WHY I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST
You and I live in an age of unbelief. The visible, material world so controls out thought and life patterns that only the most sensitive seem willing to look beyond the crass, the selfish, the violent, and the inhuman to the value and significance of faith in God. The problem of faith is as great today, if not greater, than at any time in man’s long history.
Many however, who have a vague belief in God, seem totally unwilling to consider the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth. Therefore, the challenge of faith in Jesus as the Christ is probably dismissed by more people today than at any time since the Apostle Thomas’ famous struggle. Upon learning that the crucified Jesus had now become the risen Christ, Thomas exclaimed: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails. and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).
In our time questions of literary criticism in the study of the New Testament Gospels have cast persistent shadows on the historical truthfulness of these records. Some students of the New Testament have lately devoted years of attention to the alleged “myths” of the New Testament. In the philosophical world there is a continuing, even if very faint, conviction that Jesus is not historically real. And even churchmen of late, affected by this historical-critical-empirical emphasis, have begun their ministries governed by the presupposition that Jesus was neither divine nor sovereign.
THE TWIN QUESTIONS
But the twin questions regarding Jesus must be faced. Is He the divine Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world? And is He to rule completely our lives? John wrote that the purpose of his Gospel was to provide convincing and truthful testimony to Jesus’ divinity. “Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). The Apostle Paul further taught that one’s acceptance of Jesus as the Christ also included a personal surrender to His authority over and control of all the affairs of life. The Christian’s unique faith is expressed by Paul in these words from 1 Corinthians, chapter eight: “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many and lords many; yet to us (all Christians) there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).
During the past six weeks on Herald of Truth we have studied the questions of Jesus’ divinity and sovereignty. . . . In bringing this series of discussions to a close today, I want to summarize what has been said and conclude on a very personal note. Today we consider, “Why I Believe that Jesus is the Christ.”
One conclusion has been completely established by our study. We have shown from every conceivable perspective and by the use of all kinds of acceptable evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is an authentic historical figure.
In short: the man lived!
The New Testament Gospels offer a reliable, historically sound, picture of Jesus—who He was, who He claimed to be, and what He did with His life. The friends of Jesus, for several centuries following His earthly life, never thought it necessary to build a case for His physical, literal, earthly existence. Neither did the enemies of Jesus raise any such objections. Objectors to Christ and Christianity there were, but none who thought it feasible to mount an attack on the reality of the man Jesus. One historian has commented: “The denial of that existence seems never to have occurred to the bitterest Gentile or Jewish opponents of Nascent Christianity.” (p. 557, Will Durant, Caesar and Christ, Vol. III of The Story of Civilization. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1944).
Roman writers like Pliny, Tacitus, and Suetonius mention the Christian movement, raising no question about Jesus’ existence.
His influence on those who followed Him, even in Rome, as well as His crucifixion under Tiberius Caesar arc chronicled by these non-Christian writers.
Early heretics and apostates from the Christian faith denounced Christianity but never once questioned the historical reality of Jesus. Even the Jewish writings of the first and second Christian centuries, repeatedly mentioned this Jesus of Nazareth. One observer has concluded: “These pagan and Jewish sources . . . confirm the fact which was otherwise well known, that in the early days it never occurred even to the fiercest adversary of Christianity to doubt the historical existence of Jesus at all.” (p. 28, Gunther Bornkamn, Jesus of Nazareth).
Even a militant anti-Christian philosopher like Bertrand Russell has refused to do battle with the question of Jesus’ actual existence. In his essay, “Why I am not a Christian.” Russell writes: “Historically it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if He did we do not know anything about Him. . . .” He then admits in the closing part of the same sentence, “. . . I am not concerned with the historical question, which is a very difficult one.” (p. 16, Why I am Not a Christian, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957). The point is this: the man who “is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all” must be concerned about the historical question regardless of how difficult it appears! The evidence is clear and valid. Jesus of Nazareth did live. That’s one fact about which we can be certain.
