On Valley Radio this Weekend, April 8-9,
or Online HERE Anytime
“In the beginning was the Word, … and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1:1,14)
“For God so loved the world that He Gave His only begotten Son and that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16)
If you do not believe my words, then believe the works that I do in my Father’s name, for I and my Father are one. The Father is in me, and I in Him.” (Jn. 10:25, 30, and 38)
“These things are written, that you might know and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life through His name.” (Jn. 20:31)
“Of all the dispositions that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert those great Pillars of human happiness, those great props of the duties of Men and Citizens.” (George Washington)
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (John Adams)
“If we ever forget that we are One Nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Who Was This Man? Eight Big Questions about Easter
It’s Easter weekend, and our Crossroads program this week will focus on the Life of Jesus in order that we might better understand and appreciate the incredible story all the way from His birth to His horrible death on the Cross and to His miraculous Resurrection.
So who was He: Lunatic, Liar, or Lord — or maybe even just a Myth? How do His life and these contrasting Easter events help answer those questions?
Our guest is Todd Pruitt, lead Pastor at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg. We’ll ask him some of the Big Questions that people may have about Jesus at Easter time, ending with a great challenge for each of us: Why does it matter anyway?!
Jesus: Lord, Liar, Lunatic, or Myth?
1. People’s views of Jesus can fall into four broad categories. C.S. Lewis described these choices very simply. Jesus was either our Lord, a Lunatic, a Liar, or a Myth. So, the big question: which is it, and why does it matter anyway?
— First of all, many believe the Biblical account of Jesus’ life from the cradle to the cross and on to His resurrection and ascension. As a result, they have committed their lives to Him as their Lord and Savior.
— Second, however, there are still some who are skeptical about certain aspects of Jesus’ story that defy scientific credibility. It’s all about the so-called miracles, because science says they simply could not have happened. It’s Science vs. the Bible, and they can’t both be right. Either they actually happened or they didn’t. If they didn’t, does that make Jesus a Liar? Which is it?
— Third, there are also a few people who claim that there is no God. To them, Jesus was nothing more than a good moral teacher, if that. In any event, they say, He is certainly not what He claims, the Son of God. He must have been out of His mind. Does that make Jesus a Lunatic?
— Fourth, and finally, some people say it’s all made up. Just like the tooth fairy. It didn’t really happen. It couldn’t have. Impossible. So is the story of Jesus just a myth, like the ones the Greeks told?
His Birth
2. Beginning with Jesus’ birth, the Bible and Science definitely disagree. The Bible says He was conceived of a spirit and born to a virgin. Science says neither of those is possible. They can’t be true.
In addition, can Jesus’ claims to be both the Son of God and one with the Father be taken seriously, since He also had an earthly father and an earthly mother? How can that be?
*Clue: Can we resolve all this by simply accepting that it is God’s way of showing once again, as He does throughout Scripture, that He transcends our understanding of the laws of science and nature?
His Miracles?
3. One more thing. The Bible and Science also disagree about Jesus’ miracles.
For example, the Bible says Jesus turned water into wine, fed 5,000 people from a little boy’s lunch, stilled a big storm, walked on water, healed the sick, and even raised people from the dead. Here again, Science says that none of that is possible. They can’t both be right, so which do we believe?
*Clue: How better could Jesus have demonstrated His divinity than by performing miraculous works that were seen and confirmed by thousands of people?
Furthermore, should we expect Science to explain events that are clearly beyond our human ability to understand? So once again, can’t we simply accept them as mysteries of God and celebrate them as a display of His transcendent power?
His Message?
4. In any case, however, even Science can accept that Jesus was a great moral teacher. After all, He affirmed the Ten Commandments and, beyond that, He emphasized the importance of loving God and our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
Yet, there is the remaining question about Jesus’ claim that He is both the Son of God and that He and the Father are one. How can that be? Moral teacher, yes, but certainly not divine.
*Clue: That is a problem. How can they accept Him as a great moral teacher if they also believe He was lying about who He was? They can’t have it both ways. Furthermore, doesn’t His mission to die for our sins go far beyond His role as a moral teacher?
