Jesus' miracles, resurrection, and fulfilled prophecy give powerful evidence proving He was the Divine Son of God. But His life and character also offer proof. His claims, moral purity, and teaching demonstrate He was not a liar, hypocrite, or lunatic but was exactly who He claimed to be.
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Introduction:
John 12:32 – And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
Scripture emphasizes creation, prophecy, miracles, and the resurrection as evidence for faith.
In this study we focus on the character of Jesus as evidence for faith.
The fact that Jesus claimed to be God's Son did not make the claim true (John 5:31-40; 8:13-18). But His claims are substantiated, not just by logical evidence (prophecy, miracles, etc.), but by His character and life. He lived and taught like only the Son of God could live and teach. His claims, teaching, and moral character are so amazing that they lead people to believe in Him.
The only way to learn about Jesus’ character is in the Bible.
Only Bible writers give us eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ life and teachings. So consider the eyewitness testimony regarding who Jesus was and what He did and taught.
Jesus’ Claims
Jesus made for Himself, or allowed others to make for Him, amazing Divine claims.
The Christ, the Son of God
“Christ” is the New Testament word for the Messiah, the anointed ruler of God’s people. “Son of God” refers to Jesus’ special relationship with the Father: the only begotten Son (John 3:16).
Matthew 16:15-17 – Jesus was not just a human prophet. Peter confessed Him to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus said the Father Himself had revealed this to Peter.
Luke 1:35 – The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus “will be called the Son of God.”
Matthew 3:17; 17:5 – At His baptism and at the Transfiguration, the Father testified, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 26:63,64 – During His trial He acknowledged He was the Christ, the Son of God.
What other true prophet ever made such claims? What kind of man would Jesus be to make and allow such claims if He knew they were not true?
(Compare John 9:35-38; 4:25,26; 11:27; 1:29,34,49; 6:69; 12:13; Matthew 8:29; 12:41,42; 14:33; 22:41-46.)
God in the Flesh
Observe how Jesus identified Himself with Deity. Men were rebuked or slain for such claims.
Lord and God
John 14:1 – Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:9 – He who has seen Me has seen the Father. (John 12:45)
John 10:30 – I and My Father are one.
John 20:28,29 – After he saw proof of Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas addressed Jesus as “my Lord and my God.” Jesus pronounced a blessing on everyone who believes the same!
“The First and the Last, Alpha and Omega”
These are terms for Deity emphasizing God’s eternal self-existence (Isaiah 44:6; 43:10; 41:4; 48:12). But note Jesus’ use of these expressions:
Revelation 1:8, (11,17; 2:8) – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End … who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Verses 10-20 show that Jesus is speaking.)
Revelation 22:13 – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. (Jesus is speaking, as shown by verses 12,16,20. See also Revelation 21:6,7.)
“I Am”
Exodus 3:13-15 – God identified Himself to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
John 8:58 – Jesus said, “…before Abraham was, I AM.” He claimed eternal existence like God.
All these are terms for Deity, yet Jesus used them to refer to Himself. What mere human would dare speak of himself in this way? Moses? Elijah? Paul? Such would have been blasphemy.
(Compare John 5:18; 10:30 to Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10,13; 46:4; 48:12.)
Supreme Authority and Judge
Jesus possesses supreme authority.
Matthew 28:18 – All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Revelation 19:16 – He is “King of kings and Lord of lords”: authority above all rulers. (17:14)
(Matthew 12:30 – He who is not with Me is against Me.)
Jesus will judge all men and determine their eternal destinies.
John 5:22 – Jesus said the Father has committed all judgment to Him.
Matthew 16:27 – He will come in glory and reward all men according to their works.
Matthew 25:31-46 – All nations will come before Him, and He will send them to eternal punishment or eternal life.
Again, if the claims are not true, what kind of man would Jesus be to make them?
Worthy of Worship
Men should not be honored like Deity. Yet Jesus allowed people to worship Him religiously in ways that should be done only to God. (Matthew 4:9,10; Acts 10:25,26; Revelation 22:8,9; 19:10)
John 5:23 – All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Matthew 14:33 – After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples worshiped Him as Son of God.
