He is Lord

Liar, Lunatic, Lord – or Legend. Which was Jesus?

I was reading a lecture recently. It was written by an agnostic, and was a reply to the late C.S. Lewis’ statement about Jesus: He was a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. These were the three choices Lewis set forth In Mere Christianity. “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…”

The essayist proposed that there is a fourth alternative. Jesus is a legend. That is, the followers of Jesus have made him more than he really is and the Gospel stories are a mixture of truth and falsehood. The essayist said this was not a religious decision, but one based on history.

Apparently first hand sources, like Matthew, Mark and John are insufficient historians. Or does his proposition mean that because there was no editorial board piecing together, say, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Gospels are not reliable history?

What about these Gospel accounts? Luke states that his document on Christ is based on historical research, including interviews of persons “who were eyewitnesses” (1:1-4). Should Luke’s testimony be rejected?

No, not at all. On the contrary, every test to which Luke’s Gospel is put demonstrates an amazing historical accuracy. This Gospel has especially been scrutinized for two reasons. First, Luke was not present to observe the life of Jesus, but became a follower after Jesus’ departure from earth. Secondly, his claim to have done significant research is either a boast or a statement of fact. Skeptics would love to prove that this is a boast; all they have done is proved that Luke is a credible historian.

But this is true of the entire Bible, really. It stands the test of scrutiny, far beyond any other book of religious writings. There are clear reasons to accept the accuracy and authority of the Bible. Anyone who has studied the fulfilled prophecies knows there are many, and their fulfillment has been precise. Especially interesting are the prophecies that regard the first coming of Christ (He will come again, and this is prophesied also). Only God could have brought about the fulfillment of so many prophecies.

Jesus acknowledged the authority of scripture. He frequently quoted scriptures, and used the Old Testament as a way of calling attention to Himself as the promised Messiah. This was habitual in the life and teachings of Jesus.

Of all the world’s great books, the Bible alone provides a completely rational explanation of the universal existence of severe problems (sin and evil), feelings of guilt, longing for hope, reality of shame, presence of religion and longing for God.

Is Jesus Christ just a legend? Not if the Bible is true. And, the Bible is true! The Bible passes every test that can be applied in order to evaluate its divine origin and authority.

Jesus is not a legend. The countless lives His power has changed realize He is neither a liar nor a lunatic.

He is Lord.