Many skeptics assume they know all about Jesus Christ based on what they have heard or assumptions they’ve made. They might consider God a myth, superstition, or just wishful thinking – and if Jesus did walk this earth he was probably just a kind man or perhaps a gifted teacher who could tell great stories. The more spiritual might even think Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God. However, even if we can’t accept the Bible as inspired it is hard to deny the existence of Jesus Christ. There are many eyewitnesses.
Four such eyewitnesses are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They endeavored to give accurate accounts of their time with Jesus. Luke said his goal was to write “an orderly account” of what happened. (Luke 1:1-4) John said, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is Christ.” (John 20:31) Of course they were somewhat biased because they loved Jesus, but they did not hesitate to record the truth. After all, they even put the disciples in an unflattering light. Peter denied Christ. Thomas doubted. James and John had a bit of a temper. If truth were not the goal, why put anyone, especially good friends, in a bad light?
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the first four books of the New Testament, called the Gospels. They are four records of the same events told from four different perspectives. Of course, all four Gospels are not word for word the same. If they were, it would decrease their credibility because it would look like the four men collaborated. No, these are independent accounts and any divergent statements in comparing them merely come from details that could easily be seen in different ways.
There are non Biblical accounts of Jesus as well from Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia plus Josephus and Tacticus who were historians of that time. So even without the Bible we know that Jesus lived, taught, performed miracles, was crucified, and died. We know many believed him to be the Messiah. Many believed he rose from the dead. There was an empty tomb where he had been buried. Many believed him to be God. These are historical facts.
And consider this… There must be something to this man called Jesus or why would we have a dating system based on his birth? BC means “before Christ” and AD stands for anno domino which means “the year of our Lord.” Christ is the center of all history. Some non religious types eventually began to use BCE (before Common or Current Era) for BC and CE (Common or Current Era) for AD. However, the dividing point for BCE and CE is still the life of Jesus Christ. Christ is still the center of all history.
Historian H.G. Wells said, “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette said, “As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by His effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.”
Now in my limited view a man such as this would be worth getting to know a little better. And if Jesus is indeed the Son of God his teachings become more than just wisdom from a moral advocate. They become something to believe in and live by.
C.S. Lewis had this to say about Jesus…
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 kind 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 up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.
Choose to find out more about Jesus Christ. He is worth getting to know – from a historical and spiritual perspective!
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
- Learn more about Jesus by reading one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) in a readable translation such as the Message.
- Read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
- Read the little book What Christians Believe by C.S. Lewis.
- If you don’t have time to read consider getting some of these resources on CD and listen to them in your car when you commute or when you walk or when you work out.
- Even if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, don’t assume you know all about Him. Ask God to help you know Him better.
