You’re Not Crazy To Believe That: Reality Of Jesus | Pastor Nate Keeler
There is no figure in human history quite like Jesus. Billions have followed Him. Nations have been shaped by His teachings. But at the core of Christianity is not just a wise man or prophet. It is a bold, earth-shaking claim—that Jesus is God.
This is what sets Christianity apart from every other religious system. While other founders pointed to truth or claimed divine insight, Jesus claimed to be the truth Himself—the living God who stepped into human history.
This is more than a theological idea. It’s a claim that confronts every person who hears it with a decision. And that brings us to the question every human being must wrestle with at some point: What will you do with Jesus?
Only One Made the Ultimate Claim
Consider the leaders of other major world religions:
- Buddha said he had achieved enlightenment, but did not claim to be divine.
- Muhammad saw himself as a prophet of Allah—not God.
- Confucius was a wise teacher, offering moral instruction, not deity.
- Joseph Smith claimed to be a prophet of Jehovah.
- Abraham described himself simply as a man blessed and called by God.
Only Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. That claim is either the most profound truth ever spoken or the most outrageous lie ever told.
But Haven’t Others Claimed to Be Divine?
It’s true. Throughout history, many have claimed divine status or messianic authority. Cult leaders and self-proclaimed messiahs have appeared again and again.
Think back to David Koresh, the cult leader in Waco, Texas during the 1990s. He claimed messiah status. He led people into a compound, taught twisted theology, and in the end, things descended into tragedy. Federal Agents were called in. Lives were lost. His story ended in flames.
These stories are not new. Even in Jesus’s day, there were other figures claiming to be sent from God. So what makes Jesus different?
Jesus backed it up.
He didn’t just speak words—He demonstrated divine authority through His character, His words, and His works.
How Jesus Backed Up His Claims
Let’s walk through the uniqueness of Jesus’s life and actions:
1. His Authority in Word and Deed
Jesus spoke with a kind of authority that stunned even His enemies. He didn’t quote rabbis. He spoke as one with original authority.
When He forgave sins, people were outraged—only God can forgive sins. But Jesus did it anyway, right before healing the paralyzed man to prove He had that authority (Mark 2).
2. His Perfect Character
Jesus didn’t just teach purity. He lived it. Those closest to Him—His disciples—spent years watching His every move. And they testified to a sinless life. No deceit, no manipulation, no pride.
Even under pressure, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus’s integrity never cracked.
3. His Miraculous Power
Jesus revealed His divinity through the miraculous:
- Power over nature: He calmed storms with a word, walked on water, and turned water into wine.
- Power over disease: He healed the blind, the deaf, lepers, and the paralyzed—often with just a touch or a command.
- Power over demons: He cast out evil spirits who recognized Him as the Holy One of God.
- Power over death: He raised people from the dead—including Lazarus—and ultimately rose from the dead Himself.
These weren’t magic tricks. They were signs that God had come near. The miracles affirmed the message: Jesus is who He says He is.
The Testimony of the Disciples
Some of Jesus’s closest followers began their journey full of doubt.
Thomas, after the resurrection, refused to believe unless he could touch Jesus’s wounds. And what did Jesus do? He appeared to Thomas and invited him to place his fingers in the scars.
At that moment, Thomas fell to his knees and said, “My Lord and my God.”
That’s not admiration. That’s worship.
Then there’s John, who opened his Gospel with these words:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the one and only Son from the Father.” (John 1)
The disciples weren’t just impressed. They were convinced. They gave their lives—literally—for the belief that Jesus was God.
What Will You Do With Jesus?
So we return to the core question: What will you do with Jesus?
This question is not about collecting more information. It’s not about scoring well on a theology quiz. This is a relational question—an invitation.
Jesus is inviting you into a relationship:
- A relationship that will define you
- A relationship that can heal your soul
- A relationship that can anchor you in the love of the One whose opinion is the only one that ultimately matters
But to enter that relationship, you have to make a decision.
The Illusion of a “Middle Way”
Modern people often try to find a comfortable middle. We don’t want to reject Jesus outright, but we don’t want to surrender everything either. So we say things like:
- “He was a good moral teacher.”
- “I like His stance on justice.”
- “I follow the Golden Rule.”
But when Jesus claims to be God—when He says things like “Before Abraham was, I am”—those middle options disappear.
You can’t say He was just a good teacher. He didn’t leave that option open to us.
C.S. Lewis’s Logic: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, powerfully refutes the idea that Jesus was just a moral teacher.
He writes: “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 the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.”
If His claims are false and He knew they were false, then He is a liar.
If His claims are false and He did not know, then He is delusional—a lunatic.
But if His claims are true, then there is only one rightful response: fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.
Conclusion: The Crisis Jesus Brings
Jesus places each of us in a crisis—not one of despair, but of decision.
You can:
- Reject Him as a fraud
- Write Him off as a madman
- Or embrace Him as your Lord and God
There is no neutral ground. Jesus didn’t come to inspire a fan club. He came to rescue souls and rule hearts.
So today, the question stands: What will you do with Jesus?
Your eternity—and your identity—depends on your answer.