Who is Jesus? Kathryn Kuhlman Part 1 of 2

Today, you and I are going to have one of those good heart -to -heart talks. And during our heart -to -heart talk today, I will be answering some of the questions that have been sent in. And I hope that your question regarding Jesus will be answered as we talk about him. Do you want to know something? all the difference in the world what one believes. I know it's a common remark that it really doesn't make any difference what one believes just so one is sincere in that belief. That is not true. It makes all the difference in the world what one believes. The right views of Jesus Christ are absolutely necessary. Right relationships toward him, the right service for him are absolutely necessary. The question, therefore, that Jesus asked his disciples when he was here on earth in the flesh 1 ,900 years ago is the supreme question to be faced by... every rational human being. And this is his question. Whom say ye that I am? That's the question. His previous question to these same disciples a moment before was, Whom say the people that I am? What does the crowd say? And they answered by saying, Some say that thou art John the Baptist. Some say Elijah. There's still others who say that you are one of the prophets, perhaps Jeremiah. And then very quickly, he put to them the probing question. Whom say ye that I am? And one of the men, and it would be Simon Peter, he was always the first to answer. And he made the answer. And believe me, it was an inspired reply. He said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. There was no hesitancy on his part whatsoever. it was truly an inspired reply thou art the christ the son of the living god to which jesus replied o blessed art thou simon barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my father, who is in heaven. To me that was always very thrilling. To this very hour. The spiritual things are only spiritually revealed. There is never a day of my life, but what I have to say, flesh and blood hath not revealed this hour. unto thee, but to my Father who art in heaven. For the natural mind cannot comprehend the things of the spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. And spiritual things are only spiritually revealed. That's the reason the carnal man, the carnal heart, the natural man, cannot understand the spiritual things. That same question, whom say ye that I am, comes echoing its way all down the centuries, and the question will never be down, never. You cannot ignore it. For Christ crosses the threshold of... every rational life, and puts to every one the question, Whom say ye that I am? And the sincere, the serious, the earnest seeker after truth will at last come to say what Simon said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Who is Jesus Christ? Whom do you say that he is? Sitting there right down your home. Listening to me on your transistor set. There in the office. Listening to me on your car radio. You're going to have to face it. Every rational human being has to face this question. And he puts it to you point blank. Who is... Jesus Christ. Christianity stands or falls with the person of Christ. Supernatural Christianity stands or falls with the person of Jesus Christ. Oh, I know. There have been three views in this world about Christ. One, that he was wicked. Another, that he was good. But mistaken about his claims. And the other, that he was God. God manifest in the flesh. The Redeemer who came to save a needy world which was estranged from God and lost in sin. Now, let's take the first view. Let's face it. Thoughtful, candid men. Whatever may be their unbelief, look at Jesus and say, he's the finest among 10 ,000, the one altogether lovely. Many, many who do not accept the higher claims concerning him do not hesitate to say that Jesus was the best man who ever lived. Thousands who do not accept his deity and divinity. still say he was the greatest example that ever walked this earth. Another view concerning Christ was that he was good, but mistaken in his claims. That he was earth's highest and best, but mistaken in his own claims and assumptions. Some very clever men have held this view. Edward Hale held this view. There are clever men today who hold the same view. One wonders how on earth they can believe that Jesus, who made such astounding claims concerning himself, could be good, wise, or sane if he was nothing more than man. They well know that nothing short of deity can satisfy the claims which Jesus made for himself. The theory that Christ was only a man reduces him to a mere physical being. And this theory, no matter how beautiful, cannot lift man all the way from earth to glory. Men need a power above and beyond themselves. Every person needs a power to come into his life above himself, greater than himself. And mere ethics will not do it. Beautiful theories will not do it. Wonderful philosophies will not do it. If Christ be only a man. He cannot lift men out of sin, guilt, and death. If he were mere man, how in the world could he forgive another man's sins? A sinner cannot forgive another sinner's sin. It takes deity. It takes divinity. That is the reason that we know that only one can forgive sins. Just one. One who has never sinned. And only one in absolute perfection, sinless, has walked this earth. And that one was... deity and divinity, the very son of the living God. That was the reason he could challenge the whole world and say, which of you convinces me of sin? Is there a man living today, regardless of his morality, can put forth that challenge? His family know him. His neighbors know him. Those in business know his faults and know that he is not infallible. All have sinned and come shard the glory of God. Only one could put forth that challenge. