Is there ample evidence that Jesus was divine? Billy Graham thinks so...
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I agree that Jesus was a great man, but where did the idea come from that he was also God? I suppose some of his followers came up with this, but I don’t think Jesus was any different from you or me. — R.M.
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| Sorry, but the claim can not be used as evidence for the claim. |
DEAR R.M.: This wasn’t something his followers dreamed up; Jesus himself taught that he was not only fully human, but also fully divine. He boldly stated, “I and the Father are one.… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 10:30; 14:9).Sure, there are passages that sound like Jesus is claiming to be God, but there are also passages that make it sound as if he isn't. Jesus claims to be sent by God, not himself. He claims to work to please God, not himself. And he claims that God is greater than him, thus separate.
And what does it matter if he claimed he was God? People claim to be the returning Jesus every day. Shall we just take everyone at their word?
But was He right? Or was he deluded, or simply lying so people would listen to him (as some have claimed)? In other words, what proof is there to back up his claim to be the unique son of God? Let me mention two lines of evidence. First, Jesus demonstrated his divine nature by his life. Even his worst enemies couldn’t point to any sin he committed, and by his miracles he demonstrated his command over nature — something only God could do.Stating that Jesus performed miracles is of no use since there is no historical evidence that these claims are true. And why would is matter if he was without 'sin'? Surely it's possible for anyone to achieve with enough discipline (ignoring 'original sin')... Not that it really matters since the Bible actually tells of a Jesus that is not without sin. Something I've talked about here, here, here and in an upcoming blog...
But Jesus also proved his divinity by his resurrection from the dead. Think of it: Death could not hold him!An event that is also lacking any historical evidence as to its veracity. And if Jesus returning from the dead proves his divinity, what about all the other religious figures that are said to have returned from the dead as well?
Is Billy oblivious to the fact that there are other possibilities? What if the body was moved? What if there never was a body to find or question? After all, there also isn't any evidence for Jesus' existence.If his enemies wanted to discredit him after his disciples claimed he had come back from the grave, all they had to do was produce his body. But they couldn’t because God had raised him from the dead. Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
Only a divine savior could become the final sacrifice for our sins, and only a divine savior could come into our lives and change us from within. Don’t let doubt grip your soul any longer, but discover Jesus as he really is — and then open your heart and life to his transforming power.Only a divine being could die every single day and return from that death. Such is the price Prometheus pays for bringing us the gift of fire.
-Brain Hulk
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