Why Jesus?

In a recent religious survey in our local community we have asked people what they thought about Jesus. Not surprisingly most people used very positive words to describe Jesus. Yet they would not consider themselves Christians or even religious. It seems that the world is full of 'admirers of Christ' but only a few followers.

Being a Christian means far more than simply having admiration for Jesus. If we see Jesus only as a great moral teacher, revolutionary or philosopher - we have missed the point of His life and teaching. Jesus self-description is very unambiguous:

• 'I am the light of the world'. (John 8:12)
  
• 'I am the resurrection and the Life'. (John 11:25-26)
  
• 'I am the way the truth and the life'. (John 14:6)

Ever since the Garden of Eden - due to Adam and Eve's rebellion - sin entered into our world and a great spiritual gulf was formed between mankind and God. Jesus, the Son of God, came into our world and became a 100% human being. His mission was to bring reconciliation between us and God.

Our sins needed to be paid for but we weren't qualified to do it: 'For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' (John 3:16). When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for our sins and gave us the chance to receive freedom from sin and the gift of eternal life: 'if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ (John 8:36)

"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 a 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. But don't let us come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He hasn't left that open to us. He didn't intend to." (CS Lewis)

What are we to do then? The death of Jesus is the gift of life and forgiveness offered to us freely. All we are called to do is accept that gift through faith, repent of our sins and invite God's Spirit to come and live within us: 'Repent and be baptized each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' (Acts 2:38)