One cannot go far in investigating the Bible before coming face to face with a most amazing personality, Jesus Christ. Everything connected with His life, from His birth, and even before His birth, to His death, resurrection, and ascension, breathes the unusual, the miraculous, and the supernatural. Who was/is He? Everyone acknowledges that He was a great teacher, that He did wonderful things for people and helped many. But did He tell the truth? Was His teaching accurate? Or did it contain errors? And what about His impression of Himself? Did He know what He was saying when He claimed a position with God? Let us examine the record.

A lengthy portion of three gospels (Matthew, Luke, John) is taken up in explaining Christ's supernatural origin. Luke 1:26-38 relates that an angel appeared to a virgin named Mary and informed her that she would have a child who would be born contrary to all laws of human conception and generation. He explained that, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee . . . therefore also, that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." John, the fourth gospel writer, informs us that the Word, later identified as Christ, lived in the eternity past in a face-to-face relationship with God and that He is God. At a point in time He took a body (John 1:14) and dwelt for a period of time among men.

When Joseph, Mary's fiancé, learned of her pregnancy, he decided to divorce her privately. Under Jewish law, engagement was as binding as marriage and required a divorce to break it. However an angel appeared to him and explained that Mary "the virgin" had conceived the child of the Holy Spirit. Her son would be called Immanuel, meaning, "God with us" (Matt. 1:18-25). Joseph accepted the explanation and married her but did not live with her in the relationship of a husband until the birth of Christ. In all of this, the passage says, Joseph was "a just man."

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, angels appeared in the sky and informed shepherds of His birth. Upon being presented in the temple, as required by the Law, a godly old man named Simeon, prompted by the Holy Spirit, came to the temple, took the infant Jesus into his arms and said, "I am ready to die now, O Lord, because my eyes have seen Thy salvation." Imagine a little baby being called "salvation."

In connection with His birth a star appeared, and wise men from the East took a long journey to visit the child. Their inquiries in Jerusalem upset King Herod. They eventually found the child with Mary, His mother, and Joseph at Bethlehem. Upon seeing Him, they fell down, worshiped Him, and presented expensive gifts (Matt. 2:11). King Herod in a jealous rage commanded all children in and near Bethlehem from two years old and under to be killed. But the night before Herod’s gruesome activity, Joseph and Mary fled with the child to Egypt.

How many "wise men" have you seen who have "bowed down" and worshiped a child? I don’t think things were any different back then as they are today. Wise men don’t bow down and worship children. Why did these men? Why did Herod want to kill a child? All of these events suggest that Jesus was someone special.

Only one glimpse is given (Luke 2:41-52) of the almost 30 years of Christ’s childhood, teen, and young adult years. At the age of twelve, He accompanied His parents on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast days. Upon conclusion of the observances, He remained in the temple, amazing doctors and learned men with His understanding and answers. After three days, His panic stricken mother and foster father found Him. He explained, "Know ye not that I must be about My Father's business"? What a strange and thought provoking reply. How familiar we are with the truth of Proverbs 22:15, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child," but this twelve year old lad was a unique and unusual exception.

At age thirty, Christ began His ministry as an itinerant preacher, which commenced and concluded with one miraculous event after another.

A. Baptism. Upon being baptized by John the Baptist, it is recorded that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and a voice came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Matt. 3:13-17. This is the only baptism in the world at which such a remarkable event occurred.

B. Temptations. Three specific testings are mentioned in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. One involved the carrying of Christ to the pinnacle of the temple and another taking Him to a high mountain for a view of all the kingdoms of the world. It is evident that Satan acknowledged Christ as the Son of God in these temptations. Upon victoriously overcoming all of them, angels came and ministered to Him.

C. Selection of disciples. Christ amazed one of His prospective disciples, Nathaniel, with His omniscience by saying, "Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee" (John 1:46). Nathaniel was so convinced, he exclaimed, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel." Frequent mention is made in the gospels of Christ's omniscience, an attribute possessed only by God.

D. Miracles. Not one sickness, disease, or deformity existed over which He did not exercise authority and power. He experienced no failures. In the physical realm, He opened the eyes of the blind, some blind from birth. The palsied, lame, impotent, deaf, dumb, those with running sores, the leper, and those given up by doctors as incurable, He healed with but a word. Some healings were "long distance" ones. He merely told the suppliant to go home, and he would find the sick one well. Perhaps the most spectacular miracles involved the raising of the dead, including Lazarus, who had lain in the grave four days (John 11). On several occasions, masses of sick, diseased, and demon-possessed people were healed.

