The Only Conclusion (John 7:40-53)

Today's scripture: John 7:40-53

The most critical decision a person can make is answering the question, "Who is Jesus?"

Some people say He never existed, that He was just a myth. This just isn't true. The Bible is one piece of evidence that Jesus did exist, and its historical veracity has been proven. Secular historians, such as Josephus, also wrote of Jesus as having lived. No one who does his homework can say Jesus didn't walk this earth 2000 years ago.

Others say He was just a good man and teacher. And while He did exist, the stories of His miracles are overblown. He never claimed to be God. He was merely a good motivational speaker. Again, however, because the New Testament books were written within just decades of Jesus' death and resurrection, many would have been able to debunk those books if they weren't true. But nothing has been written that says, "No, despite what those Christ-followers say, Jesus didn't raise anyone from the dead. I was there."

In addition, according to tradition, the "inner circle"—Peter, James, Thomas, et al—died martyrs' deaths as they proclaimed Jesus as God. Even John spent his final days in lonely exile writing the revelation of Jesus' one-day triumphant return.

Finally, Jesus Himself said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Never did He claim to be just a prophet or just a teacher. He was God Himself. And only He is the way to salvation (John 14:6). One of my favorite quotes about this comes from C.S. Lewis:

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.

The only conclusion one can come to is that Jesus is exactly who He says He is: He is the Son of God who came to earth to provide salvation for anyone who chooses to follow Him.

Not just a teacher. Not just a prophet. Not just a good man.

He was—He is—the Messiah. He is God Himself.