“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:25-27)
In this chapter, Jesus makes over twenty claims that he is God. Consider verses 25-27, shown above. Jesus is claiming (1) that he is the Son of God, (2) that he gives life to those who believe, and (3) that the Father has given him authority to execute judgement. These are pretty bold claims, and these are made just after he healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. This begs the same question that C.S. Lewis asked, “Is Jesus liar, lord, or lunatic?”
It may seem that lunatic might be the best choice. Any crazy person can claim that they are God, and that God told them to do something! But, does any crazy person heal an invalid? If Jesus is not a lunatic, is he simply a great liar? Has he done magical acts to get the attention of the crowd, and then claim that he is doing what God has given him to do?
Many people today consider that Jesus was just a great moral teacher. However, if Jesus misrepresents who he is, by claiming that he is the Son of God, does he qualify as a great moral teacher? Rather, it makes him a fraud, and none of his words can be trusted.
So, finally, we must conclude that Jesus is Lord, sent from the Father to do the work of the Father. Able to give life to those who believe. Able to raise the dead. And, given the authority to judge “those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:29).
Is Jesus liar, lord, lunatic, or a great moral teacher? There is only one right answer and your eternity depends upon the answer you choose.