THE CLAIMS OF JESUS
This leads me to make a second suggestion or form a second conclusion to our studies of the past six weeks: this Jesus of Nazareth must be evaluated in view of His astounding claims. Jesus’ historical existence is a vital question but, “If Jesus was not God in human flesh, Christianity is exploded.” (p. 7, J. R. W. Stott, Basic Christianity).
At the outset of His personal ministry, Jesus spoke boldly regarding His mission and identity. In the very early days of His public teaching and preaching, Jesus worshiped one Sabbath in the synagogue at Nazareth, His hometown. In the service Jesus was given an opportunity to read from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. This is what He read that day: “That Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: he hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). This Messianic prophecy from Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, looked to a future deliverer of God’s people, to a badly needed world figure who could truly fulfill man’s spiritual needs. Upon reading this section from the prophet, Jesus sat down with all the eyes in the synagogue “fastened on him,” Luke tells us (Luke 4:20). Then came Jesus’ startling claim: “Today hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). This caused such an uproar that His fellow-worshipers attempted to kill Jesus that very day, and He had to flee His hometown. From that day to the crucifixion, on through the resurrection, and then to the ascension Jesus made it clear by word and deed that He was God’s specially chosen deliverer and redeemer.
Jesus continually made clear that His mission, His purpose, His identity, and His power centered in the fulfillment of human needs that could be met by no one else or by no other power. And so He described Himself as “the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:36). He told men that He was “the light of the world” and then promised them that “he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). He risked insulting His Jewish brethren by informing them of His eternal existence, in these words: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). For this reason He also promised in the same conversation, “If a man keep my word, he shall never see death” (John 8:51). And when Mary and Martha sorrowed at the death of their brother Lazarus, Jesus comforted them with this claim: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
He openly spoke of the authority God the Father; had given Him. Before the resurrection Jesus claimed: “All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). After the resurrection Jesus told His followers: “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-19). He openly taught: “. . . no one cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). His authority included the power to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to forgive sin (Luke 5:23-24). Jesus fully demonstrated God’s power given to Him as full validation of His divine nature and mission (John 10:25). All this meant, according to Jesus again, that, “. . . except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
THE CONSIDERATION OF JESUS’ CLAIMS
Our third consideration then arises out of these unusual claims made by Jesus. Why should I consider such ideas? By what right did this man make such statements? Why should I even stop to consider what He has to say, much less, weigh seriously His claims? In view of Jesus’ bold convictions about His identity, His mission, and His influence on the lives of all obedient men and women, it has been said: “He was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Truth.” (p. 21, Paul E. Little, Know Why You Believe. Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, 1967).
We have shown in other lessons during these past six weeks that Jesus is not a liar, that He could not have been mentally deranged. and that there is absolutely no basis for legend as an explanation of His historical reality and teaching. We are thus left with only one conclusion, an inescapable conclusion: Jesus is the truth of God.
There are at least two good reasons why Christ’s claims must be carefully investigated and honestly considered. First, His moral character was above reproach. And, second. His resurrection from the dead confirmed every claim He made.
Jesus challenged His enemies: ‘‘Which of you convicteth me of sin” (John 8:46)? Never were His opponents able to successfully and truthfully accuse Him of falsehood. While visiting in Jerusalem at one of Israel’s annual feasts, John says in his Gospel: “The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” The Jews answered him, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:31-33). They believed Him guilty of the greatest possible religious crime: blasphemy. But they could not find a blotch on His character. He did tell the truth and furthermore He performed many wondrous deeds. Jesus was totally unselfish in His earthly ministry. He was not a physician to the well, He explained on one occasion, but rather came to spend His time with those who were sick and needy (Matthew 9:10-13). When the apostles vied for positions of honor and influence within their group, Jesus taught them this great lesson: “Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: even as the Son of man came not be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). His personal example of unselfishness and that singular purpose for which He came into the world convicted the disciples of their grossly unchristian attitudes. He had nothing to gain! He wanted and sought no earthly throne! He came to give Himself for you and me! When one looks carefully at the kind of man Jesus was, he finds absolutely no grounds for not listening to Jesus’ claims! In fact, the very opposite is the case.
