I. Introduction: Luke 9:9,18-20

Ask the question, 'Who is Jesus Christ' to an audience or group of friends, and you will generate discussion. Almost 2000 years after Jesus lived upon this earth, He is still the center of controversy and discussion. And yet, the above passages point out that even during His life upon this earth, people had differing views concerning this man from Nazareth. Even Herod had become interested in this question (Luke 9:9).

II. A Person We Cannot Ignore: John 8:24; 12:48; 14:6.

Read the above passages carefully. You cannot ignore nor dismiss the above claims. Jesus plainly placed Himself as the Only way to the Father and eternal life. Jesus is someone that we must deal with now, because if we are wrong about Jesus, and His claims are true, we will lose everything! Therefore, I must examine the evidence now and answer the question that Jesus posed to His disciples, 'Who say ye that I am'. I cannot afford to be wrong about the answer to this question.

III. Jesus Really Lived:

If someone claims that Jesus is merely a myth and there is no historical proof for His existence, they do not have the facts. (1) The Jewish historian Josephus (37-100 A.D.), mentions Jesus twice in his Antiquities of the Jews (18.3.3; 20:9.1) (2) The Jewish Babylonian Talmud, a collection of writings assembled in the 5th century A.D., some of which originated in the first century makes a number of references to Jesus. IT'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS' EXISTENCE IS ALL THE MORE VALUABLE SINCE IT IS EXTREMELY HOSTILE TO JESUS. It charges that He was born out of wedlock after his mother had been seduced by a Roman soldier. Incidently this is an admission of the virgin birth of Jesus. Because why make such an accusation about His birth and parentage, if there had been no "unusual circumstances" surrounding it? It also refers to Jesus' miracles as magic. Again here is an admission that Jesus performed wonderful works. It also records that Jesus claimed to be God. The New Testament agrees. (3) The Roman historian Tacitus, in his Annals (115 A.D.), refers to "Christus, who in the reign of Tiberius as emperor was condemned to death by the procurator Pontius Pilate' (XV.44) Other works could be cited. The 1974 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica makes the following observation: "These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity NEVER DOUBTED THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS.."

IV. The Testimony of the New Testament:

Most of the source material for answering the question, 'Who is Jesus', will be taken from the New Testament. Some might object to this, but consider the following:

A. This source must be allowed to speak:

'It used to be fashionable in liberal circles to ascribe most New Testament books to the second century A.D., but interestingly, even liberal critics are now admitting that the New Testament documents are first century sources of information. John A.T. Robertson of England, in his book, "Redating the New Testament" (1977), conceded that all of the New Testament books were written within seventy years of the death of Christ, and by the men whose names they bear! No less that 10 of the books were penned by personal companions of Jesus' (Christian Evidences. 'What think ye of the Christ'. Wayne Jackson, M.A. pg. 1)

B. Our rules of evidence demand it:

In the book "Testimony of the Evangelists", Simon Greenleaf, who in the 19th century held the Royall Professorship of Law at Harvard Law School, applies the basic rules of common law to the New Testament documents. He clearly demonstrates that the testimony of these documents would be accepted as trustworthy by any valid modern court. He notes such laws of evidence as:

'Every document, apparently ancient, coming from the proper repository or custody, and bearing on its face no evident marks of forgery, the law presumes to be genuine, and devolves on the opposing party the burden of proving it to be otherwise' (Testimony of the Evangelists. pg. 7)

V. The First Alternative: Jesus was a Fraud:

A. A VIEW HELD BY SOME OF HIS ENEMIES:MATTHEW 27:63

B. PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOVE VIEW:

(1) What fraud is willing to place his own reputation and work on the outcome of one event? 'after three days I rise again' (Matthew 27:63). Within three days, everyone would know the true nature of Jesus! What fraud would ever place himself into such a corner, WITH NO ROOM FOR ERROR. NOTE: Jesus did not say, 'one day' or 'I'll be back', but very specifically, 'three days'.

(2) What fraud would turn down the offer of earthly wealth and fame? "to make him king" (John 6:15). An golden opportunity to broaden His power-base, to gain more authority, yet He turned it down.

(3) JESUS DID NOT DODGE "TOUGH QUESTIONS": What fraud will make all his views known on all the "tough questions?" For that matter, what politician? Jesus dealt with: The Sabbath Day question: Matthew 12:1-14; The Jewish traditions question: Matthew 15:1ff; The Marriage and Divorce Question: 19:3ff; The God and taxes to the Roman government question: 22:17-22; The Resurrection Question: 22:23-33; The greatest commandment in the Law Question: 22:34-40. And what fraud can completely silence the opposition to the point of no one wanting to engage him or her in debate? (Matthew 22:46)

1. What fraud is concerned with 'fakes' among his followers? (John 6:26)

1. JESUS WAS A MAN THAT DID NOT RUN: Matthew 26:45-46

1. Jesus could not be convicted, even by false accusations: Matthew 26:59-60.

(8) What fraud refuses to defend himself? Matthew 26:63; 27:14

On writer concludes: "How, in the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an imposter...that is deceitful, selfish, and depraved have invented and consistently maintained from the beginning to the end, the purest and noblest character known in history with the most perfect air of truth and reality?" (Philip Schaff. The Person of Christ. American Tract Society. 1913) 'Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as Jesus taught and died as Jesus died could not have been a liar" (Evidence that Demands a Verdict. McDowell)

VI. The Second Alternative: Lunatic/Insane:

Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw claimed that Jesus was once sane, but lost his mind when others began to exalt him. Often Jesus is depicted in movies as a very confused man, unsure of his mission in life, asking the question, 'Who am I'.

A. JESUS AT AGE 12: Luke 2:49 'knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?' Clearly, Jesus was not the confused one, in fact He is somewhat surprised at the ignorance of His parents, 'Where is a child to be found but in His Father's house?' Jesus understood, even at age 12 the relationship between Him and the Father. 'My Father' is literally, 'Father of Me'.

B. JESUS AROUND 30: LUKE 3:23 WHAT DID JESUS UNDERSTAND?

(1) That the O.T. had predicted His life: John 5:46

(2) When scriptures were being fulfilled by His life: Luke 4:21

(3) He understood the exact direction of history and the times, He was right on the crest of the wave of human events: John 4:21; Matthew 4:17; Luke 19:42-44.

(4) He understood His MISSION AND DESTINY: Mark 1:38; Matthew 18:11; John 6:38; Luke 9:22.

(5) HE UNDERSTOOD WHO HE WAS: John 4:10,25; 9:35-37.

(6) He understood PEOPLE: John 4:48; 6:26; 2:24-25

(7) He was fully aware of what others were saying about Him: Matthew 11:18-19

C. ARE THESE THE TEACHINGS OF A CRAZY MAN? JOHN 10:20-21

Simply ask yourself, do the following sayings of Jesus make sense? Matthew 7:12; 6:21-24.

(1) Could answer all the tough theological questions of the time?

(2) Could take every command in the O.T. and sum them up in two simple commands? (Matthew 22:37-40)

(3 Could not even be convicted by false charges?

(4) WHAT LUNATIC CANNOT BE ENSARED IN HIS SPEECH? MATTHEW 22:15)