The Unavoidable Claim of Jesus
Who Is Jesus? The Unavoidable Choice We All Must Make
The question of Jesus' identity has challenged humanity for over 2,000 years. C.S. Lewis, the renowned Oxford scholar and author of "The Chronicles of Narnia," famously addressed this in his classic work "Mere Christianity." Lewis argued that when it comes to Jesus Christ, we cannot simply dismiss Him as just a great moral teacher. His claims about Himself force us into what has become known as the "trilemma" - Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or truly the Lord He claimed to be.
The Three Options Jesus Leaves Us
As we examine Mark chapter 3, verses 20-35, we discover that this trilemma wasn't original to Lewis. Even during Jesus' earthly ministry, people were forced to confront the same unavoidable question: Who is this man?
Option 1: Some Called Him a Lunatic
In Mark 3:20-21, we see that even Jesus' own family thought He had lost His mind. When crowds gathered so densely around Jesus that He couldn't even eat, His mother and brothers came to "seize Him" - literally to arrest Him by force. They were saying, "He is out of his mind."
This wasn't uncommon. John 7:5 tells us that "not even his brothers believed in him" during His ministry. His family was concerned about the dishonor He was bringing upon them and feared the religious authorities would come after them all.
But consider the evidence: Was Jesus really a madman? Lunatics typically sow chaos, confusion, and calamity. History is littered with false messiahs whose movements ended in bloodshed and collapse. Jesus, however, launched a revolution of grace and love that transformed history itself.
The Undeniable Impact of Jesus
The influence of Jesus Christ on human civilization is irrefutable. Because of His life and teachings, we champion human rights, promote education, advocate healthcare, pursue science, foster compassion, contend for justice, and value representative government.
Consider this remarkable fact: Jesus was not an author, yet more books have been written about Him than any other person. He wasn't a poet, yet His words are carved into monuments worldwide. He wasn't a musician, yet He inspired Mozart, Beethoven, and Handel. He wasn't an artist, yet He provided vision for Raphael, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, "Jesus' name is not so much written as plowed into the history of the world." This isn't the legacy of a lunatic.
Option 2: Some Called Him a Liar
The religious leaders took a different approach. In Mark 3:22, the scribes from Jerusalem accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul (meaning "Lord of the flies"), claiming He cast out demons by the power of Satan himself.
Jesus responded with two powerful arguments:
The Logic Argument
"How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand" (Mark 3:23-26). Jesus pointed out the obvious logical flaw in their accusation. Why would Satan work against his own kingdom? A house divided against itself will fall.
The Scripture Argument
Jesus used a parable about binding the "strong man" to plunder his house (Mark 3:27). This referenced Isaiah 49, where God promised to rescue captives from the mighty. Jesus was claiming to be the one prophesied to bind Satan and rescue God's people - a clear claim to deity that the scribes would have recognized.
The Unforgivable Sin Warning
Jesus then issued a sobering warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-30). This "unforgivable sin" isn't a single act but rather a persistent, willful rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus Christ.
The good news is found in verse 28: "All sins will be forgiven the children of man and whatever blasphemies they utter." If you're worried about having committed the unforgivable sin, you haven't. A hardened heart feels no concern about sin.
Option 3: Some Called Him Lord
The final section (Mark 3:31-35) reveals the beautiful truth about God's family. When Jesus' earthly family came seeking Him, He pointed to His disciples and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
What Does It Mean to Do God's Will?
Jesus made it clear in Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." Doing God's will means turning from sin and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation.
In John 6, when people asked what works God required, Jesus answered: "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
The Family of God
God's family isn't formed by blood or ancestry but by faith. As John 1:12-13 tells us, "To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
Life Application
Jesus doesn't allow us the comfortable middle ground of calling Him merely a good teacher or moral example. His claims about Himself - forgiving sins, existing eternally, coming to judge the world - force us to make a choice. As He said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
This week, honestly examine your relationship with Jesus Christ. Have you truly surrendered your life to Him as both Savior and Lord? Are you living as part of God's family, or are you still trying to maintain control of your own life?
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I truly believe Jesus is who He claimed to be - God in human flesh?
Have I repented of my sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation?
Am I living as a member of God's family, doing His will rather than my own?
How does my daily life reflect my belief in Jesus as Lord?
The unavoidable claim of Jesus Christ still confronts us today. Lunatic, liar, or Lord - who do you say He is?