Who is Jesus and what did his life here on Earth mean to us? If you went to any movie theatre, work place or setting where people gather socially, the name, Jesus, means nothing more to most than just a five letter curse word at the worst, a good enlightened thinker with novice ideas at best.
Either he was exactly who he said he was or a raving lunatic, who has up to this point in history, deceived billions. Lets look to the facts to determine the truth.
Real leaders are not fence-setters, they come to bring an important message, not worrying about political correctness, trends or traditions, only the accuracy of leading others to truth that changes a particular group for the greater good. Jesus was clear on which side he was on and demanded the same of his followers. He did not
come to bring peace, but a sword you're either on my side or the other, good or evil, light or darkness.
Claim To Divinity
Jesus believed he was the Son of God. In the Jewish tradition of that time, it was unthinkable for anyone to ever sware by himself or treat himself as his "own witness". Only God could do this. Any new teaching had to be verified with two or three witnesses, but whenever Jesus made an important claim, he would say, "Truly, truly, I tell you." This was considered blasphemy because he never brought forth witnesses to back up his claims. By doing this, Jesus was clearly stating that he needed no witness because he was himself, God, was his "own" witness.
In the Old Testament of the bible it's written, (1a) " The Lord our God is one God". Not only did the Jewish traditions of that day say that God was one God, but that you couldn't know him personally because his name was too holy and righteous to even pronounce, let alone have a close relationship with him. Man could not even look upon the face of God without dying, because of the sinfulness and evil condition of man's heart. Jesus was the first to declare God as, our Abba Father, meaning personal and close relationship, shattering the notion of an impersonal God.
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God equal to God, the exact representation of his being God in human flesh, Savior of the world. He said, "I and my Father are one." He told Niccodemus, the Pharisee, (2b) "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever would believe in him', should never die, but have eternal life." The word theanthropist or the doctrine and union of divine and human natures, especially the manifestation of God as man in Christ Jesus.
The prayers and miracles of Jesus also demonstrate his divinity. In the garden of Gethsamane he speaks of his divinity before he voluntarily veiled his power and glory in coming to earth, (3c) "Now Father, glorify me with the glory that I had with you in the beginning, before' the world was created". Jesus demonstrated his power in miracles of healing blind men, multiplying the fish and loaves of bread, healing the sick, and walking on water. His greatest evidence of divinity was shown when he raised himself from the dead, showing himself before a crowd of five hundred witnesses.
It is written that not only is Jesus God, but he is also known as the "Word": (4d) "In the beginning was the Word' and the Word' was with God, and the Word' was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made". Then it says, He, " the Word"(theanthropist), became flesh and dwelt among mankind. Another documented name of Jesus is Emmanuelle, meaning God with us on earth.
A Sinless King
If Jesus was God, as he claimed, one attribute that should be clearly seen is perfection, sinlessness. In the good book it talks about how the saints do not have a King, who is unable to sympathize with their weaknesses,who can not relate or understand them, but they have one that has been tempted in every way just as they have been, but he was still found to be without sin or wrongdoing.
Jesus taught men and women to confess their sins. But he himself made no such confessions. He taught the people to pray for forgiveness but he himself uttered no such prayer. Even Pontious Pilate, the Roman Governor and enemy of Jesus during his trial said that he was not able to find fault in him, washing his hands clean of Jesus' blood, wanting nothing to do with an innocent man's execution. Thus, even from his enemies' own lips, no guilt or sin was found in his life.
Who is Jesus, you ask? He said, (5c)" I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life, no man can go to the Father in Heaven, but by me. There is no other name given unto men, in which they must be "saved", except the Lord Jesus Christ ".
Honest or Fake Doubter
The only question left is: are you an honest or a fake doubter. An honest doubter doubts the claims made about a certain situation, but is willing to look at the evidence with an open mind and heart. A fake doubter doubts the claims made about a specific situation and also has no intention on looking at the facts with nonbiased. They have no intention of changing their minds regardless of evidence put before them. When you lye your head on your pillow tonight, ask yourself which are you?
The evidence of his claims have been substantiated in hundreds of manuscripts, proven prophecies, miracles, spoken prayers, and his sinless life while on Earth. More than any other fact though, we see an empty tomb in Jerusalemevidence Jesus raised himself from the dead, just as it was prophesied thousands of years earlier. Based on the facts, Jesus is exactly whom he said he was, the one and only true, Living God, who is the only One who can save the world from its sins.
(1a) Zondervan bible (NIV) Copyright 1986, 1992, 2002 Mark 12:29
(2b) God's Word Bible John 3:16 Copyright 1992
(3c) New American Standard Version John 17:5
(4d) Zondervan bible (NIV) Copyright 1986, 1992, 2002 John 1:1
(5c) Bible Knowledge Commentary John 14:6