He made, remade, and saved the world from itself.
Consider this:
Impact on Religion
Sholem Asch, Polish-born American Yiddish writer, 1880-1957
“Jesus Christ is the outstanding personality of all time…No other teacher – Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Mohammedan – is still a teacher whose teaching is such a guidepost for the world we live in. Other teachers may have something basic for an Oriental, an Arab, or the Occidental; but every act and word of Jesus has value for all of us."
Impact on History
H. G. Wells, British writer, 1866-1946
“In the reign of Tiberius Caesar a great teacher arose out of Judea who was to liberate the intense realization of the righteousness and unchallengeable oneness of God, and of man’s moral obligation to God…This was Jesus of Nazareth…Is it any wonder that to this day the Galilean is too much for our small hearts.”
Impact on Philosophy
Klausner, Jewish scholar
“It is universally admitted…that Christ taught the purest and sublimest system of ethics, one which throws the moral precepts and maxims of the wisest men of antiquity far into shade.”
Impact on Politics
Victor Hugo, French writer who went into exile after Napoleon III seized power, 1802-1885
“Revolution transforms everything but the human heart.”
HIS IMPACT ON ME!
Real Guy, married, 4 kids, lower income, university grad, mid 50's
“I met Him when I was broken with despair. Alone and in my darkest hour, I called out to Him and asked Him to relieve my pain, and I promised to stop trying to control my future, and those around me! I would trust Him, and do whatever He said ... come what may. Then I went to church and they explained it all to me. ”
I did not know that I was a sinner (say what!), but I was. At church they explained that sin is a disease of the human spirit and we all suffer from it. To be a sinner is to be human, but separated from God, and that causes a "hole in your soul."
I did not know that sin keeps me bound to my emotions, only capable of looking at myself. I did not know that God really loves me, and wants me to be a "whole" person in touch with all parts of my being--body, mind and spirit.
I did not know that Jesus was much more than just a historical person of great intellect. He was GOD himself. God sent His son to cure the breach between Him and me caused by sin. When Jesus died, that was bad. When He rose again, that was a MIRACLE, that was God defeating death--He literally came to life!
If you would like to hear the rest of the story, come to church, and they will gladly explain it to you, as they did to me ... who knew!
