Who is Jesus Christ?
Ask anyone who Jesus Christ is, and you will receive a myriad of answers. Some answer that He was a prophet, a teacher, a miracle-worker, or didn't even exist- He is a myth. Josh McDowell, a noted author and apologetic, challenges people to consider three possibilities, and only three, for Who Jesus Christ is. The logical point he makes is worth exploring. According to McDowell, Jesus Christ was a Liar, a Lunatic, or He was Lord. These three possibilities are explored in Josh McDowell’s book, More Than a Carpenter, from where I borrowed this material.
According to McDowell, Jesus Christ was a liar, a lunatic or He was Lord.
LIAR?
Jesus Christ made several fantastic claims as to His identity, as recorded in numerous written sources. He claimed to be the Son of God, indeed God Himself, was the Creator of all life, had the power and authority to forgive sins and was the only salvation for mankind. He even declared that He woudl rise form the dead after three days and ascend to the right hand of the Throne of the Father in Heaven.
First, we must realize that the nature of a liar is to deceive, lead astray and confuse. If Jesus is a liar, then anything He taught is also a lie. The idea of Him being a good teacher cannot be valid. If He cannot be trusted as to His identity, then He cannot be trusted in His teachings. Furthermore, who would want to listen to or follow a liar?
Second, the resurrection of Christ is enormously important to a believer who trusts Christ as His Lord and Savior. If He lied, then the resurrection is also a lie, and the believer's faith is vain. It is an empty, useless faith.
Third, all of His works and miracles would also be a lie. All the sick that He healed, the lame that walked, the blind that saw, the tormented that were delivered and the dead that were raised are untrue if He were a liar.
First, we must realize that the nature of a liar is to deceive, lead astray and confuse. If Jesus is a liar, then anything He taught is also a lie. The idea of Him being a good teacher cannot be valid. If He cannot be trusted as to His identity, then He cannot be trusted in His teachings. Furthermore, who would want to listen to or follow a liar?
Second, the resurrection of Christ is enormously important to a believer who trusts Christ as His Lord and Savior. If He lied, then the resurrection is also a lie, and the believer's faith is vain. It is an empty, useless faith.
Third, all of His works and miracles would also be a lie. All the sick that He healed, the lame that walked, the blind that saw, the tormented that were delivered and the dead that were raised are untrue if He were a liar.
LUNATIC?
A second possiblity to Jesus' identity is He was a lunatic--a crazy man. He would have to be crazy to make such fantastic claims as He did. We would most likely (and hopefully) ignore such a person and dismiss their claims as meaningless talk and gibberish.
However, if Jesus were a lunatic, He would also manifest the characteristics of an insane person. We find no such evidence. Upon studying His life, we find the direct opposite. He maintained courage and calmness under the most dire of circumstances (His trial before Pilate, the flogging by the soldiers and the crucifixion. He always maintained His composure and serenity when His enemies attacked Him. When people argued and tried to trap Him in endless debates, He always calmly answered with supernatural wisdom. He also maintained a life of discipline and structure. Not the makings of a crazy man.
However, if Jesus were a lunatic, He would also manifest the characteristics of an insane person. We find no such evidence. Upon studying His life, we find the direct opposite. He maintained courage and calmness under the most dire of circumstances (His trial before Pilate, the flogging by the soldiers and the crucifixion. He always maintained His composure and serenity when His enemies attacked Him. When people argued and tried to trap Him in endless debates, He always calmly answered with supernatural wisdom. He also maintained a life of discipline and structure. Not the makings of a crazy man.
LORD?
Only one alternative remains. Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be--He is Lord. If He were neither liar, nor lunatic, then ALL His claims to deity and sovereignty are true. All of His works, miracles and teachings are also true. Keep reading further explore the identity and deity of Jesus Christ.
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Eternal
Jesus Christ has always existed. He was not created but has always "been". Thus, His reference to the "I Am." That phrase indicates always "being". His existence is not limited by the boundaries of time. He existed before the world was created and always will exist. Alpha and Omega Similar to being eternal, Alpha and Omega indicate He is the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Nothing will ever exist outside of His existence, nor exist before or after Him Creator He was actively involved in Creation. Not only was He part of creating the universe as described in Genesis 1, but also in creating man in Genesis 2. Colossians 1:16 powerfully and clearly states, "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him." (emphasis mine) |
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Before you can be expected to trust God in all things, you must first know Him. Understanding His character is extremely helpful in understanding and knowing Him. Below is a short list of different words that describe the character of God. I encourage you to look up the references in the Bible yourself. Believe them as Truth, not because I or anyone else said so, but because God said it in His Word, the Bible!
