The Trial And Torture Of The King Series

The second answer to the legend theory is this: If the followers of Jesus fabricated this story, what would have been their motive? Deception is motivated by greed or self-promotion. What happened to these early Christians? They were arrested tortured and killed. They died penniless and in agony. And not one of them refuted the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. They all died believing with all their hearts that they would join Jesus in heaven.

4. Is He the Lord?

The only other option is that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He is the one and only Son of God who existed before Abraham was born. He claimed to forgive sins. Now I can forgive you if you step on my toe or steal my money. But Jesus claimed to be able to forgive the sins of everyone who ever steps on anyone else’s toes or anyone who steals anyone else’s money. Only God can do that.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it’s time for you to announce your verdict. You may be thinking, “Well, I don’t think He was a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or Lord. He was just a great teacher. I’m sorry, that’s not a viable option. As the great Oxford Professor of Literature C.S. Lewis wrote: “There’s a foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who 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.” (Mere Christianity, p. 55)

Be careful how you decide your verdict, because Jesus had very direct words to say about people who do not accept His claims. He said, “If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

As you decide your verdict about Jesus remember one day, the situation will be reversed. He will be the judge and we will be the ones on trial. There’s an old song by Albert Simpson that talks about answering the question Pilate asked, “What will you do with Jesus?” The chorus says, “What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be; Someday your heart will be asking; What will He do with me?”

These 94 hours have changed the world. When you vote to crown Jesus as Lord of your life, then these 94 hours will change your world as well.

OUTLINE

1. SILENCE: An innocent man falsely accused

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

2. SUBSTITUTE: A guilty man graciously excused