No One Drew Men To Himself As Christ Did.

   Jesus said, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."(John 12:32)
   Morgan writes, "The media today is always on the prowl for people brimming with personal magnetism. It glamorizes those who carry themselves with a charismatic grace and charm, a power of personality. Franklin Roosevelt had it and so did John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan." He goes on to tell about a reporter who didn't like Reagan's policies, but when she saw him she was mesmerized. She said, "There was an irresistible power to his presence. It drew you in. It was like an electrical force."
   It would certainly help to influence others if one was popular as an actor or politician. That seems to help draw people to them. Jesus hasn't exactly had that kind of popularity in a general sense, but men, women and children have been drawn to Jesus by the millions. Morgan writes, "...only one person has ever radiated a magnetic field so powerful it transforms centuries and millenia. Only one has magnetized the would to such an extent that we recognized His centrality in history every time we date a letter or mark a calendar. Only one person has exercised supreme influence over every ensuing generation, touching both peasants and potentates, both rich and poor, both young and old, both men and women. Only one person has given comfort to the living and hope to the dying. Only one person has, like a bi-polar magnet, attracted so many while at the same time, and with equal force, repelled so many.
   Morgan quotes Philip Schaff, "This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on matters human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussion, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times."
   Not only does He draw people to Himself, but He also enables them to change their lifestyle and relationships with other people. He even causes them to return stolen goods and ask for forgiveness and to forgive others. Jesus makes a big difference in the lives of those who take Him seriously and obey His word.

Sincerely,
Rick

No Other Man Ever Lived Like Christ (Christ Is Unique)

   It was suggested to Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish essayest, by French mathematician and philosopher, Auguste Comte that they start a new religion to replace Christianity. He wanted to base it on positive thinking and mathematical principles. After thinking a minute, Carlyle said, "Very good, Mr. Comte, very good. All you will need to do will be to speak as never a man spake, and live as never a man lived, and be crucified, and rise again the 3rd day, and get the world to believe that you are still alive. Then your religion will have a chance to get on."
   First, did Christ really live? Higher Criticism started in Germany. Many believed that Christ never lived, but those who have searched history have found much proof for the truth of Christ's existence. The evidence is not even questionable.
   The evidence from the Bible is trustworthy because we have copies of New Testament books from the first and second century. Those living during that time would have written about the fallacy of the story - if it were not true. There are no such writings. There are first and second century letters from Church Fathers such as Polycarp, Eusebieus, Irenaeus, Ignatius, and others which are about Jesus. Morgan gives other proof: "Beyond that, there are inscriptions about Jesus of Nazareth on burial caskets in Jerusalem dating to the 4th decade of the first century and references of Christ and Christianity by ancient secular historians including Tacitus, Sentonius, Josephus, Thallus....we see references of Christ among the writings of officials of the ancient Roman government such as Pliny, the younger and the Emperors Trajan and Hadrian."
   In "Caesar and Christ" historian Will Durant wrote 751 pages about the life of Christ. In the book he said, "After 2 centuries of Higher Criticism the outline of the life, character, and teachings of Christ, remain reasonably clear, and constitute the most fascinating feature in the history of Western man." Morgan states that, "Simply put, Jesus is absolutely unequaled in history." He, then, mentions "...5 areas in which Christ towers alone, unmatched, superlative, and far beyond any other man or woman since the beginning of the human race. We will look at these areas in coming weeks.

