He Changed Everything
Jesus
Jesus, the son of Joseph
Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth
Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth, the rightful heir to David’s throne
Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth, the rightful heir to David’s throne, the Messiah
The reality is this, no matter how you look at him, trace his lineage, or think about the book that gives witness to his life, death, and resurrection, there is no denying that Jesus was a real person. And more importantly, there is no denying that he changed everything.
For the past 2000+ years, we’ve been debating him, worshipping him, and hinging our entire dating system around his birth. Ancient Roman historians like Josephus admitted his existence and even considered that the resurrection might just have happened. Third-century theological voices and scholars like the North African pastor Athanasius vigorously defended the reality of his resurrection. And even modern voices like C.S. Lewis argued in his work, Mere Christianity, that Jesus is one of three options, a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord.
Again, no matter how you answer Lewis’ argument, the frank reality is that Jesus changed everything, and the very mention of his name requires an answer.
Some 2000+ years after his life, death, and resurrection, we are still thinking about, talking about, and trying to understand Jesus. The question that lingers is, why? If he really was a person of little consequence, if his miracles were easily explained away as natural phenomena, or if his resurrection was just a hoax, why are we still fixated on him?
Maybe, just maybe, it is because he is the one who is capable of changing you and me.
Maybe, just maybe, it is because he is all that the Bible proclaims him to be.
He has changed everything. That much is clear.
So, who do you say that he is?