Many religions and philosophic pundits like to use some form of this sentence:

“Jesus Christ was a good teacher.”

They may accentuate some aspect of his public interactions in order to show his profound understanding of spirituality, or whatever may serve the conclusion they’re reaching for.

But, was he really a good teacher?

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If Jesus was a good teacher, then this should be true. If it isn’t true, then Jesus was wrong, crazy, or lying. Can a person who teaches his closest disciples lies be a good teacher?

Which do you say is correct? Was Jesus wrong, or insane, or a liar? Or, is he the savior he claims to be? Because we can’t have it both ways.

The statement recorded in John 14:6, by the way, is not an eastern “both/and” statement. Study it carefully and decide for yourself. Decide what and who Jesus claimed about himself.

If you come away concluding that Jesus was wrong, or that he was mad, or that he was a liar, then that is certainly your prerogative. But, in that case, please don’t claim that he was a good teacher.

Josh McDowell, in his timeless classic “More Than a Carpenter”, makes these points very clearly, and I highly recommend that book. It is resplendent in simplicity and accessibility, and (apart from the Bible) I can’t think of a better place to really start an internal process in which you can consider important questions about God, humanity, and eternity.

If you email me your mailing address, I’ll send you a copy of that book.

Now, I’m not throwing stones; I’d like very much to hear what you think… about this, and about any of the Christian posts on my blog.

Feel free to use dankentucky@gmail.com

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
– 2Thes 3:5