John 9:38 – The man, whom Jesus had healed of blindness, worshiped Jesus.
Matthew 28:9,17 – After His resurrection, His disciples worshiped Him.
Luke 24:52 – After He had ascended back to heaven, they continued to worship Him.
What mere human received such glory with God’s approval? Either Jesus is Divine or He is a fraud, a cheat, and a liar. We cannot be neutral. Anyone making such claims would be expected to confirm them. Consider Jesus’ life to see if it confirmed His claims.
(Matthew 10:34-37; 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; Mark 5:6; Heb. 1:6; John 20:28,29; John 5:23; 17:5)
(Eternal existence – John 17:5,24; 3:13; 6:38; 16:28; 8:23)
Jesus’ Moral Purity
Jesus revealed the highest moral standard known to man. And He lived it! Could a man who was the basest liar and hypocrite reveal and live by such an incredibly high moral standard?
He Stressed Purity in Word, Deed, and Heart but Never Admitted Guilt.
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:22,28 – Not only are murder and adultery wrong but so are sins in the heart .
Matthew 12:35; 15:19,20 – Both good and evil come from the heart.
John 13:34 – He used Himself as the example of love: “Love one another as I loved you.”
John 8:46 – Yet He challenged the Jews to convict Him of sin. He repeatedly rebuked others for sin but never once acknowledged sin in Himself or asked for forgiveness.
Those who seek diligently to serve God are aware of our failings. But Jesus revealed the perfect standard of morality yet never admitted violating it.
People Who Knew Him Confessed Him to Be Sinless.
Luke 1:35 – The angel Gabriel told Mary, “That Holy One … will be called the Son of God.”
1 Peter 1:19; 2:22 – Peter accompanied Him for three years. He called Him “a lamb without blemish and without spot.” He said Jesus committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.
1 John 3:5 – John said in Him there is no sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Scripture reveals the faults of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, and Paul, but never a flaw in Jesus. In particular, none ever accused Him of being a liar or a hypocrite.
Those Who Opposed Him Could Produce No Evidence of Sin.
Attempts to convict Him of sin all failed.
Matthew 12:1-14 – Some accused Him of violating the Sabbath; but when He defended His actions, they could not answer Him. (John 7:21-24; 5:17-19)
Matthew 12:22-29 – Some said He had a demon or cast out demons by the power of the Devil, but they could not answer His defenses. (John 8:48-52)
Luke 15 – They criticized Him for associating with sinners, but He explained this was love.
Mark 14:55-64 – At His trials leaders produced false witnesses but could not convict Him. They condemned Him for claiming to be the Son of God. But what if He is the Son of God? How can He be condemned for acknowledging who He is?
Even His enemies admitted His innocence.
Mark 1:24 – A demon said, “I know who You are – the Holy One of God!”
Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas, who betrayed Jesus, acknowledged Him to be innocent.
Luke 23:4,14,22 – Pilate, the Roman governor who judged Jesus, repeatedly declared Him to be innocent but condemned Him to death to satisfy the Jews. (Compare Matthew 27:18-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-5,13-25; John 18:28-40; 19:4-16.)
Luke 23:15 – Herod also put Jesus on trial but found no guilt in Him (verses 6-12).
Luke 23:39-43 – One of the thieves crucified with Jesus acknowledged Him to be innocent.
Luke 23:47 – The centurion in charge of Jesus’ crucifixion concluded He was righteous.
Satan Himself Tried Every Possible Temptation without Success.
Matthew 4:1-11 – Satan tried unsuccessfully to tempt Jesus. Jesus answered with Scripture.
No one during Jesus’ lifetime could produce evidence of guilt in Him, and no one even claimed He was a liar or a hypocrite. Jesus not only revealed the highest moral standard, He lived by it!
Jesus’ Teaching
Did Jesus’ teaching fit His claims or did it condemn Him as a liar and hypocrite?
He Stressed Truth and Opposed Lying, Hypocrisy, and False Teaching.
He strongly opposed false teaching
Matthew 7:15-20 – Beware of false teachers. You will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 15:13,14 – If the blind leads the blind, both fall into the ditch.
He repeatedly rebuked lying and hypocrisy.
