Just a few weeks ago, Christians around the world celebrated the most important moment in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.
Easter is always such a wonderful time of reflection and thanksgiving to God for the life He has given us through the willing sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
As I have thought about Easter…about what Jesus did for you and me by dying on the cross and rising from the grave…I am struck by the fact that I can’t remember the last time I heard anybody say anything negative about Him.
Think about it. When was the last time you heard someone stand up and say, “You know, the character of Jesus Christ is suspect. I don’t think His teachings are valid. His lifestyle was phony from the beginning to the end.”
If anything, people are quick to admit that He was a good man…a prophet…a teacher whose principles ought to be followed.
Now, of course, Jesus’ name is used in a profane way. And people take the name of God in vain against a clear commandment in the Bible.
But even when people take the Lord’s name in vain, I don’t think they’re really saying, “I don’t believe in God.” Yes, they’re breaking a commandment, but they’re not saying, “God does not exist.”
While taking God’s name in vain is insensitive, foolish, and dangerous, I don’t hear people assassinate the character or take to task the life and the nature of Jesus. Do you?
But much of the time, when it comes to talking about Jesus, people will say something like, “Oh, I agree that Jesus was a good man. But why do you Christians keep pressing the fact that He was divine, that He was the Son of God?”
And even when we seek to demonstrate to a non-believer why Jesus is Lord and the Son of God, more often than not they will still say, “Well, you know, I don’t know about all that divinity stuff. I think He was just a good man.”
Now, I want you to read this carefully today:
A non-believer—someone who does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God—does not have the option of saying Jesus is simply a good man.
In fact, there are only five answers to the question, “Who is Jesus?” Peter Kreeft, one of the foremost apologists of the 21st century, gives us those five options when we ask this question.
Let me give those to you…and then point you to a resource that will help you discover why Jesus is so much more than just a good man.
Peter Kreeft tells us that we can choose one of the following to point us to who Jesus is.
Jesus is either:
• the Son of God,
• a liar,
• a lunatic,
• a myth, or
• a guru.
There are no other options!
Again, nearly all people will say that Jesus was a good man, even if they don’t agree with Him. But if Jesus was a good man, He would not have lied about who He was.
I find it interesting that the deity of Jesus Christ is being challenged in a whole new way with the wildly popular book (and now movie) The Da Vinci Code. This fictional book…posing as fact…goes to the very heart of who Jesus is.
If one believes what The Da Vinci Code claims (that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had children!), then Jesus was certainly not the Son of God. And you would have to say He was not good because He was a liar.
But the Bible makes it clear…as does the testimony of history…Jesus is indeed the Son of God. And you and I can rejoice that He conquered sin through His death…and conquered death through His resurrection!
So who is Jesus? He is not a liar…He is not a lunatic…He is not a myth…He is not a guru. He is the very Son of God who paid the price for your sin and mine and through whom we have eternal life! I pray you will rejoice in that today.
Dr. Young was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June of 1992 and again in June, 1993. He is the author of many books including Romancing The Home. The 10 Commandments of Parenting, and The 10 Commandments of Marriage. Dr. Young's broadcast ministry, The Winning Walk, can be seen and heard across North America and throughout the world. His first pastorate was in North Carolina, and he pastored in North and South Carolina until 1978 when he moved to Houston, Texas. He became the pastor at Second Baptist Church where he continues to pastor today. The congregation has grown from 2,000 members in 1978 to over 40,000 members at three church locations presently.