillment of that predicted judgment that came upon that generation in Jerusalem in AD 70.

² Hinge, a podcast by Curious Media, featuring atheist Cory Markum and Drew Sokol, former pastor at Redeemer-NYC.

Categories: Abundant Living, Calling, Devotion, Discipleship, Evidence, Evil, Faith, Family, Fathering, Forgiveness, Israel, Jesus, Manhood, Marketplace, Marriage, Old Testament, Parenting, Prayer, Prophecy, Purpose, Suffering, Theology

Tags: Is Jesus God?, Who was Jesus?