Who do you think Jesus was? Many people, such as Muslims, believe he was only a good teacher: “Oh, he was a good man with good teachings”. This is the ‘safe’ position on Jesus. The position recognizes there is something good about him but doesn’t take the risky and life altering view that he is God; it sounds nice, and it doesn’t offend anyone, too much.
But there is that problem of what Jesus has said about himself and the message that he taught. He is more than a serene, slightly eccentric character preaching “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” in the desert. Although that is a part of the message, Jesus’ main message is: “I am the fulfillment of the old prophecies; I am God.” This message stunned people in his day, and it continues to trouble people even now.
The mere man who would make these claims can not be a teacher with sound teachings. Only three possibilities arise: ether he was lying, being a malicious prankster or possessed by a demon; he could have been a lunatic, disillusioned on whom he was; or, he is what he claims to be— God come to save sinful man.
“You must make your choice” writes CS Lewis. “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up as a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Liar, Lunatic or Lord?
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