Why?

Some might ask why it matters. Why do you risk the ridicule and mockery associated with the use of the name “Jesus”? After all, religion compartmentalized is fine...........for you. But why do you insist upon foisting your fanaticism upon your friends, family, and even perfect strangers who might wander across this odd titled corner of the other world? After all, we can tolerate Jesus from Nazareth as a good moral teacher and religious leader. We can certainly appreciate that Jesus may be one of a long line of ascended masters provided by the universal god consciousness to help the fledgling race take the next, dramatic step in its unfolding evolution as a species. It might even be possible to view him as a deluded man that had good but misguided intentions. Even better, Hollywood might have it right. Maybe Jesus was a shrewd fellow that led a band of people around a remote outpost of the Roman Empire, faked his death at the opportune time and then escaped with one of his female “disciple” and raised a family in Europe. I suppose that all of these views could be held by some.

However, I am drawn to the horrible possibility that the Truth of Christ is found in His own words. These words were penned by a friend of his named John, the son of Zebedee, a fisherman of the lake at Galilee. The ‘beloved” friend of Jesus quotes Him when in Chapter 14, verse 6 he writes, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” What a preposterous proposition. This man of seeming low birth, claims that he “is” the way, the TRUTH and the life. To make matters more untenable, He claims that no one comes to the Father (God) expect through Him??? Could this be possible? Can such an audacious claim be made with a straight face? We are faced with three possibilities here and they originate with a future friend of mine named Clive Lewis.

One: Jesus is a liar. He was a man driven by power and greed. He was a man who knew the art of manipulation and mind control. Worse yet, he intentionally set about to deceive and betray his followers and “friends” leading them to die a martyrs death for a fraud.

Two: He was a delusional lunatic. While his motives where pure, they were rooted in a megalomaniacal savior complex that led him to die a needless and tortuous death at the hands of a second rate Roman Governor.

Three: He was exactly who He said He was. Indeed, He was the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was the Christ of the Jews and gentiles too. He was the creator of heaven and earth. The great I Am of the cave and the spotless, sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He was the suffering servant and ruling King on the throne of David. Yes, even the only savior that a lonely, lost and dying world could have.

Now for the answer to the original question. Because if He is who He says He is…………………….He is our only hope. He provides us with rescue from our condition. He provides us with restoration from our fractured relationship. He leads us by still waters for His name sake. He provides peace for our troubled soul. He and He alone is qualified to sit on the throne of our hearts as Lord, Savior, and King.

Because I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek.
Romans 1:16