Sincerely,
Rick

Prophecies About Christ's Death and Resurrection

   There are many prophecies about the death of the Messiah(Christ). If only men wrote the Bible, the Messiah would have lived and ruled over Israel to relieve them from Rome's rule. The Bible says that God's ways are higher (different) than man's ways. Psalms 35:11, 38:13, Isaiah 53:7 foretold that the Messiah would be rejected, falsely accused, and not defend Himself. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 offer a powerful picture of the crucifixion of the Messiah down to specific details. Some details were given specifically such as:they would gamble for His clothing, He'd be executed with criminals, His hands and feet would b e pierced, He would question why God had forsaken Him, He would be mocked by those around Him, He'd be thirsty, His death would redeem "His people", He would live again and after His resurrection He would be great.
   I have referred to an illustration before about covering Texas with silver dollars 2 feet deep and mark 1 and stir it into the rest. Then have a blind person search for the marked dollar. The chance that the blind person would find it equals the chance that one man could fulfill only 8 of the 300+ prophecies about the life, death and resurrection of Christ (Messiah).
   I have only mentioned specific prophecies, but the whole tenor of the Old Testament looks toward a Messiah.  Morgan quotes A.T. Pierson saying, "No miracle which He wrought so unmistakably set on Him the seal of God as the convergence of the thousand lines of prophecy in Him, as in one burning focal point of dazzling glory. Every sacrifice lit, from Abel's altar until the last Passover of the Passion week, pointed as with flaming fingers to Calvary's Cross".
 The Bible begins with the fall of man into sin needing a Saviour. God promised them that One would crush the serpent's head although He would be wounded in the process. Exodus calls for the Passover Lamb to atone for sin. Moses promised that God would provide a prophet "like me". Balaam said, "I see Him, but not now, I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."(Numbers 24:17) Job said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth."(Job 19:25) Malachi predicted that God would send a messenger to prepare the way of the coming King. Morgan states, "For a thousand years through 39 installments stretching from Genesis to Malachi, the story has been building, issues have been raised, promises have been made, the anticipation has grown. Everything has pointed to a Savior Who would be of the lineage of Abraham and David and Who would deliver humanity from sin and despair. But the story abruptly concludes with a curse."
   "It seems like a bad ending, like an incomplete story. It seems like we have come to an intermission in which only the first half of the story is completed. Surely, we think, there must be more, another part, a completion."
   As we read the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of those prophecies in the Old Testament right down to minute details such as the piercing of His hands and feet. His betrayal and the money paid and what was eventually done with it also fufill the prophecies. I could go on and mention one prophecy after another which was fulfilled in the life of Christ.
   Again, as one reads and studies all the facts, the only conclusion is that the Bible is true - The word of God, and that Jesus Christ is Who He claimed to be, The Son of God  Who came to earth to die for our sin, save us from the penalty of sin and give us eternal life in heaven! Romans 10:13 says "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." Therefore one must call on the Lord confessing one's sin and believe that Jesus paid the debt of one's own sin personally and trust Him to give one eternal life.

Sincerely,
Rick

The Messiah's Birth and Ministry

   The prophets prophesied that Jesus would be born of David's line, but they also prophesied that He'd be born in Bethlehem of Ephrathah (Micah 5:2). There were 2 Bethlehems, but Micah chose this one. Isaiah 7:14 states that He'd be born of a virgin. Malachi 3:1 & 4:5 says an Elijah-like person would preceed the Messiah calling people to prepare the way of the Lord. This person would live in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 18:18, Psalm 110:4 & Zechariah 9:9 foretell that Messiah would fulfill 3 offices; Prophet, Priest, & King. Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-5, 52:13-53:12 tell us that Messiah would be holy, righteous, faithful, innocent, zealous, meek, forgiving, patient, loving, and full of justice.
   Isaiah 9:1 tells us His service would start in Galilee and Zechariah 9:9, Haggai 2:7 & Malichi 3:1 say it would end in Jerusalem where He'd ride a donkey into Jerusalem offering Himself as King. He would then cleanse the temple.
   Isaiah 35:5-6 foretells that the Messiah would do miracles healing the blind and lame and others.
   Psalm 78:2 says He would teach in parables. Psalm 118:22 fortells that the long-awaited Messiah would be rejected by His own people. Psalms 41:9, 55:12-14, Zechariah 11:12-13 tell us that Messiah would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver which would be thrown on the temple floor and used to buy a potter's field. Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies in detail! Many of them had to be done by others to Him.
   Again, if one reads the Bible correctly(with its context and comparing Scripture with Scripture), and studies history about the Bible times, there is only one result unless one has a closed mind. That result is to believe the Bible is true and believe in Jesus Christ as one's own personal Saviour and God.
   There are many, such as Oprah Winfrey, who teach about a very different Jesus. They may use some Bible verses, but they are not teaching what the Bible teaches, but what some spirit leader told Helen Schucman to write down. That spirit leader could only have been bad-a demon! Prove what you believe beyond the single author. Has the person become more like Jesus? The Bible has completely changed millions of lives for great good! Most early colleges and hospitals were started by Christian leaders.
   Winfrey is a new age promoter. This "Jesus" who dictated to Ms. Schucman taught the opposite of what the Bible teaches. II Timothy 3:1-5 warns that false teachers will come "...in the last days". We must be on guard for these false teachers! Our eternity depends on what we believe! Believe in the Biblical Jesus Christ. He promised that those who believe in Him will have everlasting life - heaven.

Sincerely,
Rick