Was Jesus a Liar, a Legend, a Lunatic, or Lord and King?
"Pilate [the Roman governor] therefore said unto him, 'Art thou a king then?' Jesus answered... 'I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.'" -John 18:37
There are only four possible options as to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. Much depends on which of these options you decide is the truth. If you believe there is even the smallest chance you have an eternal soul – that you will live somewhere forever, either in a new and perfect world or in the lake of fire – you would be well-advised to carefully consider who Jesus was.
If Jesus was a liar, legend, or lunatic, his words don’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. But if indeed he was who he claimed to be, and he the greatest king and is Lord of all creation, then he is the only way to God and to true joy.
1. Liar – He might have been just a deceiver seeking fame and profit for himself. But if so, then we can’t trust anything he had to say. He certainly can’t be thought of as a great teacher if he told such grandiose lies. And why would he have allowed himself to be crucified if he was only interested in personal gain?
2. Legend – He might have never existed. Maybe he is just another myth from the Middle East. But if so, then who was it that spoke the words in question? Who would be so bold as to advance such ideas that literally changed the world? And why were so many in that day willing to suffer and die for their belief in Jesus if all they had to do to escape was to admit they were telling a tall tale?
3. Lunatic – He might have been a madman, who had frequent fits of insanity when he spoke words he didn’t really believe. But if Jesus was this kind of lunatic, why was he so respected and feared by the leaders of both the religious and political systems? Why did his disciples stay with him for three years, and afterward testified unashamedly of the truth of everything Jesus spoke? And why have his teachings continued to resound with consistency and clarity down the very pages of history?
4. Lord – The only other option is that his words were indeed true, and Jesus Christ is indeed the Saviour of the world and the Master of the universe. His resurrection from the dead was a historical fact validated by over 500 witnesses. Jesus Christ continues to transform lives with the power of this resurrection, and he can transform your life too.
There are only four possible options as to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. Much depends on which of these options you decide is the truth. If you believe there is even the smallest chance you have an eternal soul – that you will live somewhere forever, either in a new and perfect world or in the lake of fire – you would be well-advised to carefully consider who Jesus was.
If Jesus was a liar, legend, or lunatic, his words don’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. But if indeed he was who he claimed to be, and he the greatest king and is Lord of all creation, then he is the only way to God and to true joy.
1. Liar – He might have been just a deceiver seeking fame and profit for himself. But if so, then we can’t trust anything he had to say. He certainly can’t be thought of as a great teacher if he told such grandiose lies. And why would he have allowed himself to be crucified if he was only interested in personal gain?
2. Legend – He might have never existed. Maybe he is just another myth from the Middle East. But if so, then who was it that spoke the words in question? Who would be so bold as to advance such ideas that literally changed the world? And why were so many in that day willing to suffer and die for their belief in Jesus if all they had to do to escape was to admit they were telling a tall tale?
3. Lunatic – He might have been a madman, who had frequent fits of insanity when he spoke words he didn’t really believe. But if Jesus was this kind of lunatic, why was he so respected and feared by the leaders of both the religious and political systems? Why did his disciples stay with him for three years, and afterward testified unashamedly of the truth of everything Jesus spoke? And why have his teachings continued to resound with consistency and clarity down the very pages of history?
4. Lord – The only other option is that his words were indeed true, and Jesus Christ is indeed the Saviour of the world and the Master of the universe. His resurrection from the dead was a historical fact validated by over 500 witnesses. Jesus Christ continues to transform lives with the power of this resurrection, and he can transform your life too.