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And there was no answer. No sinner can forgive another man's sin. That's the reason only Jesus can forgive our sins. Therefore, I say to you, you who hold the theory that he was a wonderful example, but nothing more, if Christ be only a man, That he cannot lift men out of sin and guilt and death. Let's go on to the other view. The one that's held by you and by me. And that is the New Testament view that Jesus was just what he claimed to be. God manifest in the flesh. And I stake my very life on it. I stake my... All on it. That's the reason I give my life as a living sacrifice. There's no doubt in my mind. I believe it so completely that I tell you the truth. I've staked everything that I have on the fact that Jesus Christ is all that he said that he was. I have not the remotest doubt in my mind concerning that fact. Christ was more than man. Christ was God and man in one personality. The God -man. As much man as though he were not God, as much... God, as though he were not man. John describes Jesus in five little words. The Word was made flesh. And Paul, speaking of Jesus, said, Great is the mystery of godliness. Great. Great is this mystery. No human mind can fathom this glorious mystery. God manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. That's Paul's majestic description of the person and the worth of Christ. Victor Hugo states the case, the universal verdict, when he said that Jesus was the ultimate in all life. And even Lord Byron rose up and said, if ever man was God, and if ever... God was man. This Jesus Christ is both. Browning said, The acceptance of God in Christ solves for all of us all problems in this world and the next. And there's something that's most interesting. A gentleman at a luncheon with a group of very brilliant men and women said, it would be most interesting to have each of you answer the question, what person would you like best to have seen? it was most amusing enjoyable and great men and women were mentioned oh sure somebody suggested shakespeare and on and on they talked presently the gentleman said if shakespeare were to come into this room we would all rise and bow to him but i am thinking of one whose name has not been called if he were to come into this room now this very moment all of us in this room would fall down on our knees and cry out with thomas of old my lord and my god i think Think of that so often. I am aware of this very thing. Oftentimes when I stand on the stage or behind a pulpit, and without saying so audibly, mentally I think, what would these people do if suddenly they could see Jesus face to face? What would you do this very moment? If suddenly you beheld Jesus walking into that room, standing in front of you, face to face, I honestly believe with every atom of my being that each of us would fall down on our knees and worship him. Just instinctively we would do it. There he stands. Indeed, there was never another person like unto him in all of time, and never will there be another like him. Christ, the divine Son of God, born 1900 years ago in a stable, laid in a manger because there was no room for the mother in the inn. in that crisis hour of her life. Born in a stable and yet about that humble place there gathers more interest than about all the other treasure houses of the great from the first man until the last. His name is potent. There's power in the name of Jesus. There's more inspiration in the name of Jesus than any other name, the most majestic in all the world. His name is above every name. Thou shalt call his name Jesus. Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Is there another of whom this could be said? He shall save his people from their sins. He is the one who stirs our hearts, who shares our sorrows, who gives us life and joy and peace and love. Simon Peter spoke it well. Thou art of the Christ, the Son, the living God, without hesitation, without any doubt whatsoever. unlike any other human being that the universe has ever known or ever shall know. He is the way, the truth, the life, the pilot, the older brother, the guide who came to bring light to a darkened world and sending men and women to God, the one great mediator between God and man. the one by whom alone we can gain a hearing to the father's throne and receive his forgiving and unfailing love oh to me that's thrilling that's thrilling see him in this moment not as mere man not as just an example but as the great mediator the great high priest this very moment seated at the right hand of god the father ever living to make intercession for you and for me That's the one thing that you and I have in common this hour. He is my great high priest. He is your great high priest. He is my great mediator. He is your great mediator. As we come before the father's throne, we have a hearing. as we come in the name of His Son, as we come into the presence of Almighty God and say, Father God, in Jesus' name, hear my petition, hear my cry. Only one absolute perfection. That is why he can forgive your sins and my sins. Feel his presence. Reach out and touch that seamless robe. With confidence, commit yourself into his care and keeping. And in this moment, Hear that cry of confession. Blot out of that every transgression as that one stands justified before God by faith. Give peace of mind and peace of soul. Amen.