Jesus is Lord

Mark Dunagan
01/29/12 - Sunday Morning

Jesus is Lord

Now and then someone will claim that Jesus never lived.  Even founding father Thomas Paine naively argued, “There is no history written at the time of Jesus Christ is said to have lived that speaks of the existence of such a person, even such a man”. I guess this corset making revolutionist had never heard of the following contemporaries of Christ and what they noted:

• Julian the Apostate: Jesus healed the blind and lame people in Bethsaida and Bethany.
• The Talmud:  Jesus was accused to practicing sorcery and leading Israel astray, and was crucified on the eve of the Passover.
• Thallus:  Jesus’ crucifixion was accompanied by three hours of unexplained darkness.
• Flavius Josephus:  Jesus was a wise man and was called the Christ; He gained many disciples from many nations, and his disciples ‘reported that He had appeared to them three days after His crucifixion and that He was alive’.
• Cornelius Tacticus (112 A.D./Annals XV44):  Under Herod, and during the reign of Tiberias, Pontius Pilate condemned Christ to die.  Followers of Christ were willingly tortured and even executed for their refusal to deny their belief in His resurrection and deity.
• Plinius Secundus (Pliny the Younger):  Jesus’ disciples took to the habit of meeting on a fixed day of the week, took their name Christians from Him, gave worship to Him ‘as to a god’, and bound themselves over to abstaining from wicked deeds, fraud, theft, adultery and lying.
• Lucian:  Jesus’ followers held a contempt for death and were known for voluntary self-devotion. They believed themselves all brothers for the moment of their conversion, and lived after Christ’s laws.

Some argue that historians never record what really happened because they can only see an event from their own perspective —hence the claim that historical records are never objectively true.  Yet the same people often desperately play it both ways by trying to use historical events or statements to prove wobbly, erroneous agendas. 

The New Testament

The New Testament is not only a religious document, it is also a historical document.  The Gospels were written either by eyewitnesses or those who had direct access to the eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-4; John 21:24).  They weren’t written centuries after the fact, for portions found of an ancient copy of the Gospel of John date 125-130 A.D.  According to the rules of evidence, every eyewitness is assumed credible, unless proven otherwise. The New Testament has proven its historical accuracy (Luke 1:1-4).  Luke mentions Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene (Luke 3:1).  This man had been completely unknown to modern historians, until an inscription from the correct time period was found recording a temple dedication which mentioned his name, title.  The designation of Gallio being proconsul of Achaea (Acts 18;12-17) was thought to be a grave mistake by critics in past generations until an inscription was found in the city of Delphi, which, much to the critic's dismay, gives this exact title for the man, and even dates him to the time Paul was in Corinth (A.D. 51).   

Why Jesus?

Of all the people who have ever lived, why would we believe that Jesus is the Messiah and no someone else? Here's why:

Messianic Prophecies

The Old Testament announced the future arrival of a Messiah.  Archeology acknowledges this collection of books was in existence hundreds of years before Jesus was even born. These books contain this summary about the qualities of that coming Messiah:

• The Messiah would be a “he”: 
• Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2.
• With an ancestry that included Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David:  Matthew 1:1ff.
• Preceded by a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3-5), who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6).
• His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16).
• Lots would be cast for His clothing (Psalm 22:18).
• Enter Jerusalem mounted on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).
• Be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13).
• Placed in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9).
• Scourged (Isaiah 53:5).
• Mocked while He was dying (Psalm 22:7).

If God Did Become Flesh:  John 1:14

Years ago Josh McDowell wisely noted that if God became man, then one would indeed expect Him:

• To have an unusual entrance into this world.
• To be without sin.
• To manifest supernatural power.
• To be able to read people’s minds.
• To answer every question posed to Him.
• To speak the greatest words ever spoken.
• To have a lasting and universal influence.
• To exercise the power over death—for Himself and others.
• To be able to satisfy the spiritual hunger in people.
• To tell us things about the after-life.
• To give us concrete teaching on wrong and right, heaven and hell.
• To give us the highest moral standard ever known to man.

I believe it is fair to ask the person who rejects Jesus, to describe what would be the perfect man.  Or what would be the words, character and actions of a sinless man.  The question is fair, because obviously one who rejects Jesus has found Him to be incomplete, imperfect or in some point failing.  The question is asking, “Where did Jesus fail?”  “What miracle did He fail to perform?”  “What Divine attribute did He fail to manifest?” “What character flaw did He demonstrate?”  “Where did He sin?”  “If He wasn’t the Messiah, then what will the Messiah be like, how will the Messiah be different from Him?”

The God Man

On the one hand Jesus had all the typical human characteristics (physical and social growth-Luke 2:52); He looked His age (John 8:57); He became hungry and thirsty (Matt. 4:2; John 19:28); and tired (Mark 4:38).  On the other hand, He made claims which would have been sinful, if He had been just a man.  He claimed to be God:  (John 10:30-33; 5:17-18)  He claimed that He deserved the degree of respect which is only reserved for God (John 5:23).  He claimed that if one does obey Him, they’re not obeying God (5:23).  He claimed that He would judge mankind (5:22,27).  He claimed the ability and power to forgive sin (Mark 2:10).  He claimed His words would outlast the creation itself (Matt. 24:35).  He claimed an eternal pre-existence (John 8:58).  Immediately these statements force us to make a choice. There is no middle ground.  He is either the sinless Son of God or the greatest sinner that ever lived, for making such claims falsely would be entirely  blasphemous.   C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish things that people often say about Him:  “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a good 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.’ (Mere Christianity, pp. 55-56)  Jesus didn’t expect people to believe in Him without any evidence (John 5:31-36; 10:37 “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me”).

A Sinless Life

To this day, among most people, the verdict given by Pilate still stands, “I find no guilt in this man” (Luke 23:4).  Others made similar statements, “this man has done nothing wrong” (23:41); “Certainly this man was innocent” (23:47).  The real test and proof comes from those who spent the greater part of three years constantly in His presence.  Those who were able to watch His every move and hear every word that came out of His mouth.  It is interesting that none of the disciples wrote a ‘tell-all’ book about Jesus.  They all agreed, Jesus was sinless (1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 1 John 2:1; 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15).  Even after a lifetime of suffering for the cause of Christ, neither Peter nor John have a diminished view of Jesus (1 John 1:1-3). Even unto death, they stood by what they knew to be true of Christ. So must we. 

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net