"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." -1 John 1:1-4
It is simply fruitless, and pointless, to deny.... "Jesus, the man". Men and women (..whether follower or hater..) saw him and touched him ...and heard him. The rub comes when we begin to speak of the deity of Jesus Christ. This is where "Christianity" makes its stand, and where it, daily, takes it stand. No easy-believ-ism. No fashioning and customizing "God" to meet our own needs, at our own whims. This "Jesus" said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life...!
Tell me.... when did history last record a sin-less man? When, in all of history, was man's own, and admitted, frailty not exposed, sooner or later, ...resulting in the absolute, and known, reality that we "all have sinned, and fallen short of God's glory." Not only were His sins not recorded, because He knew no sin, but His "deity" was recorded in the miracles He performed, and the sword by which He spoke.
This "man" would had to have been the most prolific charlatan in His personal knowledge of the God of the Scriptures. He would had to have been the craftiest of magicians "ever" ....in a culture and time where no camera trickery or special effects apply ...demanding a slight-of-hand modern illusionists could only dream of. A calculated and schizophrenic mastery ....only to end it all in a suicidal sacrifice no one before, or since, has been willing to make.
"Liar, lunatic, or Lord" ...is right! My friend... I firmly believe, being as flatly honest with myself as I know to be, that it truly does require more faith to believe otherwise ...than to believe in Him; Jesus, the Christ. The God-man, who crafted the universe "manifest" Himself for the sake of His own creation ...whom He loves. Yes, a demanding, righteous God! No distant God-head-only belief will suffice. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:18) Yet, His grace demonstrates that this demanding "belief" is enacted by a simple "act" of faith.
Our trust is either in the Christ of the Scriptures, the witnessed. heard, touched, and followed Jesus ...or our trust is in a god whom we have crafted on our own, or in our own image. "Choose this day, whom you will serve.