Alpha & Omega |
Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:23 |
Omnipotent |
Matthew 28:18; Revelation 19:6 |
Beautiful |
Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15 |
Omnipresent |
Psalm 138:7-12; Matthew 18:20 |
Compassionate |
Psalm 86:15, 111:4, 145:8 |
Omniscient |
Psalm 139:1-6; John 1:48-50 |
Eternal |
Deutoronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Job 17:5 |
Patient |
Psalm 86:15 |
Faithful |
1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 |
Perfect |
Matthew 5:48 |
Good |
Nahum 1:7; Luke 18:19 |
Pure |
Job 4:17; 1 John 3:3 |
Gracious |
2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:31 |
Righteous |
Psalm 145:17; Jeremiah 23:6 |
Great |
Psalm 48:1, 143:10 |
Self-Existent |
John 1:4 |
Holy |
Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:1-3; 1 Peter 1:15 |
Sinless |
John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-23 |
Honorable |
Isaiah 58:13 |
Slow to anger |
Nehemiah 9:7; Psalm 103:8, 145:8 |
Immutable (unchanging) |
Malachi 3:6; John 1:2; Hebrews 13:8 |
Sovereign |
Ephesians 1:11 |
Just |
Isaiah 45:21; Romans 3:26 |
Sure |
2 Timothy 2:19 |
Kind |
Psalm 117:2; Joel 2:13 |
(the) Life |
John 14:6 |
Light |
1 John 1:5 |
(the) Truth |
John 14:6 |
Love |
1 John 4:8, 16 |
(the) Way |
John 14:6 |
Majestic |
Psalm 93:1; Hebrews 1:3 |
Wise |
Job 36:5; Daniel 2:20; Jude 1:25 |
Merciful |
Exodus 34:6; Jeremiah 3:12 |
True |
John 3:33; 1 John 5:20 |
The Deity of Jesus Christ is clearly manifested in all of His works and miracles. For a full list of the miracles of Jesus, click here
Power to Forgive Sins:
Jesus performed many works that only God can do. In the Gospels, there is a story of a paralyzed man. In those days, people believed that a man was sick or suffering as a result of sin(s) he had committed. To show Jesus had the power to heal AND forgive sins, He healed and forgave the sins of the paralytic. The Pharisees (religious leaders) were outraged because only GOD had the power to forgive sin. (Luke 7:48-50; John 9:1-3)
Jesus performed many works that only God can do. In the Gospels, there is a story of a paralyzed man. In those days, people believed that a man was sick or suffering as a result of sin(s) he had committed. To show Jesus had the power to heal AND forgive sins, He healed and forgave the sins of the paralytic. The Pharisees (religious leaders) were outraged because only GOD had the power to forgive sin. (Luke 7:48-50; John 9:1-3)
Creator and Sustainer of Creation:
John 1:3 says, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Colossians 1:16-17 states that all things were made by Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (cohere or hold together)
John 1:3 says, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Colossians 1:16-17 states that all things were made by Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (cohere or hold together)
Power over Nature:
Jesus often superseded the rules of nature. Jesus calmed large storms, withered trees, walked on water, turned water into wine, fed 5000 and 4000 people on two separate occasions with a couple loaves of bread and some fish and many more miracles. (See Luke 8:22-5; Matthew 8:22-7; Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25. Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21. John 2:1-11. Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-15. Matthew 15:29-39; Mark 8:1-9. Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 5:1-11; John 2:1-11)
Jesus often superseded the rules of nature. Jesus calmed large storms, withered trees, walked on water, turned water into wine, fed 5000 and 4000 people on two separate occasions with a couple loaves of bread and some fish and many more miracles. (See Luke 8:22-5; Matthew 8:22-7; Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25. Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21. John 2:1-11. Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-15. Matthew 15:29-39; Mark 8:1-9. Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 5:1-11; John 2:1-11)
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Power to Heal: Jesus healed on numerous occasions. With a word or a touch, He instantly healed paralytics, lepers, blind, lame and crippled, maimed and mute. |
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Power over Satan and demons: When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan could not overcome Him. Also, Jesus healed people possessed by demons. Jesus' critics said He was using the power of the devil to cast out demons. Jesus responded by saying that if Satan was casting out Satan, his kingdom would fall. A kingdom cannot be divided against itself and stand |
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Power over death:
Jesus proved His power over death on three occasions: Lazarus, who was dead for four days, a man in an open coffin during a funeral procession and a young girl. (John 5:25, 11:1-46). Jesus ultimately defeated death when He rose from the dead Himself.
Jesus proved His power over death on three occasions: Lazarus, who was dead for four days, a man in an open coffin during a funeral procession and a young girl. (John 5:25, 11:1-46). Jesus ultimately defeated death when He rose from the dead Himself.
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Judge:
Only God has the authority and wisdom to be a (righteous) Judge over all. It is a Divine right/characteristic to act as Judge (John 5:27). He is a righteous judge, never erring in His justice.
Sends Holy Spirit:
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him after He ascended. Holy Spirit is also God, as is the Father and the Son.
His Resurrection:
Jesus' resurrection showed He has power over DEATH (Matthew 12:38-40; John 2:19-22 and Romans 1:4; John 10:17-18). His resurrection is vital to the faith of every believer.
Only God has the authority and wisdom to be a (righteous) Judge over all. It is a Divine right/characteristic to act as Judge (John 5:27). He is a righteous judge, never erring in His justice.
Sends Holy Spirit:
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him after He ascended. Holy Spirit is also God, as is the Father and the Son.
His Resurrection:
Jesus' resurrection showed He has power over DEATH (Matthew 12:38-40; John 2:19-22 and Romans 1:4; John 10:17-18). His resurrection is vital to the faith of every believer.