Hear Ye Him

While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying,
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5).

The central claim of the Bible--being the inspired Word of God, guiding men to understanding God and presenting the way in which men should live (2 Timothy 3:16-17)--stands or falls on its claims regarding Jesus of Nazareth. If what the Bible reveals about Jesus of Nazareth is true--that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, who died, was raised again, and is now Lord (Acts 2:36, 1 Corinthians 15:1-7)--then we must accept the Bible for what it claims to be, we must respect Jesus Christ as Lord, and we must follow His precepts if we desire eternal life. If the Bible makes false claims about Jesus of Nazareth, then human beings remain in their sin, people are left without any real hope of knowing about God, and Christians are of all people to be most pitied (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). The importance of our inquiry cannot be overstated. Who did Jesus of Nazareth claim to be, and is the Bible's account of Him trustworthy?

We can first establish safely that Jesus of Nazareth really existed. Those who claimed to be His disciples went about proclaiming His message, assuming that their audience already knew of Him (Acts 2:22). Stories regarding Him and His teachings were written down by His followers from 20 to 70 years after His death. The Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus also testify to the existence of the Christians and what they said about Jesus of Nazareth. If we cannot trust all the sources that speak of the existence of Jesus, then we cannot trust that anyone existed in the ancient world! What did Jesus claim about Himself? Many today are quite content to accept the fact that Jesus really did exist, but they believe like many of the Jews of the first century: He was a prophet, a good man who did some good things and taught good truths, but nothing more (cf. Matthew 16:13-14). Yet Jesus Himself testifies that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and God Himself (Matthew 16:15-17, John 8:58).