So you Think Jesus is a Liar Part II
- John Stuart Mill: “But about the life and sayings of Jesus there is a stamp of personal originality combined with profundity of insight….in the very first rank of men of sublime genius of whom our species can boast. When this pre-eminent genius is combined with the qualities of probably the greatest moral reformer, and martyr to that mission, who ever existed upon earth, religion cannot be said to have made a bad choice in pitching on this man as the ideal representative and guide of humanity; nor, even now, would it be easy, even for an unbeliever, to find a better translation of the rule of virtue from the abstract into the concrete, than to endeavor so to live that Christ would approve our life.”
- William Lecky: “It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal character, which through all the changes of eighteen centuries has inspired the hearts of men with an impassioned love; has shown itself capable of acting on all ages, nations, temperaments, and conditions; has been not only the highest pattern of virtue but the strongest incentive to its practice; and has exercised so deep an influence that it may be truly said that the simple record of [Jesus’] three short years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers, and all other exhortations of moralists.”
Indeed, Jesus was the most unique of human figures. He was original, insightful, a reformer, a martyr, an ideal role model, who has unrivaled universal appeal throughout the world. Just ask yourself this: if you found out your child would have the love, patience, insight, and intelligence of Jesus, wouldn’t you be happy? It’s because we know he is the standard of goodness. So to say that he was a liar just flies in the face of everything we know about him. We could put it logically this way: 1. If Jesus is a liar, then he is not good. 2. Jesus is good (he is not not good). 3. Therefore, Jesus is not a liar. The Absurdity of Jesus Lying As J. Warner Wallace, a famous cold case detective, has pointed out, there are three reasons why criminals lie: for sex, for power, and for money. Now, what did Jesus get out of “lying” about being God?
- Did he do it for sexual reasons? He never slept with a woman, and he is noted in the New Testament for his respect towards women.
- Did he do it for power? The Jews often wanted to give Jesus political power, but he continually rejected it. “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (John 6:15).
- Did he do it for money? Jesus and his disciples were poor (Luke 9:58 says He had no place to lay His head) and lived on the generosity of others (see Luke 8:1–3).
What, then, did this “lie” bring?
- His family thought he was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
- The religious rulers thought he was empowered by Satan (Mark 3:22).
- His claims to divinity ultimately brought about His death: “‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds” (John 8:58–59).
Conclusion He had no motivation to make up the lie, and He certainly had no motivation to die for the lie. Plus, Jesus is the most upright and virtuous person that humanity has ever produced. Are we really going to attribute the evil of lying to Him? [1] Kreeft, 1888-1890