If we are to understand the claim of Jesus, we must first consider what the Bible teaches about sin. What does sin do to our relationship with God? Sin breaks our relationship with God. In Isa. 59:1,2, we read, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that He cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, that He does not hear." This is what sin does to our relationship with God. It alienates God from us. This is why God seems so distant and even unreal to so many.

Jesus is the only God-appointed sacrifice to bear away sin.

John the Baptist identified Jesus in Jn. 1:29 as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world". If one will refer this to the Old Testament, that meant that Jesus is the God- appointed sacrifice for sin to fulfill the sacrificial system God imposed upon His people under the Old Covenant. He was the lamb that was sacrificed in order to bear away the sins of those whom He came to save.

The book of Hebrews in the New Testament expounds this teaching very clearly. We read in Heb. 9:24-28, "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands [that is, the holy place which God commanded Moses to make under the Old Covenant], a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own. [ that is, the Levitical priest under the Old Covenant]. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once after this comes judgment so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." Again in Heb. 10:11-15, we read, "And every priest [ that is, the levitical priest under the Old Covenant ] stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He [ Christ], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies will be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified."

Jesus is the only high priest under the New Covenant through whom we can draw near to God.

We read in Heb. 7:23-25, "And the former priests [ that is, the Levitical priest under the Old Covenant], on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, but He [Christ], on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Philosophers and many religious teachers do have some element of truth in their teaching but mixed with so much error. In this regard, you end up with a few nuggets of truth buried in a whole mountain of error.

This is not true of Jesus. Truth is so pure and concentrated in Jesus that He Himself is the very embodiment of truth. The stream of truth that came out of His mouth is nothing but pure, unadulterated truth.

This is confirmed elsewhere in the Bible. In Jn. 1:14, we read, "And the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we [the Apostles] beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Also in Jn. 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." Again in Jn. 12:46, Jesus said, "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness." In Col. 2:3, we read, "in whom [in Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

The life which Jesus here talks about is not mere existence. It is possible for a person to exist and yet to be void of this life which Christ talks about. Thus, Jesus said to the unbelieving Jews in Jn. 5:40, "and you are unwilling to come to Me that you might have life." Indicated in these words is that although these people were very much alive they did not have "life".

This life which Jesus talks about is that life under the saving blessings of God and in blessed communion with Him, a life which is endless in its duration. It is eternal life (Jn. 17:1- 4). Jesus is the source of this life. It is only in union with Him, through the bonds of living faith, that anyone can have this life. This is confirmed elsewhere in the Bible. In Jn. 3:36, we read, "He who believes in the Son [the Lord Jesus Christ] has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life , but the wrath of God abides on him." Again in Jn. 11:25&26, Jesus speaking to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if He dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" Elsewhere in 1Jn. 5:11&12, we read, "And the witness is this, that God has given us [believers in Christ] eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."

Many today say that they believe in Jesus. But if you press upon them that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, they will immediately say that it is too exclusive and too narrow-minded. But not to believe in Jesus' claim is not to believe in Jesus at all!

Have you also honestly faced this claim of Jesus? If you think it is too exclusive and narrow-minded, and that it cannot be true, then I urge you to face up with the full consequence of your conviction.

If Jesus' claim is not true, then either Jesus was a blatant liar or He was a deluded lunatic! Therefore, don't say that you believe in Him and in the Bible. Be honest! Don't be a hypocrite! Repudiate Christianity and stop living in mental and moral dishonesty. Say that Jesus was a blatant liar who has deceived so many and therefore He is worthy of death. Or say that Jesus was crazy and that should have been confined in a mental institution.

Ah, but if you do believe His claim, then, my friend, Jesus is all you need! Go to Him that you might have dealings with God. Follow Him and you will not remain in darkness. Trust in Him and you shall have that life under God's blessings and in blessed communion with Him forever. [JFM]