We live in a country considered the most devoted of all nations to the teachings of
Jesus Christ. A recent USA Today Gallop Poll found
70% of Americans believing in Jesus as God or the Son of God. In 2000, a Gallop Poll showed that 96% of us celebrate Christmas, which is the traditional holiday for honoring the birth of Christ.
No other country is comparable to the U.S. in the number of Christians within its borders. Estimates on the amount of Christians run about 225 million people or 75% of the population.
According to adherents.com, Christianity has about 2.1 billion followers, which makes it the world's largest religion. With such significant numbers, we have to ask ourselves why the death of a Jewish Rabbi nearly 2,000 years ago has created so much influence, not only in the U.S., but also around the world.
Born
Yeshua ben Yosef, in the Judean village of
Bethlehem, Jesus (Anglicized) was raised by working class parents and apprenticed in the trade of carpentry. The details of his early life are sparse as the majority of the "Four Gospels" focus on his ministry years, which started at the age of around thirty and ended with his crucifixion three or so years later.
Jesus had a rough start to his ministry and many people initially considered him insane.
Mark 3:21 tells us, "When his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, 'He is beside himself.'" It was not long after this that he was drawing large crowds of people through miraculous healing and revolutionary sermons.
Jesus preached that he is the Son of God, and at the same time, he is one with God. He also made the claim that he is the
gatekeeper to Heaven and no one enters into eternal life that does not
accept him.
Personal opinions may differ on Jesus Christ, but I am sure we can all agree he is one of the most remarkable individuals the world has seen. Even
Thomas Jefferson, who most scholars consider a Deist, wrote, "Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus."
Napoleon Bonaparte said that, "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."
Whether or not he is God or the Son of God, is something that has been passionately debated for the past two millenniums. If he was telling the truth then that would make him God, on the other hand, if he lied about his claims, then he must be considered nothing short of a lunatic. Either the influence of Jesus Christ has lead countless people to the truth or it has deceived billions.
What if Jesus was telling the truth?
Hitler claimed to be doing the work of God, but in the end, his evil deeds became known. Jesus, on the other hand, does not appear to have done anything wrong: he healed the sick, provided food for the poor, and reminded us to show love and humility towards our fellow man.Theologians remind us that he fulfilled over 300 prophecies relating to his birth, life, and resurrection.
Some of us may not believe in Jesus Christ, but we may at least owe it to ourselves to investigate his claim? One thing is certain-- this debate continues to make interesting discussion nearly two- thousand years later.