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Introduction: The Question That Defines Faith
In a world where spirituality is often reduced to self-help advice and religion is diluted into motivational phrases, a crucial question arises: Who really was Jesus of Nazareth? Many admire Him as a great moral teacher, an inspiring prophet, or a peaceful revolutionary. But if He was only that, why has His message divided history into “before” and “after”?
Jesus did not present Himself merely as another wise man. He claimed to be God. And that declaration demands a response: He was either a lunatic, a liar, or truly the Lord of the universe. This dilemma, popularized by writer and apologist C.S. Lewis, is not an intellectual game but a question that defines eternal life.
1. Jesus: Just a Moral Teacher? The Problem of Reducing His Identity
Many people, even outside Christianity, acknowledge that Jesus taught high moral values: love your neighbor, forgive your enemies, seek justice. But if He was only an ethical teacher, why did His words generate so much controversy?
The rabbis of His time did not reject Him for preaching love but because He equated Himself with God. In John 10:30, Jesus declares: “I and the Father are one.” The Jews understood exactly what this meant: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). If Jesus was not God, then His most radical teaching—His own identity—would be either blasphemy or madness.
C.S. Lewis’ Argument: “Lunatic, Liar, or Lord”
C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, clearly lays out this reasoning:
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would 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 let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”
In other words:
- If Jesus knew He wasn’t God but said He was, He was a liar.
- If He believed He was God but wasn’t, He was insane.
- But if He truly was God, then He deserves all our worship.
There is no middle ground. Jesus did not leave room for us to consider Him “just a good teacher.”
2. The Theological Implications: Why Is It Crucial That Jesus Is God?
If Jesus is God, then:
A) His Sacrifice on the Cross Has Infinite Power
A mere man could not redeem all of humanity. But if Jesus is the incarnate Word (John 1:1), then His death has universal redemptive value. As St. Paul says: “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).
B) His Teachings Are Not Suggestions but Divine Commands
When Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), it is not an opinion but an absolute truth. If He is God, then rejecting Him is rejecting salvation itself.
C) The Resurrection Confirms His Divinity
A prophet dies and remains in the grave. But God conquers death. The Resurrection is not a myth but the seal of authenticity for Christ (Romans 1:4).
3. Practical Applications: How Does My Life Change If Jesus Is God?
If we accept that Jesus is Lord, our faith ceases to be a philosophy and becomes a relationship with the Creator. How does this translate into daily life?
Pastoral Guide: Steps to Live Out This Truth
- Examine Your Faith: Do you believe in the historical Jesus or a “custom-made Jesus”? Ask God to reveal His true face to you.
- Pray with Humility: Like Thomas, say to Him: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
- Adjust Your Morality: If Jesus is God, His commands (such as confessing sins, loving enemies, living chastely) are non-negotiable.
- Proclaim His Kingship: Do not be afraid to defend His divinity in a world that wants to reduce Him to just another moral teacher.
Conclusion: The Most Important Decision of Your Life
Jesus did not come to give us good advice. He came to save us. If He was just a man, then Christianity is a fraud. But if He is God, then nothing in life is more important than following Him.
As St. Josemaría Escrivá said: “He is not a myth, not an old story. He is Christ, living today and forever.”
What will you choose to believe?
