Who Was Jesus and Why Does It Matter?
We’ve spent the last couple of months examining the things Jesus said, the things he did, and the things the people closest to him documented. Now that our quick review of his life is coming to a close, it’s time for each of us to consider who he was. And, more importantly, why it matters.
It is hard to deny that Jesus is one of the most significant historical figures in the past 2000 years. Christians aren’t the only ones who make claims about him, either. Every major religion in the world has things to say about Jesus. Many of them believe he was a miracle worker. Many of them believe him to have been “holy” in some form. All of them believe him to have been, at a minimum, a great moral teacher. Even atheists in Western societies are living off of the principles he taught – whether they want to admit it or not. Given that Jesus has influenced so many different world views, the things he said and did matter more than the things any other person has said or done.
Was Jesus More Than “Just A Man”?
As I pointed out above, almost everyone can agree that Jesus was a wise man. For atheists and a few other religions, though, once the topic of him being a miracle worker – and his rising from the dead – comes up, they are out. I think that, given what we know, it is clear that Jesus was more than just a wise teacher, though. More than just another miracle worker even. Jesus lived a life that no one else has ever lived. And he did things that no one else has ever done.
Why Should We Pay Attention To Jesus?
There have been many wise people throughout history. People who have had things to say about how the world works and how we should live our lives. Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Hume, and Nietzche have shared wisdom and shaped much of how we think. Men like Moses, Mohammad, Buddha, and Bahá’u’lláh were all wise men who started religious movements that are still followed by millions around the world to this day. The majority of whose practitioners are seeking to live good, moral, and peaceful lives.
But, Jesus was different.
You see, Moses may have been a wise man, but he didn’t rise from the grave. Mohammad may have been a wise man, but he didn’t rise from the grave. Buddha, Bahá’u’lláh – also wise men. Who didn’t rise from the grave.
Rising from the grave gives Jesus an entirely different level of authority than other wise men. If Jesus had a lot of wise things to say, predicted future events, predicted his death and return, and then returned from the dead – he’s the one we should be listening to.
You see, we can get lots of wisdom from teachers and leaders. But, they still leave us with the problem of dealing with the imperfect lives that we live. All of the other religious systems teach what to do to find peace and harmony. And yet, if we are able to be honest with ourselves, none of us can live perfect, sinless lives. Perfect lives that would be required to be in the presence of the most perfect being in the universe.
Only someone who is the infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in him. Any finite creature would have been incapable of bearing that penalty. The whole message of Scripture is designed to show that no human being, no creature, could ever save man—only God himself could. Only someone who was truly and fully God could be the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), both to bring us back to God and also to reveal God most fully to us (John 14:9). If Jesus is not fully God, we have no salvation and no Christianity.
Lunatic, Liar, Or Lord
I want to leave you with the words of C.S. Lewis from his book, Mere Christianity. If we study the life of Jesus of Nazareth, there are three possible conclusions you can come to about his life.
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the 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. 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 with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. … Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Who do you think he was?
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About the Author: David W. Gilmore
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Nulla turp dis cursus. Integer liberos euismod pretium faucibua
His profound influence on culture, philosophy, and religion over two millennia makes him uniquely significant, even beyond the Christian faith.
Jesus is unique among religious and historical figures because of his resurrection, which gives him legitimacy and authority beyond that of a simple miracle worker or wise teacher.2. His deeds, teachings, and life force us to reflect on his claims of divinity and how they affect our beliefs and way of life.3. If Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate, then his life, death, and resurrection offer the best remedy for human imperfection and the way to peace with God.
I think this is a really cool description because i often see other people worshiping other people in the Bible but none of them rose from the grave like Jesus did , so really good article.
It makes sense, only christianity says Jesus is divine and not a prophet. That he is God and divine.
This was very informative. I loved the message.
Jesus Christ was God in human form. He lived the life no man could ever live and died the death we deserve. He did all of this out of love for us so we could end up in Heaven with God for the rest of eternity.
i agree with this article and i enjoyed reading it. Jesus was 100% not just a regular normal human, since he did stuff no one else was able to do and had witnesses for it also. Only an infinite being can bear our sins on the cross as he had.
Most people will say Jesus was just a man. But clearly he was more than that from a point in his life he knew his purpose and what he was sent out to do. He performed miracles, he spoke of God. He did all these things and yet most people still deny it. We have scripture of these teaching we have evidence of his word. Jesus wasn’t just a man. He was the one sent to die for our sins so that we may repent and find the right path. Not to continue in a life of pure sin.
Jesus’ resurrection sets Him apart, proving He is fully God and fully man. Only He can bridge the gap between humanity and God, offering true salvation and eternal hope.
Thank you so much this article helps me understand more about how Jesus should truly be payed attention
I think Jesus was as we say know walked the walk and lived what he preached he wasn’t a hypocrite he was a role model and life worth copying Jesus was the ultimate example of perfect and how we should live and love other like.
Either Jesus was the Son of God as he claimed, or his life and resurrection were without precedent and demand that we consider seriously the deepest implications of his identity. His impact upon history and mankind suggests that we have to reflect on the nature of whether he was a teacher or whether he was Lord, as he claimed.
This article is good and discusses useful topics
I liked how you pointed out that He was the only one who rose from the dead. Not only that but predicted everything that happened. I also enjoyed the how lunatic, liar, or lord part. He can not be a lunatic or liar because again what He said did come true; therefore, He has to be Lord and nothing less
I believe Jesus is Lord. This is a great article to remember when answering the questions from above. It is clear that Jesus was more than a good moral teacher, especially when considering the resurrection. Great article!
Jesus wasn’t just a wise teacher; His resurrection sets Him apart. C.S. Lewis says Jesus must be crazy, lying, or truly God. Rising from the grave proves His power and shows He’s Lord, not just a good person.
Jesus is my true savior and I wouldn’t be here without out him, Jesus died on the cross for our sins so we can have eternal life after death but only if we give our life to him through the father son and the Holy Spirit, and with that we can be truly saved. Amen
This is a very powerful topic that we should be informed about. I really like the part where the difference between Jesus and other wise men was talked about. This is a thing that I have not really gone into depth about. The fact that Jesus rose from the grave gives Him so much more power over the rest.l
I loved this article, it explains the facts very simply so we can understand why Jesus was more than just a great teacher.
I agreed with this article and I found it actually helpful as a person who didn’t grow up in a christian world. Jesus was not just a man. He lived a honorable life and died the death that everyone on this earth deserves because he loves us.
Jesus was more than just a man he was Lord and there is lots of evidence we can look to identify that he is more than just a man.
Jesus is one of the most significant historical figures. Many religions and even atheists recognize his influence. While many see him as a wise teacher, his claims of being the Son of God and performing miracles set him apart. Reflecting on who Jesus was and why it matters is crucial because his life and teachings have shaped history and continue to influence lives today.