A Good Man and Prophet

I've often heard the statement that some believe Jesus is a great moral example and was a prophet, but that they do not believe he was the son of God. I always find this argument interesting. If you were to state that someone is a "good" person, or even a prophet, I would assume that you would also state that some of that individual's characteristics would include integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. I personally would never categorize someone as a good moral example if they were a liar. Well, if you don't believe Jesus was God, then according to His statements, you would be calling Him a liar. He repeatedly stated that He was God. That is why the Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders) hated Him so much and wanted to stone Him (and ultimately crucify Him)!! Jesus himself said, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30.

In speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus revealed this same truth. The woman knew that one day the Messiah would come to earth:

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes captures this very argument:

“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 said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a 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.”

Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. Scripture makes the answer clear.