A question to ponder: was Jesus a liar?

Every Christian should answer this question with a resounding “no.”

For Jesus to be credible he had to tell the truth every time. Why is this the case? Jesus knew that for people to believe what he had to say he had to be honest. This is why Christianity has lasted for so many years. I spend a great deal of my time studying the Bible. At the same time, I also read what others write about the Bible.

Recently, I had the opportunity to study liberal Christian theology. I must admit that it was interesting that on one side of the issue most liberal Christians claim that before the time of Abraham (or in some cases Solomon) the Bible is a myth or legend. After this time the Bible is relatively well-documented and relatively easy to verify. This is done by the writings of other historians of the time as well as archeological finds.

But prior to the time of Abraham there appears, at first glance, little to verify any previous personalities of the Bible. Admittedly, it is difficult to absolutely prove anything from this era of nearly 4,000 to 6,000 years ago through scientific or archeological finds. Or is it? As an example, recently there was an underwater land bridge found in the Red (not Reed) Sea exactly where the Bible says Moses crossed the Red Sea.

It was found by using the Bible as a map. Even more surprising is that local Arab residents very nonchalantly stated when it was found “yes, that is where Moses crossed the Red Sea.” It was common local knowledge.

Another example is the recent discovery of a city that was discovered destroyed by an intense unknown heat source. Amazingly, this was found where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are believed to have existed. There are numerous reports of sightings of the Ark on Mount Ararat, many photos have been taken, but still it is unconfirmed as an absolute. I wonder what it would take to confirm that indeed the ark is on Mount Ararat?

But the most compelling evidence for Christians as to the answer to the question, “was Jesus a liar?”

To not believe the Old Testament in its entirety a person would have to say yes, he was indeed a liar.

This is a bold statement. How could a person possibly back up such a statement? Jesus speaks of Noah by name four times (Matthew 24:37-38, Luke 17:26-27), Gomorrah twice (Matthew 10:15, Mark 6:11) and Sodom (Matthew 10:15, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12, 17:29).

In the instances where these events are mentioned they are not in the context of parables, but as actual historical events. Even more compelling is when Jesus said in Mark 12:26-27 26, “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”

Although the question being answered in this case concerned marriage, why would Jesus have mentioned Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob if they were fictitious people? Even more interesting is the use of the phrase “do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures” to believe the liberal Christian belief then a person must be in error to the scripture to the Bible. If you don’t like this example, I’ll try another from Matthew 8:11: “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”

Is there anything that ties the New and Old Testaments together other than the words of Jesus?

John 1:1: “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.”

Take notice of the last four words of this verse. To not believe the Old Testament is to call God himself a liar. Notice how the Bible begins Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Both of these verses start with the same three words “in the beginning,” in other words, it all must be true, factual and accurate.

To believe only the parts of the Bible that a person wants to believe is to be lukewarm, and is addressed in Revelation 3:16: “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” This is not a pretty picture. Even worse, these are not my words, but words from the Bible.

Is it possible that some people are making the mistake? Does the Bible address who is more credible, man or God? The Bible absolutely does in Romans 3:4 :God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

Each person in the end must ask themselves some questions whether they believe in a partial God of the Bible. Will that same God of the Bible give them partial grace? Are Jesus and God both liars? Considering that all are connected a person must either believe in it all or none of it.

Mike Blodgett is chaplain at Lighthouse Chapel, which is under construction. Contact him at 373-5866 or email lighthouse_chapelak@yahoo.com.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2268.