The Credentials of Jesus, Part 1

This week and the next I would like to intensify our worship of Jesus by considering what I call “The Credentials of Jesus” to the world. Below are several aspects of Jesus that highlight why He is worthy of the praise and amazement of every human being through history. As we pursue our study and prayer on the character of Jesus that reveals God’s character, let these ideas assure you that following Jesus is the only reasonable choice. To ignore a person with such credentials borders on… being irrational.

1. Jesus was the only sinless human that ever lived (even Buddha and Muhammad sinned)

 

• “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” John 8:46
• “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Herbrews 7:14
• See also Hebrews 7:26, 9:14, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Jn 3:5, 2 Cor 5:21
• Interestingly, even the Koran admits Jesus was sinless (Sura 3: 46; 6: 86; 19: 19*)

 

2. The generally agreed upon moral perfection of His mind

 

• C. S. Lewis summed up the truth about the moral perfection of Jesus’ mind: “On the one hand you have got the almost generally admitted depth and sanity of His moral teaching, which is not very seriously questioned, even by those who are opposed to Christianity. In fact, I find when I am arguing with very anti-God people that they rather make a point of saying, ‘I am entirely in favour of the moral teaching of Christianity’ — and there seems to be a general agreement that in the teaching of this Man and of His immediate followers, moral truth is exhibited at its purest and best. It is not sloppy idealism; it is full of wisdom and shrewdness. The whole thing is realistic, fresh to the highest degree, the product of a sane mind.” – C. S. Lewis from “What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ” from God In the Dock

 

3. Jesus is the only person in all of human history to rise from the dead… and have 515 eyewitnesses

•  “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.“ I Cor 15:3 – 8

• The Resurrection – Jesus’ new material body could be touched, held and prodded. He could eat fish and drink. Many eyewitnesses held Him after He rose from the dead.
• Neither Buddha nor Muhammad rose from the dead.

 

4. Jesus fulfilled 4,000 years of Jewish Prophesy

 

• Muhammad did not fulfill Jewish prophesy even though Islam claims the Torah to support the Koran.
• Jesus fulfilled over 300 Prophetic Events from the Old Testament, here are but 30:

 

Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2
National Identity & Authority will not end until the Messiah comes	Genesis 49:10
Messiah will have a ministry in Galilee	Isaiah 9:1,2
Messiah will have a ministry of miracles	Isaiah 35:5, 6; 42:7; 53:4
Messiah will preach good news to poor, encourage the brokenhearted, ….	Isaiah 61:1
Rejection by Jews & Gentiles	Ps 2:1-2; Ps 118:22-23
Messiah would be persecuted	Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 53:3
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey	Zechariah 9:9
Zeal for God’s house would consume Him	Psalms 69:9
Betrayal by close friend	Psalms 41:9; 55:12-13
Betrayal for 30 pieces of Silver	Zechariah 11:12
Purchase of the Potter’s Field with 30 pieces of Silver	Zechariah 11:13
Desertion of the disciples	Zechariah 13:7
Silent under accusation	Is 53:7
Mocking	Ps 22:7, 8
Hands and Feet Pierced	Ps 22:16
Patience under suffering	Is 53:7
Crucified	Ps 22:14
Offer of gall and vinegar	Ps 69:21
Cries upon the Cross	Ps 22:1
Death with the wicked and transgressors	Isaiah 53:9, Isaiah 53:12
Casting of lots for His garments	Ps 22:18
Bones not broken	Ps 34:20
Pierced	Ps 22:16, Zechariah 12:10
Suffered for us, suffered in our place	Is 53:4-6
Born of a virgin	Is 7:14
Messiah will have a forerunner	Is 40:3; Malachi 3:1; Malachi4:5
Buried with Rich	Is 53:9
Specific time of arrival	Dan 9:24

 

 

 

We are not foolish for engaging our reason and our faith to respond to the God-man! Jesus is infinitely superior to all other humans, including any other religious or political leaders, throughout human history. When we extol Jesus’ unique and unmatched good character, we should acknowledge the solid foundation of His credentials demonstrated before the human race.

 

We employ reason alongside our faith as we highlight Jesus as the single unique person in the entire course of human history. No supposed teacher, prophet or leader comes close to His greatness. This is why the cherubim and angels of heaven worship and praise Him (Rev 5:12)!