"Jesus was just a good man, not God"
by Eric Odotei – 30 June 2017
Many people see Jesus as just a good moral man or a prophet who made many profound statements on life and morality.
Jesus also said, "I and the Father are one", and even more shocking to the Jews in particular, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am”, suggesting that He was there before even Abraham. So was Jesus just a man or God?
C. S. Lewis once wrote about Jesus, saying, “He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse”. He further went on to add, "You can shut Him up for 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 up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher".
Liar or a mental case
If Jesus was a liar, then He was also a hypocrite because He told others to be honest and tell the truth at all cost. He did not change this rhetoric even when He was threatened with death; He remained consistent and true to His word. He must have been a real big fool because it was His claims to being God that led to His crucifixion and death on the cross. Surely, a good liar would have connived a great story to escape death?
Maybe, as C. S. Lewis said, the man was insane, on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg. Someone who believes he is God would be like someone today believing himself to be Superman or some kind of Super Hero. He would be deluded and self‑deceived, and probably locked up in an institution. However, we do not detect any real abnormalities and imbalance in Jesus’ behaviour and actions that we usually associate with someone who is insane. Jesus always showed balance in His teaching, in fact His sermon on the Mount is regarded as one of the most powerful examples of teaching of all time, liberating men of all walks of life, faith and orientation, including people suffering with mental weakness. We can definitely rule out insanity.
Jesus is Lord
Jesus said that He was equal with the Father (John 5:17-18). He also claimed to have the power of God. Jesus said He had the authority to judge the nations (Matthew 25:31-46), He had the authority to raise people from the dead (John 5:25-29) and to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-7), things only God could do (I Samuel 2:6 and Isaiah 43:25). Further, Jesus said He had the power to answer prayers (John 14:13-14), and that He would be with His followers always (Matthew 28:20). The New Testament equates Jesus to the creator of the universe (John 1:3), and in John 16:15 Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is mine”. Jesus’ identity was not based solely on what He said, but also on what He did.
The Bible records Jesus as living a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), fulfilling prophecy and performing many miracles, most of which were contrary to the laws of nature. The ultimate confirmation of His divinity however was His resurrection from the dead after enduring extreme torture, suffering and subsequent death on the cross. No one else has ever risen from the dead on his own.
Conclusion
Most people will reject these profound truths for two reasons: firstly, because of the moral implications involved – they simply do not want to face up to the responsibility or implications of acknowledging Jesus as God, the way, the truth and the life; and secondly, which I personally think is the more significant factor, is as Jesus once alluded to in Matthew 16:17, “...flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven”. Without revelation from God Himself, most people will not see the truth. The Bible says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you, for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. Those who are really looking for the truth will get a revelation from God Himself.