Who Is Jesus?

Was Jesus just a man? Many people think Jesus was an ordinary man who had a lot of charisma. Some claim he was just a magician with strange powers. Still others believe he is a myth made up by a low class culture. There are even those who believe Jesus is a purposeful misrepresentation of the real Jesus created by the church leaders (that’s right a conspiracy). Some believe he is the Messiah and Savior. This article was written to help you decide for yourself if Jesus was just a man.

Things You’ll Need:
A Bible

Step1 Man or Messiah?
The evidence to consider ~ The Resurrection.

Step2 Theories Against Resurrection:
1. It was all just an elaborate hoax.
A. The women went to the wrong tomb. The men went to the wrong tomb. They made up the story and it grew into the story we now tell.
B. The body of Jesus was stolen by the followers of Jesus.
C. The Roman Government stole Jesus’ body.
* The problem with these theories is that thousands of people knew about his burial and guards were placed in front of the tomb. The tomb was well sealed with a 6000 pound rock. If the government had his body moved they could have revealed it and killed Christianity forever.

2. Jesus swoon. He just passed out and when he woke up, he just walked out of the tomb.
* The problem with these theories is that Jesus would have to have lived through a beating and being embalmed. Then he would have to wake up and unwrap himself. Then he’d have to move a 6000 pound rock and over take two guards.

3. The Hallucination Theory.
A. They only thought they saw Jesus crucified.
B. Hallucinations were brought on by a strong psychological need or drugs
* Hallucinations aren’t contagious and thousands of people witnessed it.

Step3 Eight points for the resurrection
1. The Bible is the most reliable work of records and it records the resurrection as witnessed by thousands of people.
2. Jesus transformed the disciples after the resurrection. They went from living in fear to being bold about their belief.
3. James, Jesus’ earthly brother, became a believer after the resurrection. James 1:1
4. Jewish leaders offered no rebuttal to the resurrection.
5. Within 100 years of the resurrection, the institutionalizing of worship on Sunday began.
6. The observance of Communion.
7. Baptism was an immediate symbol or ritual after the resurrection.
8. The unstoppable church built on Christ’s identity. Even death could not prevail against the church.
* Revelations 1:17-18 ~ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and Hades.

Step4 More scripture supporting the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Acts 2:23-24; Philippians 2:8; 3:10; Colossians 2:13-15; Hebrew 6:6; 12:2; Matthew 20:19; 27:22; 27:31; 27:38; Luke 24:7; John 11:25; 19:18; Roman 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:12

Tips & Warnings
1. If you don’t understand what you read in your Bible, ask someone about it. 2. Pray that God will help you to understand.
3. At some point in everyone’s life, they must choose to believe or not believe. Be informed when you choose ~ it’s a matter of life and death.