In the resurrection, however, a very definite validation of Jesus’ claims occurred. Here His purposes for all men were vitalized and His cruel and unjust death by crucifixion vindicated. The resurrection, the Apostle Paul states, “declares Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the Lord of our lives” (Romans 1:4). So vital to the Christian’s faith is Jesus’ resurrection that Paul also says, “If Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain,” (1 Corinthians 15:14) and just a few verses later in the same fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, he writes, “and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED
Just a few days after Jesus’ return to heaven. His apostles received their power and direction from God and went into action fulfilling Christ’s commission to them. On the Jewish festival of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles proclaimed the good news about Jesus Christ for the first time following His death and resurrection. At the heart of their message that day was the fact that Jesus was not only killed by some of those very people in that audience but that God had raised this same Jesus from the grave (Acts 2:22-24). “This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses,” they declared (Acts 2:32). Their conclusion was this: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified” (Acts 2:36). This was the early church’s continual message. “They taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:1-2). So certain were these early Christians that Jesus did literally rise from the grave that even when threatened with losing their lives “they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).
The resurrection established Jesus’ every claim. The resurrection validated His often demonstrated power over nature and sin. When he saw the risen Jesus, Thomas cried out for all Christians in every age: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
WHY JESUS IS THE CHRIST
Finally, I must say that I believe that Jesus is the Christ because of what He has done for me. The very thing Jesus talked about in John, chapter 10, verse 10, I now understand both with my mind and in my life. He said: “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10). My thirst for God is satisfied by Jesus, the Son of God, who came with God’s final revelation to man (Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 11:27).
My fears have all been defeated by Jesus who not only defeated death’s strangle-hold on man but He also successfully met all the temptations faced (Hebrews 4:15). As our high priest at God’s right hand today, Jesus makes intercession for all who will accept His grace and respond obediently to His call (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Jesus also has freed me from total enslavement to sin. He taught: “If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
Jesus provides three things to me that I can not find anywhere else: peace, power, and purpose. This is the peace that comet through justification. The New Testament explains: “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1-2). And then there is that continuing peace which every Christian knows in continual and thankful prayer to God. When this is done, the Bible assures us, “the the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jews” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Christ provides to all those who obey Him the power of God for victorious living. The Apostle Paul assured the Ephesian Christians: “. . . what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20). Paul, himself a great Christian, wrote to the Philippians: “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me” ‘(Philippians 4:13).
Christ has given my life purpose that otherwise I would have never known, He taught me that the greatest two things in life were to love God with all my being and to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-39). This means that I obey God’s Word out of a deep love for who is and what He does and I am also deeply sensitive to the needs of my fellow-man. So full of the purpose that Christ gives was Paul’s life that he wrote: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
History, God, and man, all meet in the one encompassing revelation of God in Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14).
God and man meet in Jesus Christ for the fulfillment of God’s purposes and man’s needs. God’s way for man’s redemption unfolded through the centuries until that moment, “when the fulness of time came, (when) God send forth his Son . . . that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). With God’s plan for man now revealed in Christ, the individual will believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10), who will make a complete break with sin as a way of life (Luke 13:3), who will confess Jesus as Christ and Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and who will be buried with Him in baptism can be raised out of the water of baptism to live that completely new life that God gives to those who obey Him (Romans 6:1-7; Colossians 2:12; 3:1-4).
He lived among men as a real man. His historical existence is unquestioned. He claimed to be God’s Son, man’s only hope for salvation. These claims are supported by His unblemished character and validated by His resurrection from the dead. His promises of God’s forgiveness, life, power, peace, and purpose are being daily realized in my life. These are the reasons why I believe that Jesus is the Christ.
John Allen Chalk
Herald of Truth, No. 846
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John Allen Chalk was a featured speaker on "Herald of Truth," part of the religious programming on the NBC and Mutual radio networks in the late 1960’s. The above article is the content of a radio broadcast delivered by Chalk in the 1960's.