Above right: An AI generated image of Jesus using the image on the Shroud of Turin (on left). The Shroud has not been proven to be authentic, but neither has it been proven to be a fake. It is an extremely interesting item that has undergone extensive examination by experts in many fields.
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(…continued) Do you think Jesus was a lunatic? (see previous meditation) Again, look at your response to the person at the Minnesota State Fair, and then look at the response of most people to Jesus. You try to get away from a lunatic, but most people did not try to get away from Jesus. Rather, they came from all over to see him, and they followed him in droves. “He taught as one with authority,” was said by many who heard him speak. Even his enemies were fascinated by Jesus. Crowds followed him wherever he went, and at times he had to sneak away to get a bit of rest. Religious leaders wanted to meet with him. Even King Herod wanted to see Jesus and was glad when Pilate sent him over.
Today, there are between two and three billion people who claim to be Christians and followers of this Jesus. Even many unbelievers consider Jesus to be the greatest human being that ever lived. His words are revered as a description of how life is best lived.
This was not a raving lunatic. This was the most sane and wise person that ever lived. There were those who did not believe his claims, and in John chapter ten some people said he was raving mad; but look at the rest of the context. The Jews knew the 23rd Psalm in which David declares “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Jesus had just said “I am the Good Shepherd.” That infuriated many because by saying that he was claiming to be God, and many were not yet convinced of that. That is why some said he was raving mad. Can you blame them? That is an incredible claim to make. But listen to the rest, John 10:19-21: At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” Jesus was claiming to be God. This was an outrageous claim (think again about the man at the state fair); yet, many people were already believing it!
Was Jesus a LUNATIC? That is what we would usually say about someone who claims to be God. But not even the enemies of Jesus say that anymore. I have, over the years, heard many of the assaults on the Christian message, but no one tries to make the case for this one. Think about that. If someone came up to you at the Minnesota State Fair and said they were God, the first thing you would think was that he was crazy. But in the Gospels, there is the story of a man who is saying that all over the place, who was arrested by the Jews and accused of that very thing (it was called blasphemy in those days); and yet, most people were taking him seriously. Even today, of all the various objections to the Christian faith, no one attacks Jesus for this.
Think again about being at the Minnesota State Fair. You stay far away from this apparently insane man claiming to be God; but you are still watching what he does. You see most people are also avoiding him. But then you see him go up to a little girl in a wheelchair. You walk over a little closer as you wonder, “Now what?” You see the man put his hands on the girl’s head and say a prayer. He then takes the girl’s hands and he helps her to her feet; and she stays standing. Not only does she stand, but she walks around, then runs around, then jumps up and down. Her parents are astounded, they are crying, and now, many people are beginning to pay attention.
What do you say to yourself then? Do you run right over, fall on your knees before the man, and say, “Oops, sorry God, I must have been mistaken”? Or, are you still cautious, thinking this must be a trick, and that the girl and her family are in on it. After all, this is the Minnesota State Fair.
You know that people don’t get healed just like that. Therefore, that man must be a LIAR; the next option that begins with an ‘L.’ We all know there have been other preachers like that. Some of them are on television. They heal people on stage for all to see, tell you to send in your prayer requests, make promises, and beg for your money. Sometimes they have been exposed as fakes with accomplices planted in the audience. I believe miracles can happen, but I am very suspicious of many ‘miracle workers.’ I think many of them intentionally deceive people. Jesus also received that response. In Matthew 27:63 his enemies say to Pilate: “Sir, we remember that while he was still alive THAT DECEIVER said, ‘After three days I will rise again.” A deceiver. A LIAR. Jesus said “I and the Father are one,” he said he could forgive the sins of everyone, he said he could give everlasting life, he said he was the Good Shepherd, and he said he existed before Abraham who lived eighteen centuries earlier. Those are all outrageous claims to make, so if Jesus wasn’t a LUNATIC, he must be a LIAR. (continued…)
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Almighty God, who hast taught us that the night is far spent and the day is at hand: grant that we may ever be found watching for the coming of Thy Son; save us from undue love of the world, that we may wait with patient hope for the day of the Lord, and so abide in him, that when he shall appear we may not be ashamed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Methodist hymnal
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