by Mike Moore
Who was and who is Jesus Christ?
First, there is the tense. Tense means time. Time is not important or limiting to Him. Dr. Mark Cambron, a great Bible teacher of years past, always said, “Time is an island in the sea of God’s eternity.”
People have trouble deciding whether to say, “Jesus was” – past tense, or “Jesus is” – present tense, or “Jesus will” – future tense.
All are correct. But He must never be left in the past. He is not some First-Century teacher who ran contrary to Roman law and was executed. He is not some long-dead reformer or religious founder. He is not in a tomb in a Judean hillside. He is now, and He is alive. The well-known American news magazine was wrong when the cover story asked, “Who WAS Jesus?”
More has been written about Him than about anyone else. He is the center of it all.
But just who was and is Jesus Christ?
The theories and ideas are legion. Islam, that come-lately religion which swept out of Arabia in the 600s, says He is the next-to-the last prophet. The cult known as Jehovah’s Witnesses says He is a created being. Many in the pablum-sounding liberal mainline denominations say He was a good man, an example.
The Bible says He is God and He is Man.
There is no “good man” middle ground. Good men do not go around claiming to be God. He is something different.
Many, if not most people, certainly in America, may give Him no thought at all. There is not time. People must climb the business ladder and watch their favorite team and take the kids to soccer and play golf and go shopping.
It is time to stop and consider this story and the claims of this Person. Because if it is true that He is what He claimed to be and that He came back from the dead, it is worth our time.
He is different than Gandhi, or Buddha, or George Washington or another famous person of history.
Jesus Christ was born to a teenage mother in a small village about five miles from Jerusalem. He lived on earth for 33 years. He was killed. Then He came back from the dead. He said He will return.
I believe Him.