Who Really Is Jesus?

Story: A Jew called Sholem Ash wrote this

Jesus Christ is the outstanding personality of all time... No other teacher -Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Mohammedan - is still a teacher whose teachings is such a guidepost for the world we live in.

Other teachers may have something basic for an Oriental, an Arab, or an Occidental; but every act and word of Jesus has value for all of us.

He became the Light of the World. Why shouldn't I, a Jew, be proud of that? -Sholem Ash

Story; Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon I of France (1769-1821), was one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

He conquered the larger part of Europe and did much to modernize the nations he ruled.

What did Napoleon say about Jesus?

"I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison.

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I founded empires.

But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force.

Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of people would die for Him."

"Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me ... I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything that can approach the gospel."

When Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled on St. Helena, he was asked by one of his friends, 'Who was the greatest warrior the world has ever known?"

Without hesitation, Napoleon answered, "Jesus Christ."

"But" said his friend, "you have not always talked that way. When you were winning battles, even up to the very time of Waterloo, you left the impression that you were the world's greatest warrior."

This is how Napoleon replied:

"Yes, I have always acted as though I was the world's greatest conqueror. I have had lots of time to think since I have been here on this island. The Caesars, Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Charlemagne and myself have fought with blood and tears and swords of iron, and we lost.

All of us lost. We lost our sceptres, our crowns and our offices. The only sword Christ had was a broken reed: His crown, some twisted thorn: His army, a band of fishermen and farmers. His ammunition a heart of redeeming love.

He lives, and I and my kind die. I stand here and call for the Old Guard to come, but they do not hear me. There are no responding voices. My old soldiers do not hear me.

I hear nothing but the waves as they bite at the rock beneath my feet.

But after 2000 years have gone into the tomb of time, Christ calls and men answer.

If need be, they give their bodies to be burned: if need be, they follow Him into the heart to Africa; but better still, they live patient and triumphant lives in His name.

Yes, the other warriors and I will ride down to dust, but Christ will live forever."

Napoleon was right.

Jesus is unique. He claimed to be both God and Man.

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” in John 8:58

And in this short sentence he claimed to be God. "I am" is the name God gave when Moses asked God what his name was in Exodus 3:14. And the Jews knew exactly what Jesus was claiming in John 8:58

I think Eddie Snipes summed this up admirably when he said:

“If Jesus was not fully God, He is no different than Mohammed, Buddha and countless other religious icons claimed by the world religions.

If Jesus was merely a man, the world would be correct in its claim that all religions point to the same God.

However, since Jesus was God, He has the right to claim that no one comes to the Father except by Him.

No longer is the cross just another symbol, but it is the doorway to salvation that God Himself created by His own sacrifice and His own blood.”