Was Jesus Lord?

I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only alternative is that he was – and is – the Christ, the Son of God, as he claimed. But in spite of the logic and evidence, many people cannot seem to bring themselves to this conclusion.

The issue with these three alternatives is not which is possible, for obviously all three are possible. Rather, the question is, “Which is most probable?” You cannot put him on the shelf merely as a great moral teacher. That is not a valid option. He is either a liar, a lunatic or Lord and God. You must make a choice. Your decision about Jesus must be more than an idle intellectual exercise. As the apostle John wrote, “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and” – more important – “that by believing in him you will have life.” (John 20:31)

Remember, Jesus died on the cross. Who in the world is willing to pay this huge price for us and worst still, if he knew he was a fake?

The evidence, therefore, is clearly in favour of Jesus as Lord.

Why is the question over Jesus’ true identity so important? Why does it matter whether or not Jesus is God?

The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Only God could pay such an infinite penalty (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus had to be God so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die. Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ! Jesus’ deity is why He is the only way of salvation. Jesus’ deity is why He proclaimed, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Source: gotquestions.org, More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell.