Post by jay0heavenly on May 23, 2008 10:25:35 GMT -5
Jesus MUST have been ONE of these things.
1. A Liar
2. A Lunatic
3. A Legend
4. Lord of All
In examining Jesus, logically speaking he must have been one of the 4 things listed. He simply could not have been a "good guy" because as we'll see that's not possible due to the RADICAL claims he made.
1. a Liar. Jesus claimed to be the son of God, claimed the ability to be able to raise himself from the dead, claimed the authority to forgive sin and many other radical claims. IF he was not telling the truth, and he knew it was false, then no matter what positive impact his actions had, he would be deemed a Liar and not worthy of following.
But, this is not a likely possibility. Sure people lie all the time and I wasn't personally there to vouch for what he did, but what would be his motive for lying? He died penniless and his actions got him crucified. He had plenty of opportunities to fade into oblivion and not face persecution, but he went directly into harms way, maintaining the whole while his Kingdom as the only begotten son of God. Most liars lie to get out of trouble, but IF Jesus were a liar, then his lies would have gotten him INto trouble...hence, very uncharacteristic of a liar, and not likely for Jesus to have been lying.
So, #1Liar?... nope!
2. Lunatic- Instead of Jesus knowing the falsity of his claims, in this scenario, he really believed that he could raise the dead, heal the sick etc.
But this wouldn't make sense either. Jesus (unlike Mohammed for example) never forced anyone to follow him by physical compulsion so people were entirely free to either accept or reject his message.
He didn't bring them any financial relief, nor did he free them from the captivity of the Romans like the Maccabeans did for the Jews in 3rd Century B.C. so there is no reason for anybody to have any allegiance to someone. He MUST have been doing some truly supernatural to attract and inspire men and women that were willing to die for him.
Not to mention, appx 2000 years after his death, his words and life are still impacting billions of people every day, quite uncharacteristic of a lunatic.
So, #2Lunatic? Nope!
3. Legend...Well, maybe Jesus was a good dude, an inspirational speaker, but ya know, his story got really overblown. He didn't really do those miracles, or make those claims of divinity, rather years and years later after his death, people with no personal account of what happened turned this Jesus dude, into the Son of God and created some Grandiose tales about his life, death and resurrection.
Problem is, legends generally take thousands of years to surface, ALWAYS in a time where the legend him/herself has long since deceased. Contrastingly, the Jesus movement where it was taught about his miracles, and raising from the dead appeared in THE SAME GENERATION. Peter began preaching that Jesus rose from the dead 50 DAYS after Jesus was crucified.
IF there was a body, they could've killed that claim immediately, they could've just brought the body out in public and showed everybody that he in fact was dead and rotting!
Also, you MUST understand this as well. Jesus' disciples had NO power at that time. The political climate was such that Pontius Pilate was sent to completely quench the rioting in the area. Guess what Jesus' disciples were doing with the claims of the resurrection? Making MORE trouble in the region! IF Pilate could've ended the controversy, he would have. There is not ONE single historical piece in which ANY historian states that Jesus' body was produced. The disciples in no logical way would have been able to steal the body from heavily guarded Romans and nothing even be mentioned about it. They were a bunch of untrained, unlearned fisherman who God took on a historical journey!
More importantly, how can one explain the absolute EXPLOSION of the Jesus movement which THRIVED in a time period where people were being KILLED regularly for being a follower? Why would people be willing to die for something that was easy to contradict? Answer...because it wasn't contradicted!
In 1st John, listen to the authors 1st hand account of Jesus:
1Jn 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--
1Jn 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
1Jn 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
The Jesus movement began and flourished immediately after Jesus' resurrection in an era where people knew Jesus personally and would have easily been able to know if his story was a legend or not!
Lastly, Jesus' disciples, the apostles, ALL suffered horrible deaths because of their allegiance. One was crucified upside down. Who would do that for a legend?
The story of the Christ is found in secular and non-religious historians of that time like Josephus (a Roman) and Tacitus (a Jew), both of which were not followers of Christ. As a matter of fact 90% of our ancient history we regard as fact comes from Josephus. This includes stuff about the Roman Empire etc. Josephus' writings are directly in line with Jesus' claims, that a man from Nazareth claimed to be the son of God, he was crucified under Pilate, and a bunch of his followers claimed he had risen.
So, #3Legend, NOPE!
Which brings us to #4... Jesus IS Lord. He is the Word Manifested, the One prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7
Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
He is The Risen Savior, the spotless Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah, he is our King and our shepherd and the One who sits upon the throne.
He is LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is the one that can change your life in the blink of an eye, turn you from Saul to Paul, a murderer to a martyr, a sinner to a saint, and from blind to having 20/20 spiritual vision!
