Merely Jesus? (John 6:37)

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Quoted from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

This is a quote from C.S. Lewis’ famous book, Mere Christianity. I read this in college and am re-reading it again as part of my current Bible study. It is still fresh and resonates with insight and wisdom. This paragraph cites the idea that has been termed the Lewis Trilemma. There are only three options when we consider Jesus Christ. He is either lunatic, a liar, or Lord; He is either mad, bad, or God.

Since Lewis first wrote this statement, it has been used by Christian apologists and other defenders of the Christian faith. It made a deep impact upon me when I first read it and I still quote it. Argument and discussion points like Lewis’ are good but they should motivate a person to critically read the Bible and discover for themselves who Jesus is. One can never argue a person into Heaven. Each person must reach their own conclusions about Jesus. And ultimately, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, drawing the fortunate soul to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. God promises to keep those whom He has chosen.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:37

Merely Jesus? He was not a mere man or a mere teacher. He was nothing less than God incarnate. He now reigns in Heaven and someday, He will reign over the entire earth!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.