Matthew 23:3,4,25-28; 6:1-18; Luke 18:9-14 – Many of His firmest rebukes were directed against the hypocrisy of religious leaders.
If Jesus’ claims were false, His own teaching would condemn Him as a hypocrite. Does the pattern of His life fit that of a religious hypocrite?
He stood for truth and claimed to be the source of truth.
John 14:6 – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” ( John 8:32)
John 18:37 – He told Pilate: “… for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
He Taught that All Must Obey His Teaching.
He claimed that His teachings are the standard of right and wrong for all people.
Matthew 28:18,20 – Jesus claimed to possess all authority in heaven and on earth; so people should obey all His commands.
Luke 10:22 – All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
John 15:4-6 – As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6; 15:26)
He Courageously Faced, Answered, and Rebuked His Fiercest Enemies.
Matthew 12:1-14 – He answered the Pharisees' accusations about the Sabbath. They could not respond to His teaching. (John 7:21-24; 5:17-19)
Matthew 15:1-14 – He opposed the Scribes’ and Pharisees' human traditions.
Matthew 22:15-22 – The Herodians and Pharisees tried to trap Him about taxes. They marveled at His teaching (verse 22).
Matthew 22:23-34 – The Sadducees debated Him about the resurrection. He silenced them. The people were astonished at His teaching (verses 33,34).
Matthew 22:41-46 – He questioned the Pharisees about whose son the Christ was. They could not answer Him and quit disputing with Him (verse 46).
Matthew 23 – He boldly rebuked the error and hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees.
The people who tried to disprove His teaching failed every time and were amazed at Him.
He Offered the Greatest Promises and Blessings to Those Who Follow Him.
He offered peace and all spiritual blessings.
John 4:14 – Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.
John 6:35 – I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He offered forgiveness and salvation from sin.
Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48,49 – Jesus claimed to directly forgive sins, which only God can do.
Matthew 20:28 – He came to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 26:28 – He shed His blood for many for the remission of sins.
John 8:24 – People who do not believe in Him will die in their sins.
(Luke 24:47; John 1:29,36; 6:51; 10:15-17; 12:47)
He offered fellowship with God and eternal life only through Him.
John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 10:27-29 – My sheep hear my voice and I give them eternal life; they shall never perish.
John 11:25,26 – I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Jesus claimed He could forgive sins and give people eternal life. What true mere human prophet or angel ever claimed such power?
(John 3:13-15; 6:40,51; 10:10; 16:23–24)
All Who Heard Him Were Astonished at His Teaching.
Luke 2:46,47 – At age 12 He discussed in the temple with the teachers. “And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”
Matthew 7:28,29 – The people were astonished at His teaching because He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 11:18 – The leaders wanted to kill Him because all the people were astonished at His teaching.
John 7:46 – The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
People were impressed, not just by His miracles, but by His teaching.
(Matthew 13:54; Luke 4:22; John 7:15)
Conclusion
If Jesus knew His claims were false, why did He die for them?
Compare the life and death of Jesus to other men who made false or fanatical claims. Joseph Smith was killed for his false claims, but he died with his guns blazing trying to slay his attackers. Mohammed led his followers in many wars. But Jesus told His disciples not to defend Him but calmly and peaceably allowed His own death. Why, if He knew His claims were false?
Either Jesus was the Son of God and the Savior of the world as He claimed to be or He was a liar and a hypocrite or He was a lunatic.
Which one does His life fit? Do we see in Jesus the kind of conduct that we would expect from a liar or a lunatic? Who dares to produce serious, convincing evidence to convict Him? Even those today who deny His Deity rarely accuse Him of wickedness.
Some say the disciples invented the Christ of the gospel. But how could anyone invent such a perfect person? And why would they do so? The Christ they describe is completely different from what they expected. He continually corrected them for their errors and misunderstandings of who He was. They could not have invented Him and would not if they could!
He said He would draw all men to Himself. Doubtless He draws by His fulfilled prophecies, miracles, and resurrection. But His character adds another powerful proof that His claims are true. Do we not see in Him just the kind of man whose life fits His claims? His own life and teaching stand as confirmation that He was the Son of God.
Will you believe and follow?
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2024; gospelway.com
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