While generally there was an expression of faith on the part of the sick, a number of them were healed without such an expression of faith. No standard procedure of healing was used. Of interest is also the fact that these healings resulted in widespread publicity, as well as amazement and fear on the part of men and women who witnessed them. They realized that they were standing in the presence of Deity.

The medical profession tells us that seventy to eighty percent of all visits to doctors' offices are not really necessary. The doctor's prescription or "shot in the arm" may speed recovery, but the patient would improve in time regardless of the medication they received. None of the miracles of Christ in the physical realm were of this kind. The leper was immediately cleansed, and that cleansing was observable. The lame man immediately walked, and his healing was obvious to the multitude. The blind immediately received sight.

In the natural realm, Christ changed 100 to 120 gallons of water into wine at the Cana wedding (John 2). Several times while crossing the Sea of Galilee, He stilled the storm by commanding the winds and waves to "be still." On several occasions He walked on the water. He multiplied food, literally tons of it. Once He fed 5,000 men plus women and children, and on another occasion 4,000 with only a few fish and barley loaves. After the crowds had eaten their fill, more fragments remained than when He began the feeding. He had power over fish, and several instances are recorded involving the catching of a net full of fish by the disciples at Christ's command. Once, at Christ's direction, Peter caught a fish with a piece of money in its mouth with which he paid taxes. In the event generally called the "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem, Christ rode an unbroken colt. There was nothing in the natural or creation realm over which He did not exercise authority.

Miracles in the spiritual realm involved the casting out of demons. Some of them affected the individuals by making them deaf, dumb, or extremely violent.

Christ also went through an experience called the "Transfiguration." It is related in three gospels that His whole being was illuminated so that His face shone as the sun and His clothing became white as light. Moses, who had died hundreds of years before, and Elijah who had been translated, appeared and talked to Him. Peter, James, and John recognized them. A voice was heard from heaven saving, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him" (Matt. 17:5).

E. Preaching and teaching. Frequently He must have preached and taught for an hour or more. "In the multitude of words there lacketh not sin" (Prov. 10:19), but He is the lone exception to this well established rule. This is astonishing when one considers that He dealt with every conceivable subject, such as marriage, divorce, adultery, proper attitude toward money and possessions, proper relationship toward Rome, a hated government, trust in God, the Sabbath day, treatment of enemies, existence after death, heaven, hell, etc. He never evaded a question or asked for time to think it over or to do research on it. He always had an answer, and it was immediate, correct, comprehensive, and final. Never once did He retract or modify a statement. He never quoted anyone as authority, except the Old Testament Scriptures but said, "I say unto you." The logic and reasoning in His answers were convincing and irresistible. See for example, Luke 13:10-17, 20:27-39. His enemies were silenced and unable to counter His answers. They had to reluctantly acknowledge that He was right.

Contrast the foregoing with the experiences of our President or other public figures. Individuals, courts, and governments frequently hedge, modify, or reverse their decisions. Foolish, even ridiculous opinions are expressed by those considered wise.

Examples: under the heading, "Statements I wish I hadn't made," the following could be listed: In 1945 Adm. William Leahy, U.S. Navy officer, said to President Truman regarding the proposed development of an atomic bomb, "That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done . . . . The bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives." Lee De Forest, the "Father of the Radio," said in 1926, that commercially and financially television was an "impossibility."

It is safe to say that no human being has ever lived who has not "put his foot into his mouth" more often than he wishes to remember. The lone exception is Christ, and that exception puts Him into a class all by Himself, the class of Deity. He is the God-man.

The timelessness of Christ's wisdom is remarkable. His statements are quoted today. They are as authoritative, as refreshing and as vital today as they were the day He uttered them 2,000 years ago. His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), were considered astonishing by the multitudes who heard them. Even today, there is a realization that these teachings are contrary to what is usually espoused by human teachers. Someone has said that if all the true psychology of the ages, all of the world's best philosophy, and all teaching on practical everyday living were distilled and synthesized, it would amount to but an awkward summary of the Sermon on the Mount.

Christ's townspeople in Nazareth marveled at the gracious words He spoke (Luke 4:22), and questioned whether He could be Joseph's son. Officers sent to arrest Him returned empty handed with the explanation, "Never man spoke like this man" (John 7:46). Sent to capture Him, they themselves had been captured by His words.

