While I was in college, on active duty in the Marine Corps and in a corporate job, I spent a lot of time with my good friend Chuck. One of Chuck’s lifetime friends was Shane. He is a neat guy that we ended up spending a lot of time with over the years. During those early years, I discovered that Shane was Jewish, but never really gave it much thought. However, one day during our early professional years we got into a philosophical discussion about religion. As I sat there and listened to him I began to get a sense of uneasiness as he shared his beliefs which did not include Jesus as the way to heaven.  When asked a pointed question, I replied in somewhat of a stupor; “I cannot imagine any way to heaven except through Jesus.” His reply was that “I never really considered Jesus to be a part of getting to Heaven.” I couldn’t reply. As a matter of fact it was hard to even process because I was so caught off guard. It was then that I realized how strong my belief in Christ was.

For one reason or another, I have not seen Shane since that day. I’m not sure why. However, I have mulled over that conversation thousands of times. I guess what causes me the most pain is the fact that as a Jew, I feel He is privileged, special, a rare and precious creation. What stupefies me is how someone born into that lineage cannot see the one who created them. Even though I have read John 1:10 – 11, know very well what it says in Matthew 22: 1 – 14, and have grasp the truth of Romans 2:28 – 29, I am heartbroken Abraham’s descendents view Him as a good prophet, but not Messiah. Whether you like it or not Jesus could NOT have been just a “Great Prophet.”

I tell you this because you will arrive at times when you are faced with the same reasoning. Ask yourself this: “Were His claims true (Option 1) or false?” (Option 2). If they were true, then His acts in Mark 2:1 – 12 were acts of God, as were the ones in Luke 8:22 – 25, and what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3 – 6 was the natural outgrowth of the Living God’s presence here on earth. However, if they were false, then he deliberately misrepresented Himself and was a liar. If he didn’t lie, then He was either a lunatic, delusional or didn’t know He wasn’t telling the truth. The reality is that with either choice from option two eliminates His capacity to be a great prophet – as the Jews and Muslims profess. Here are C. S. Lewis’s thoughts: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldn’t be a great moral teacher. He’d either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he’s a poached egg-or else he’d be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But don’t let us come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He hasn’t left that open to us. He didn’t intend to.”

Kids, you know what it says in Philippians 2:5 – 11. You know that every person who has breathed must deal with this issue. Thank God you have been given the direction of eternal life. Make sure you understand how this single issue determines a life of peace or anxiety.

Love Dad