Who Is Jesus Christ? Three Powerful Evidences of His Identity

Challenging the Critics: Fraud, Madman, or Messiah?

We continue to analyze the direct and indirect claims Jesus made about His identity as the Messiah and the Son of God. Critics who reject Him often believe He is either a fraud or, worse, mentally ill. They claim Jesus was simply making inflated statements about Himself, raising the question: how can we confirm the truth of His claims? Let's look at some evidence:

Evidence 1: The Authority of His Teachings

Jesus' teachings are regarded as among the most profound ever shared. "Love your neighbor as yourself." "Do to others as you would have them do to you." "Love your enemies," and "Turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5-7).

Bernard Ramm, an American Professor of theology, said this about the teachings of Jesus:

“They are read more, quoted more, loved more, believed more, and translated more because they are the most remarkable words ever spoken. Their greatness lies in the pure, lucid spirituality in dealing clearly, definitively, and authoritatively with the greatest problems that throb in the human breast…No other man's words have the appeal of Jesus' because no other man can answer these fundamental human questions as Jesus did. They are the kind of words and the kind of answers we would expect God to give.”^[1]

Could this teaching come from a con man or a madman?

Evidence 2: The Power of His Miraculous Works

Some claim Christianity is boring, but being around Jesus would not be dull. At a wedding, He turned much water into wine, and it was the finest the taster had ever had (John 2:1-11). When attending a funeral, He told them to remove the stone and unbind Lazarus (John 11:44). He also shared a picnic with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:41). At the hospital, He healed a man who had been an invalid for 36 years by telling him to get up (John 5:5). His sacrificial death—laying down His life for His friends—demonstrates His love (John 15:13).

Evidence 3: The Irresistible Character of Jesus

Bernard Levin wrote of Jesus: “Is not the nature of Christ, in the words of the New Testament, enough to pierce to the soul anyone with a soul to be pierced? He still looms over the world, his message still clear, his pity still infinite, his consolation still effective, his words still full of glory, wisdom, and love."

In his autobiography, The Door Wherein I Went, Lord Hailsham, the Lord Chancellor, describes the character of Jesus and shares how Jesus's persona became vivid to him during his college years.

"The first thing we must learn about Him is that we should have been absolutely entranced by His company. Jesus was irresistibly attractive as a man…what they crucified was a young man, vital, full of life and the joy of it, the Lord of life itself, and even more the Lord of laughter, someone so utterly attractive that people followed Him for the sheer fun of it…the Twentieth Century needs to recapture the vision of this glorious and happy Man whose mere presence filled his companions with delight. No pale Galilean He, but a veritable Pied Piper of Hamelin who would have the children laughing all around Him and squealing with pleasure and joy as He picked them up."^[2]

How can we apply this mediation to our lives?

Lord Hailsham described Jesus as "full of life and the joy of it." Even in a difficult week, look for one "miracle" of joy—a conversation with a friend, a moment of laughter, or a beautiful view. Acknowledge that God is the author of that joy. Ask, "Jesus, if You are who You say You are, show me Your character today." Be open to seeing His "infinite pity" or "wisdom" show up in your interactions with others. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is much more to explore about the life of Jesus in the series, I Am New To This. Here’s the link to the study: Who Is Jesus?

Or the video teaching is at the following link: https://youtu.be/r6h37G6QRt0

YouTube video lessons available at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos

^[1]Bernard Ramm, Protestant Christian Evidence (Moody Press).

^[2]Lord Hailsham, The Door Wherein I Went, (Fount/Collins, 1975).