In spite of His miraculous power and ministry, special note must be taken of His prayer life. He withdrew into the wilderness to pray (Mark 1:35). Sometimes He spent all night in prayer. One of His remarkable prayers is given in John 17. He taught His disciples how to pray (Luke 11:1-13, 18:1-8). He always prayed alone. No instance is recorded of His praying with His disciples, though He often prayed for them. The reason is evident. The disciple must often ask for forgiveness of sins, but Christ could not have entered into such confessions, for He had no sin. All of these suggest that Christ was receiving ability and strength from His Father.

He was a man of compassion and tears. Frequently He had compassion on the multitudes, sympathizing with them and ministering to their needs. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus and over the city of Jerusalem.

All strata of society from Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, to the outcasts, the publicans and harlots were drawn to Him. He was known as the friend of Publicans and sinners. Little children were attracted to Him, and He took them up into His arms and blessed them.

He preached humility and practiced it. He said, that "Even the Son of Man came, not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" Mark 10:45. At the Passover Supper He washed His disciples' feet, including Judas, the betrayer. He truly was the servant of men.

Every characteristic, every emotion, and every attitude are perfectly blended and balanced. Nothing is lacking and nothing can be added. He is portrayed as the perfect man. He was a man of pristine purity, righteousness, and holiness, but without the austerity and isolation which would make Him unapproachable. He was a man of joy and humor but never frivolous or foolish. He loved and sympathized with the sinner and the one in need but never exhibited any sentimentality which folks so often associate with love. He associated with the Publican and the sinner but obviously never became one of them in any way. He exhibited a righteous hatred of sin and denounced wickedness. Yet He manifested grace and mercy to the repentant one. He lived with His disciples for three years or more but never became familiar or "buddy-buddy" with them. They always recognized the gulf existing between them.

Repeatedly His disciples marveled at Him. After He stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee, they exclaimed, "What manner of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him" (Matt. 8:27). The disciples who knew Him so well always recognized that He was more than a man, the very God manifested in the flesh.

He was always available to the earnest seeker and never in a hurry. Yet He could say in His High Priestly prayer, "I have finished the work which Thou hast given Me to do."

He made frequent and continuous claims to deity from the very beginning of His public ministry to its conclusion. His deity was not an "add-on," which the apostles proclaimed later in their ministry. In other words, they did not create or dream it up themselves.

He claimed sinlessness, a characteristic of God. He said, "Which of you convinceth me of sin" (John 8:46)? He claimed eternity. He said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). He claimed equality with the heavenly Father. He said, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30). He said, "My Father worketh hitherto and I work also" (John 5:17). The Jews regarded that as an assertion of equality with God and, therefore, the sin of blasphemy punishable by death.

He asserted authority to forgive sins. Frequently after healing an individual, He said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2). This was recognized by religious leaders as a claim to deity. They murmured, "Who can forgive sins but God alone" (Luke 5:21)?

He claimed to be good in a total sense as only God is good. To the young man who addressed Him as "Good Master," He replied, "Why callest thou Me good? None is good but God" (Luke 18:19). In other words, do you realize when you call Me good, you are in effect calling Me God?

He applied the title, "I Am" to Himself, which was acknowledged by Jewish leaders as applicable to God only. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). "I am the Bread of Life" (John 6:35). "I am the Good Shepherd" (John 10:1.1). "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Imagine how ridiculous it would sound for our President, or the Pope, or for any man today to make such statements.

To the immoral woman at Jacob's well, He offered supernatural water, "which should spring up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). When she said, "I know that Messiah cometh" He replied, "I that speak to thee am He" (John 4:26).

He received worship and expected it. The man healed of blindness, worshiped him (John 9:38). When only one of the ten lepers who were cleansed returned to thank Him, Christ asked, "Where are the nine" (Luke 17:17)? In other words, they too, should be here at My feet, thanking Me. He commended Peter for his testimony, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). The Wise men worshiped Him even as a baby and presented Him costly gifts (Matt. 2:11).

Repeatedly He promised eternal life to those who would believe on Him (John 5:24, 6:40,47).

He claimed to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. To Jewish leaders He said, "if ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me" (John 5:46-47). He read a portion from Isaiah 61 to His townspeople at Nazareth and began His sermon with the comment, "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). He said, "Ye search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

He was omniscient for it is said, "He knew what was in man and needed not that any should testify of man" (John 2:24-45). On several occasions it is said, "He knew their thoughts" or "He perceived their hypocrisy" (Matt. 22:18).

