Albert Einstein said, “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene...No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”
Everyone has a spiritual belief or a way they see the spiritual dimension of life. For some they say there is no God, but strive to live a very high moral code. Others delight in a confidence in God or gods. Some place their belief in their ability to conquer the day. In fact, the non-religious category is the fastest growing population in America.
It is important to show everyone respect for their beliefs (even if they are different). In addition, everyone should be approached as people first before labeling them as a theist, atheist, Muslim, or any other title.
The reality is no matter who you are, everyone is equal before God. “For there is no respect of person with God.” (Romans 2:11)
Too many times people make false assumptions about others. An important part of respect is to understand people before judging them. This comes from learning what people think and feel. At the end of the day, even if a person has opposite beliefs, humility will serve to remind to journey together with a heart of respect and understanding.
Too many people have made decisions about Jesus through the eyes of church, media, museum paintings, articles, or some person they know. People have either negative or positive views about Jesus. I have found many times that unfortunately people who have a negative view of Jesus have never taken the time to read the Bible. People often proclaim statements in the flavor of Jesus did not exist and how can I even know who he is.
It is a 100% fact Jesus did exist! Charlie H. Campbell explains: “Jesus is mentioned by more than 30 sources outside the New Testament within 150 years of His life, including the Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius, Flavius Josephus, and the Jewish Talmud....the claim that Jesus was just made up falters on every ground.”
Josh McDowell expresses: “If one believes in the existence of Socrates, Alexander the Great, or Julius Caesar, then one should definitely believe in Christ’s existence. If historicity is established by written records in multiple copies that date originally from near contemporaneous sources, there is far more historical evidence for Christ’s existence than for any of theirs. The historicity of Christ is attested not only by Christians but also by Greek, Roman, and Jewish Sources.” (www.alwaysbeready.com)
It is important to not underestimate the historical significance of Jesus. H.G. Wells who was not a believer emphasizes: “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Undeniable, Jesus existed, but who was he and what did he do? His existence and what he did has changed the life of countless lives through generations. Listed below are three testimonies from people that Jesus directly impacted:
A woman, in bondage to men, was freed by Jesus:
”Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” - John 4:29
Guards that watched Jesus die on the cross:
”Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” – Matthew 20:27
The Prophet John saw Jesus and proclaimed:
”The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”- John 1:29
Today, make sure you have believed in Jesus!
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