Oracle Church of Christ
Occasionally we hear, “Jesus was a good man, but not God’s son.” That speaker is confused about Jesus. The crowd in John chapter 7 was also confused. Verse 12: Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” Verse 20: “You are demon-possessed.”
A good man, a liar, or a nut case-all three opinions are wrong, but the “Good Man” position, while it sounds less judgmental, is not logical. Jesus claimed to be God’s son. For a Jew, who wouldn’t even speak or write God’s name, this was the worst blasphemy. But he said it repeatedly.
• As a child, when his parents finally found him at the Temple: ‘’Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2.49)
• When talking to the Jewish authorities: “The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak/or me.” (Jn. 10:25)
IfJesus was a nut case, you can’t criticize him, whether he claimed to be God’s son, or an avocado. A crazy person says crazy things.
But if Jesus wasn’t crazy, then either he was the son of God, or he taught a lie that got people killed. So the choices are:
• Jesus might have been a nut case who believed he was God’s son.
• Or he might have been a murderous liar.
• Or he might have been God’s son.
But those are the only choices. To say that Jesus was a good man, but not God’s son violates common sense.
We believe that God’s word is true and logical.
We’re the Church of Christ, meeting in Oracle: 2425 El Paseo. If you want to discuss this or other Bible questions, visit our Bible study Sundays at 10 a.m. Worship is at 11 a.m.