Jesus of the Religions
There are many popular interpretations and constructions of Jesus. Jesus has made appearances on South Park and The Simpson’s. Famous icons like Kanye West and Green Day have sung about Jesus. Leonardo DaVinci has painted about Jesus, leading conspiracy theorists like Daniel Brown to write interesting fiction about him. It is always interesting to see how most people are easily influenced to adopt new perspectives about Jesus, i.e. Jesus the husband and father, without any thought or investigation. I know because I was one of these people.
Liberal “Christians” claim that Jesus was merely a good man. The Jehovah’s Witness believe that Jesus is the Archangel Michael, a created being. New Age spirituality, Buddhism and Hinduism label Jesus as either an enlightened man, someone to be admired, or a god- one of many. Some people believe that Jesus learnt black magic in Egypt between his childhood and the commencement of his ministry. Islam teaches that Jesus was a great prophet but not God. There are many broad ranging views about Jesus and to be honest, some are very questionable with thorough investigation. I remember saying to my friend, “The problem with Christians is that they worship Jesus too much, isn’t it [Christianity] about God?” Have you ever taken the time to investigate Jesus for who he really is? I believe the best way to discover who Jesus really is, is to explore the Bible.
Jesus and the Bible
Jesus, throughout his ministry, claimed emphatically that he is God, come down from heaven to rescue sinners from hell. This claim found mixed responses from those who heard, ranging from crowds of joy to religious officials plotting to murder him. You might be thinking ‘where is the evidence for Jesus divinity’? Let’s look at some passages from the bible.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made........ And 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......... For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known (John 1:1-3,14,17-18). This word is God who became a man, the Son who is Jesus. Let’s continue!
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
I and the Father are one.’ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’ (John 10:30-33) Now we know that the bible clearly states the Father is God, but here we see Jesus (the Son) claiming to be equal with God, therefore making the assertion that he is God.
Then he [Jesus] 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28). Thomas, after observing the evidence of Jesus resurrection, bowed down and worshipped him as the living God.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son [Jesus], whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:1-3).
I could go on for days but to crystallize this evidence, check out the following video from Mark Driscoll:
Jesus “I Am” statement correlates with God’s statement to Moses in the Old Testament, when God told Moses to tell the Egyptian Pharaoh that “I Am” had sent him. Jesus here is emphatically stating that he is God; the God that spoke to Abraham and Moses!
Jesus and History
Outside of the bible there is evidence to support the claim that Jesus is in fact God. Great historian Josephus, claimed that the early Christians met on Sunday’s to sing praises to their God, Jesus. Stone engravings from early churches dating back to the early 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries have carved messages stating that Jesus is the one and only God- the picture to the right Inscription reads “Akeptoys who offered this table in memorial of the God Jesus Christ” (Centre for Public Christianity; from Life of Jesus). The fact that millions of Christians were willing to be slaughtered for the belief that Jesus is God stands as an outstanding testimony.The claim that Jesus is God is without doubt a profound statement. If Jesus is God we must pay close attention to what he says? Furthermore, I believe that it is our responsibility as humans created by God to seek him.
We have all sinned against God (see Christians Believe 2) and therefore have offended him. The only way for our pardon is for God himself to pay our debt. In other words, let’s say that you committed a crime; maybe you stole a car and were caught by the police. You would answer to a judge who would fine you a certain amount of money. As you are escorted out of the courtroom the owner of the car stands up and calls out, I will pay the fine. You wronged the owner by stealing his car and rightfully, should pay the fine but instead, the owner pays your fine for you; in this way we have all wronged God by living a life apart from him and our sentence is death. God, who loves us, steps out of heaven to come to earth to pay the fine in your place (his death instead of yours). Only God can pay our fine; therefore only through faith in Jesus can we be saved from death and the righteous wrath of God. I call you to turn to Jesus today!
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