“As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by His effect on history,
Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. That influence appears to be mounting.”
Kenneth Scott Latourette, noted historian
“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian
that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history.
Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
H. G. Wells, English writer and historian
Who Is Jesus?
A Real Person
Bible authors in the New Testament give eyewitness accounts of Jesus – his words and his actions. Historians (Jewish and Roman) of the 1st and 2nd Century A.D. wrote about him. Even ancient literature which denounced and dismissed Jesus give credence to his reality. Contemporary scholars generally accept Jesus’ historical existence. Finally, no other person in history has such a detailed account of his character, his words, and his actions.
A famous person
In the history of mankind, no person is better known, written or talked about, sung to, or has affected human history as Jesus. As many followers as he has had through history, he also has had countless admirers: for what he taught, said and did; for how he was authentic and approachable; and for how treated people of all statuses with care and concern for their well-being. Two thousand years after his death, people still talk about him as if he is alive today.
One who reshaped how people think about life
Jesus taught from the Jewish holy scripture for how to live today and forever. If God is truly the one who is the author and creator of all things, then his way is the right way and we do what he commands in scripture. If he is still active and caring for all things, including people, and all his creation is accountable to him, then we can actively depend on him while also heeding his rules and guidance for life. Jesus taught people to live today with an understanding of their significance to God but also their accountability to God. There is no doubt that we need to occupy ourselves with matters of life in order to keep living – eating, drinking, working, being clothed and having shelter. But to paraphrase C.S. Lewis, are we too easily pleased - living for today when we have eternity in our hearts? Just as astronomers learned that the sun is the center of our universe - not the earth, Jesus caused people to understand that God is the center of man’s existence, not man himself.
A miracle in himself
The Bible recorded many miracles that Jesus performed; extraordinary acts that defied natural or scientific laws, they were displays of supernatural power that we would attribute to a god or to the God. But, in himself, Jesus was a miracle; He was God who became man. He was and is God; he added humanity to his deity in “the incarnation,” being born of a woman. Jesus was fully man and fully God. Because he was God, he was holy (pure and perfect); because he was man, he experienced all the limitations that people have, except sin. He was one-of-a-kind; none before nor any after have been like him.
A friend, a brother, an advocate
Jesus was called a friend of tax collectors and sinners, both groups despised and condemned by the religious elite of the day. He ate with sinners, went into their houses, allowed them to touch him, and generally would keep company with them. Whereas the elite would see the human brokenness as a taint of the sinners to be avoided, Jesus saw the brokenness as a need for spiritual healing that he could provide to them. Jesus saw the brokenness that is in every single person; he sought people that accepted and received spiritual healing from him; and he invited them to be reconciled with God and be added to his family of faith – that he would be a brother to them. For the religious elite, the irony is that they did not see their own brokenness because of their religious pride; they rejected Jesus as their enemy. They did not see that they too needed spiritual healing and a restored relationship with God. Jesus was really for all people; he came from heaven to earth to mediate the relationship between God and people; he was and is an advocate for people before God in heaven.
His name is integral to his mission and purpose
Jesus is the Greek word for Joshua, meaning “Savior”. He is known as Jesus Christ, but Christ is his title. Christ is the Greek word for “anointed one” or “chosen one,” a title given to him by God. The equivalent word in Hebrew is “messiah.” Just as God chose Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and others, God chose Jesus and set him apart for a purpose – to deliver people from captivity to sin by calling them to repentance, promising forgiveness and freedom from that sin. But to be the Savior in the economy of God, Jesus was called to be the Lamb of God – the one and final blood sacrifice for the sins of people, the one who was worthy to fulfill this ultimate earthly purpose.
He died, but he rose again to life.
As a human, Jesus did not escape death. Though his execution was unjust and without merit in human reasoning, his death was a fulfillment of the plan of God the Father, who Jesus willingly trusted and obeyed. God punishes sin, and death is the ultimate punishment for the selfishness and rebellion against God. God chose Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of people; as a substitute, he would die in their place, just as young lambs and goats had previously been sacrificed by the Jewish priests during the history of Israel. The sacrifice of Jesus was to be the final and perfect blood sacrifice that would satisfy God. However, Jesus did not stay dead; in his power, he overcame death. After three days, he rose from the grave and appeared to many people. After 40 days he rose up to heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Not only did the miracles of Jesus show his power over life, his resurrection displayed his power over death.
His statements and promises are true.
Through his resurrection from the dead, Jesus demonstrated that he is God himself, that all his statements are as true as scripture, and that all his promises are true. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus made the exclusive claim to being the only way to God – the only way to forgiveness for sins and rebellion, and the only way to reconciliation with God, the only way to a fulfilling life, with God and His family of faith. He, the perfect man, invites all of us, imperfect people, to acknowledge our sin and rebellion against God, to turn away from that sin, to turn toward God and pursue Him and a life that pleases Him, and enjoy Him forever.
He put the caps on FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.
John, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote these words: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” …let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God… We love because he first loved us. Jesus knew that in our lives as humans on earth, faith and hope help move us forward in life, but they are limited and temporal, applied to portions of our lives for days or weeks or months at a time; they needed to be refreshed time and time again. Jesus also knew that the capacity for people to love was restrained if their need for love was not fulfilled. Whereas we can desire that, in our lives, faith, hope, and love will be satisfying and enduring, we mostly experience disappointment to one degree or another. Jesus presented himself as the source and basis of the faith, hope, and love that we can have in life. Jesus has enduring love for us based on who we are and not what we do or achieve. When we trust and believe in him, his truth will put us on solid ground for life. Jesus said, “Believe in God; believe also in me.”