Only a Good Man?
Tony Isaac, January 17, 2006
Jesus Christ claimed to be God. This fact is not disputed by historians. In many places, such as John 10:30, the Bible quotes Jesus claiming to be God. Given that Jesus claimed to be God, there are only three logical possibilities:
Possibility 1: He was not God, and he knew he was not God.
If this were so, then he was a liar. Worse, Jesus constantly preached about the need to be honest. In John 8:44, he called the Devil "the Father of lies." How could a "good man"--a man who taught us to be honest--at the same time be a pathological liar?
Possibility 2: He was not God, but he didn't know he was not God.
If this were so, then he was delusional. Yet Jesus was not a man marked by psychological problems. The impact he had on the people around him was a tremendously positive impact--not what one would expect from a mentally unstable person. Those who knew him best had the highest respect for him, and truly believed in his divinity. These people, in turn, revolutionized the course of history. It does not make sence to say that Jesus was a lunatic.
Possibility 3: He was God.
If Jesus were not God, there are no other possible explanations. We are left with only one alternative: He was indeed God.
Not only did Jesus claim to be God, but he said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me" (John 14:6). Which way have you chosen?
Note: For a more detailed analysis, see Josh McDowell's book More Than a Carpenter.
Copyright © 2006 by Tony Isaac