From the beginning of His ministry, His authority in every word and act was evident and positive. He taught as one who had authority, and not as the Scribes (Matt. 7:29). He said, "I say unto you" (Matt. 5:18, 20, 22, 28, 32, 34, 39). He exercised authority in healing diseases and infirmities (Matt. 8:8-9); to forgive sins (Matt 9:6); to still the wind and waves (Mark 6:45-52). He had authority over Satan (Matt. 10:1; Luke 4:36). He said to His disciples, "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and earth" (Matt. 28:18), thus claiming unlimited authority.

Conceive, if you can, one man single handedly going into the temple, overthrowing the tables of the money changers, driving out sheep and oxen, and cleaning house with the denunciation, "Make not My Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:17). Jewish leaders immediately demanded a "sign" of authority by which He had acted. His authority and its source were repeatedly questioned. Near the close of His ministry the Chief Priests and Elders asked, "By what authority doest Thou these things? And Who gave thee this authority" (Matt. 20:23)?

On several occasions He predicted His betrayal, arrest, and death, together with His resurrection. He deliberately set His face to go to Jerusalem in order to die (Luke 9:51). He was betrayed by one of His disciples and surrendered Himself to the authorities in the Garden of Gethsemane. Again, the supernatural evidenced itself in His actions. Serenely He asked His enemies, "Whom seek ye? To their reply, "Jesus of Nazareth," He answered, "I am He." Immediately they "went backward and fell to the ground" (John 18:5). They recoiled as though repelled by a blast, and fell on their backs. When Peter chopped off the right ear of an enemy with his sword, Jesus healed the ear back into its place.

His mock trial before Caiphas, Herod, and Pilate was marked by supernatural behavior. Trumped up charges of treason, perverting the nation, and attempting to become a king were leveled against Him. His quiet demeanor and refusal to answer false charges caused Pilate to marvel. Three times Pilate pronounced Him innocent. Finally, however, he sentenced Him to be crucified in order to please the demands of the crowd.

Supernatural events occurred at the cross. Amazingly, Christ prayed for His enemies, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He made no reply to taunts and mockeries of His enemies. He committed His mother to the care of one of His disciples. He promised Paradise to one of the malefactors who confessed Him to be the Son of God.

At noon the sun became darkened over the whole earth. The thick curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. He died, not of exhaustion or loss of blood, but He died deliberately, for He dismissed or sent away His spirit. The centurion at the cross, upon witnessing His death, cried out, "Truly this was the Son of God." There was a great earthquake, and the rocks were broken up. Graves were opened, and the bodies of many believers arose, came out of their graves after His resurrection and appeared to many.

He was taken down from the cross by loving hands of friends, wrapped in linen laced with spices, and buried in a rich man's tomb. The tomb was sealed with the authority of the Roman Empire with a guard taking up a watch.

On the third day after His crucifixion, He rose from the dead. Again, supernatural events occurred. An angel rolled back the huge stone and sat on it, causing the guards to quake and become as dead men. He appeared to His followers on many occasions in a supernatural fashion and convinced them that He had indeed risen. On the fortieth day He ascended into heaven visibly and bodily in the sight of His disciples. The record in the gospels ends with the statement that He is on the right hand of God.

What an amazing, remarkable person. He is so different, so unique, so unusual, so profound. There is absolutely nothing and no one in all of history and literature that can even remotely be compared to Him. The account in the gospel records becomes all the more remarkable when one considers the paradoxes of Christ's life. His mother was a poor, peasant girl, with no striking background, no royalty, and no particular accomplishments to her credit. His half-brothers and half-sisters (there were at least six) were obviously considered as quite ordinary by their townspeople. After He taught in the synagogue at Nazareth, the people were astonished and exclaimed, "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren and His sisters, are they not all with us? From when, then, hath this man all these things" (Matt. 13:55-56)?

He lived His first thirty years in obscurity, known and recognized only as the carpenter's son. Only one incident occurring in His childhood is related, His appearance in tile Temple at age twelve. It is essentially the activities during the brief three to four years of His public ministry which brought Him into eternal prominence and remembrance.

The recognition accorded Him is contrary to every human precedent and experience. We honor men for discoveries in science, for inventions, for authoring books, for painting pictures, for making military conquests, for exploring strange and new continents, for building temples, for developing cures for disease, and comparable achievements. He did none of these things. Yet the name of Jesus Christ is the greatest name in the world today. The calendar is dated after Him, one day a week is set aside to remember His resurrection. Millions follow Him. Churches, institutions, and societies by the score are named after Him. He is the subject of thousands of books written by men during the past twenty centuries.

Every effect must have a cause, and the cause must be great and adequate enough to explain the effect. The only adequate cause that can be given for this remarkable person is that He must indeed be the Son of God. We exclaim with Thomas, "My Lord and my God."