Jesus was truly the greatest teacher ever. He never made a bad sermon illustration. He never droned on for hours and hours about meaningless information. He never strayed from the truths of the scriptures. He always preached truth in a relevant and mostly understandable way. Jesus taught His followers to love and forgive others, even their enemies, and to treat others how they would like to be treated. He emphasized the importance of faith and repentance, and He revealed that it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God through doing enough good works.
While Jesus was truly a good teacher, some claim that that is all He was. They acknowledge that Jesus really did live in ancient Israel 2,000 years ago, and they may even acknowledge that He was crucified on a cross. He was a great man who taught great things, but He was not God. According to Ligonier Ministries’ 2020 State of Theology survey, 51% of Americans believe this.[1]
Is this true? Was Jesus simply a good teacher?
Judas certainly seemed to think so. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples. As they reclined at the table and ate, Jesus said,
“Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Matthew 26:21b, ESV
This declaration saddened the group, and they began asking, “Is it I, Lord?”, each of them desperately hoping that they would not be the one who would betray their Messiah. That is, each of them except for Judas. Instead of asking “Is it I, Lord?”, Judas asked “Is it I, Rabbi?” Judas apparently viewed Jesus simply as his Rabbi, his teacher. Perhaps he recognized that Jesus taught great sermons and performed great miracles, but he did not revere or worship Jesus as the Christ. And this is why Judas betrayed Him for a few pieces of silver.
The reality is that it is impossible for Jesus to be just a good teacher and nothing more. Why? Because He claimed to be God several times throughout His ministry. Jesus declared that He was the Son of God and that God gave Him authority (Matthew 11:27). He claimed to be the lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) and that He had shared glory with God before creation (John 17:5). In a conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus said, “before Abraham was, I am,” identifying Himself with the God of Israel who had once made a very similar statement to Moses (Exodus 3:14). Throughout His ministry, He made one thing clear-
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
So, if Jesus was not God yet claimed to be God, can anybody really call him a good teacher? If you were to come across a pastor, cult leader, or some other random person who claimed to be God or the Messiah, would you call them a good teacher? Probably not. You would likely either label them a liar or a lunatic. C.S. Lewis once wrote this famous message-
“A man who was merely a man and 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. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something else.”[2]
Because Jesus claimed to be God during His life and ministry, He must either be a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. If Jesus was not God, then He must have a been a liar. He must have been a manipulative and deceitful man who tricked millions of men, women, and children to worship Him as a god and to obey all His teachings. But if everything He said and taught was a lie, why didn’t he recant when the Jews threatened to crucify Him?
If Jesus was not God but believed that what He was saying and teaching was absolutely true, then He must have been a lunatic. He must have been seriously mentally-disturbed or demon-possessed to truly believe that He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Sure, Jesus said some weird stuff at times (remember that time in John 6 when He taught that we should eat His flesh and drink His blood?). But most of His sermons and teaching were understandable, relatable, and reflected the truths found in the Old Testament.
Jesus was not a liar. Jesus was not a lunatic. And He was not just a good teacher, either. Jesus was and is Lord over all creation, the Son of the Most High, our Savior and Redeemer. Instead of agreeing with what Judas believed, let us all declare what Peter believed-
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
[1] “Data Explorer,” The State of Theology, accessed November 30, 2020, https://thestateoftheology.com/data-explorer/2020/7?AGE=30&MF=14®ION=30&DENSITY=62&EDUCATION=62&INCOME=254&MARITAL=126ÐNICITY=62&RELTRAD=62&EVB=6&ATTENDANCE=254.
[2] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1980), 52.