Most importantly, he is our understanding undercurrent which carries us through life, and we need only submit to His guidance for now and forever.
1. A Liar
2. A Lunatic
3. A Legend
4. Lord of All
In examining Jesus, logically speaking he must have been one of the 4 things listed. He simply could not have been a "good guy" because as we'll see that's not possible due to the RADICAL claims he made.
1. a Liar. Jesus claimed to be the son of God, claimed the ability to be able to raise himself from the dead, claimed the authority to forgive sin and many other radical claims. IF he was not telling the truth, and he knew it was false, then no matter what positive impact his actions had, he would be deemed a Liar and not worthy of following.
But, this is not a likely possibility. Sure people lie all the time and I wasn't personally there to vouch for what he did, but what would be his motive for lying? He died penniless and his actions got him crucified. He had plenty of opportunities to fade into oblivion and not face persecution, but he went directly into harms way, maintaining the whole while his Kingdom as the only begotten son of God. Most liars lie to get out of trouble, but IF Jesus were a liar, then his lies would have gotten him INto trouble...hence, very uncharacteristic of a liar, and not likely for Jesus to have been lying.
So, #1
2. Lunatic- Instead of Jesus knowing the falsity of his claims, in this scenario, he really believed that he could raise the dead, heal the sick etc.
But this wouldn't make sense either. Jesus (unlike Mohammed for example) never forced anyone to follow him by physical compulsion so people were entirely free to either accept or reject his message.
He didn't bring them any financial relief, nor did he free them from the captivity of the Romans like the Maccabeans did for the Jews in 3rd Century B.C. so there is no reason for anybody to have any allegiance to someone. He MUST have been doing some truly supernatural to attract and inspire men and women that were willing to die for him.
Not to mention, appx 2000 years after his death, his words and life are still impacting billions of people every day, quite uncharacteristic of a lunatic.
So, #2
3. Legend...Well, maybe Jesus was a good dude, an inspirational speaker, but ya know, his story got really overblown. He didn't really do those miracles, or make those claims of divinity, rather years and years later after his death, people with no personal account of what happened turned this Jesus dude, into the Son of God and created some Grandiose tales about his life, death and resurrection.
Problem is, legends generally take thousands of years to surface, ALWAYS in a time where the legend him/herself has long since deceased. Contrastingly, the Jesus movement where it was taught about his miracles, and raising from the dead appeared in THE SAME GENERATION. Peter began preaching that Jesus rose from the dead 50 DAYS after Jesus was crucified.
IF there was a body, they could've killed that claim immediately, they could've just brought the body out in public and showed everybody that he in fact was dead and rotting!
Also, you MUST understand this as well. Jesus' disciples had NO power at that time. The political climate was such that Pontius Pilate was sent to completely quench the rioting in the area. Guess what Jesus' disciples were doing with the claims of the resurrection? Making MORE trouble in the region! IF Pilate could've ended the controversy, he would have. There is not ONE single historical piece in which ANY historian states that Jesus' body was produced. The disciples in no logical way would have been able to steal the body from heavily guarded Romans and nothing even be mentioned about it. They were a bunch of untrained, unlearned fisherman who God took on a historical journey!
More importantly, how can one explain the absolute EXPLOSION of the Jesus movement which THRIVED in a time period where people were being KILLED regularly for being a follower? Why would people be willing to die for something that was easy to contradict? Answer...because it wasn't contradicted!
In 1st John, listen to the authors 1st hand account of Jesus:
1Jn 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--
1Jn 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
1Jn 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
The Jesus movement began and flourished immediately after Jesus' resurrection in an era where people knew Jesus personally and would have easily been able to know if his story was a legend or not!
Lastly, Jesus' disciples, the apostles, ALL suffered horrible deaths because of their allegiance. One was crucified upside down. Who would do that for a legend?
The story of the Christ is found in secular and non-religious historians of that time like Josephus (a Roman) and Tacitus (a Jew), both of which were not followers of Christ. As a matter of fact 90% of our ancient history we regard as fact comes from Josephus. This includes stuff about the Roman Empire etc. Josephus' writings are directly in line with Jesus' claims, that a man from Nazareth claimed to be the son of God, he was crucified under Pilate, and a bunch of his followers claimed he had risen.
So, #3
Which brings us to #4... Jesus IS Lord. He is the Word Manifested, the One prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7
Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
He is The Risen Savior, the spotless Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah, he is our King and our shepherd and the One who sits upon the throne.
He is LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is the one that can change your life in the blink of an eye, turn you from Saul to Paul, a murderer to a martyr, a sinner to a saint, and from blind to having 20/20 spiritual vision!
Most importantly, he is our understanding undercurrent which carries us through life, and we need only submit to His guidance for now and forever.
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