His Cross?
5. Against that background, and more directly related to Easter itself, some people may still ask why it was necessary for Jesus to die on a bloody cross. It seems so unnecessary, so archaic, so cruel, and even so barbaric to our 21st century minds. Furthermore, It all seems to be so far removed from any connection with us today, so is it really that important?
*Clue: Might Jesus’ death on the Cross be connected to the blood sacrifices that God demanded in the Old Testament as the just penalty for our sins? And isn’t a just God also able to show His compassion and love for us with the sacrifice of His very own Son?
His Resurrection?
6. Finally, even if we do accept all of this about the Life and Death of Jesus, how can we possibly accept the resurrection of a dead man from the cold confines of sealed tomb? Once again, Science says that is just not possible.
So how do we reconcile this with all of the other seemingly impossible claims of the Bible against the disclaimers of Science?
*Clue: Does this, as much as anything else about Jesus, vindicate His claims to deity and His displays of power even over death and the grave? If He were still in the tomb, wouldn’t He be just another minor footnote in the dustbin of history?
Putting it all together, doesn’t this summarize what Easter and the Gospel of salvation are all about, that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He offers us eternal life through Him and with Him?
His Impact?
7. Moreover, if that’s not enough, what has been the practical impact of all this for our world over the past 2,000 years as well as for our world today?
For example, what happens when countries have rejected Jesus and His message — countries like Stalin’s Soviet Union and Hitler’s Germany? Or when other countries continue to reject Him today, such as North Korea, China, and numerous Islamic nations?
In contrast, consider the strong influence of our Christian heritage here on our country over the past four centuries, and the peace, power, and prosperity it helped to create over that period of time. America was clearly founded on Judeo-Christian values and a Biblical world view. That is a matter of our written history. (David Barton)
*Warning: But what can we learn about all this from where we stand now at the Crossroad’s intersection of Faith and Culture?
For example, just in the past 60 years, what has happened to America since the Supreme Court’s decisions in 1962 and 1963 to expel God from the public schools, and again in 1973 from the Court’s decision to legalize abortion, which has led to the slaughter of over 63 million unborn babies, and most recently in 2015 from the Court’s decision to redefine God’s clear design for marriage between only one man and one woman by legalizing same-sex marriage, which in turn has led to the current confusion over sexual orientation and gender identity?
His Call, Our Response – and Why It Matters
8. That brings us to the biggest question of all. If we now accept that Jesus was neither liar, lunatic, or myth, how do we then take that final step of acknowledging Him as Lord of our lives?
What does it mean to repent and believe? To humble ourselves as sinners before God, to lean on Him for our salvation, and to follow Him?
After all, isn’t that what Easter is all about, for now and for all eternity?
*Challenge: Given America’s moral decline today, what can we also do to help ignite a new Great Awakening that will once again recognize Jesus as Lord of our lives, to reaffirm America as “One Nation under God”, and to restore the Founders’ vision of America as a shining City on a Hill – to the honor and glory of God?
Crossroads: Where Faith and Culture Meet
To hear more about all of this, please join Rita Peters and me this wonderful Easter weekend with our special guest Todd Pruitt, lead pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, on the following Valley radio stations: WBTX (1470 AM and 102.1 FM), Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and again on Easter Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by WSVA (550 AM and 92.1 FM) at 8:30, ESPN (1360 AM and 106.9 FM) at 9:00, and WNLR (1150) at 11:30. You can also listen online by clicking on the menu of Crossroads programs available on our home page at www.valleyfamilyforum.org.
Crossroads is entirely listener supported, and we are so grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support. If you would like to help, please send your check to Crossroads at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803. All donations are tax-deductible.
In addition, we would also welcome your comments on this program and on any of our other Crossroads programs, which you can send to us by return email or to the same address shown above.
Presented with appreciation on behalf of the Crossroads Team, and with Best Wishes for a Joyous Easter Celebration.
Dean
Working and Walking Together, We Can Make a Difference!