Deceived, Deceiver or Deity?
Deceived, Deceiver or Deity?
Welcome back to the show
Today we are asking the question
Who was/is Jesus?
This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself
And your answer will determine your
Outlook on life
But also where you spend eternity
Jesus asked the question
Broadly
Who do men say that I am?
And peter answered and said
Some say you are this and some say that you are that
Then he got personal and asked
Who do you say that I am?
And peter answered
I believe you are the Christ, the son of the living God
Has there ever been a more popular figure throughout history than Jesus?
How about alexander the great?
or Julius Caesar
or cleopatra?
How about Genghis khan
Ghandi
George Washington or Abraham Lincoln
What about Aristotle
Sir Isaac newton or
Albert Einstein?
While these men are no doubt popular figures
None of them even come close to the Jewish carpenter , the man named Jesus
Why is that?
Why is Jesus so popular and well known?
Why hasn’t Jesus just disappeared into the pages of history and time
Why is Jesus the most relevant and talked about
Person to ever live
Why is he
The most loved and also the most hated person to ever live?
Can it be because Jesus is exactly what he and his followers claim that he is
The messiah, God almighty in the flesh?
Today we are going to put that claim to the test
And see if there is any credible evidence to back this up
1. Jesus Actually Existed
Lets begin with this
Was Jesus an actual person who lived or just a made up mythological figure?
Actually Jesus was a real person who actually lived
In Israel
Between 1 and 33 ad
Who walked the earth claiming to be the messiah, God in the flesh
We have 4 credible evidences
1 the Bible records the life and times of Jesus
Even if you don’t believe the bible to be divine
Or to be truthful
Most people still believe it to be written historical accounts by men who followed Jesus
As matter of fact the bible is incredibly accurate concerning the historical accounts of people, places and events.
2 secular history-Historians like Josephus and Tacitus both unbelievers, testify to Jesus; existence and the claims he and his followers made
These two men have no reason to lie about Jesus’s existence in their writings.
3 thirdly our calendar 2025 AD in other words after the death of Christ
4and lastly the existence of his followers continuing to this day
those 4 evidences even if you don’t believe in some of them as credible
everyone believes at least one of these evidences as credible
so there is no doubt to Jesus actual existence and his claims
2. Deceived, Deceiver, or Deity?
The old testament prophesied that a messiah would come and he would be
God himself who would come down to earth be born as a man
Live, Die and rise again from the grave
Take on the sins of mankind
Defeat death
And ascend back up into heaven
And return a second time one day to judge the world
Jesus claimed to be this person
was he guilty of impersonation of another and lying?
Or is he not guilty and is actually this messiah?
was Jesus just a deceived person,
a person with mental disorder
like Jim jones or David Koresh?
Or was he a deceiver
Lying to people to gain followers
Like Jim Bakker or Benny Hinn?
or was he actually divine as he claimed
he can only be one of the 3
a deceived man that thought he was the son of God
a deceiver who simply claimed he was the son of God
or he was who he said he was the Messiah the son of God
there is no other choice!
he is either deceived ,deceiver or deity
cs Lewis said there is only 3 options
he is either the Lord a lunatic or a liar
so which is it?
Did Jesus have the character of someone who seemed mentally challenged?
· No. Jesus demonstrated wisdom, understanding, and discernment from a young age.
· Scripture:
· Luke 2:47 — “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
· John 7:46 — “The officers answered, ‘No one ever spoke like this man!’”
Did Jesus have the character of someone who was a deceiver?
· No. Jesus’ entire ministry was centered on truth. He consistently taught reality as it is, exposed lies, and promised eternal life through honest, direct words. Deception was completely contrary to His nature.
· Scripture:
· John 14:6 — “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
· John 18:37 — “For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
· John 8:32 — “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
· 1 Peter 2:22 — “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
A persons character is defined in 4 ways
1. his conversation- what he says, talks about
2. his conduct -what he does, treats people
3. his contribution- what he gives and leaves behind
4. and his creed -what he believes
these make up the character of a person
lets look at Jesus’ character
his conversation
His words were gracious, truthful, and edifying (Colossians 4:6). He taught with authority, corrected gently, and avoided gossip, slander, or manipulation.
Example: His interactions with the woman at the well (John 4) or the adulterous woman (John 8) show how his conversation reflected wisdom, mercy, and clarity without condemnation.
in his conduct
He lived a life of service, humility, and obedience (Philippians 2:5–8). His actions consistently reflected his teachings.
Example: Washing the disciples’ feet (John 13) or healing the sick without seeking personal gain demonstrates impeccable conduct.
his contribution
His contribution is eternal and transformative, giving salvation, teaching truth, and modeling a life aligned with God’s purpose (John 3:16).
Example: Through parables, miracles, and sacrifice, he contributed to people’s spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the world.
in his creed
· His creed is perfectly aligned with God’s will (John 4:34, John 14:6). His teachings are consistent, authoritative, and without error.
· Example: His sermons (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount) and statements about the Kingdom of God reflect an unwavering commitment to truth, love, and righteousness.
In Jesus, there is no discrepancy between who he is, what he says, how he lives, what he gives, and what he believes. Character, conversation, conduct, contribution, and creed all harmonize perfectly. This is why Scripture and history call him flawless, trustworthy, and worthy of ultimate imitation.
do you find any fault in Jesus character that would prove that he is was a deceived or a deceiver?
Pontious Pilate said
I find no fault in this man
I find no fault in his character
I find no fault in his conversation
I find no fault in his contribution
I find no fault in his creed
So if he wasn’t deceived or a deceiver
was he divine?
3. Is Jesus Divine?
A.His Uniqueness
If God became a man he would be unlike any other man
he certainly would be unique
first we can agree His birth would be unique
Was Jesus birth unique?
Absolutely Jesus was born of a virgin
he would have to be unique in righteousness
was Jesus unusually unique in righteousness?
Yes he was without sin
if God became a man he would have to be unique in history
as we said nobody has impacted history like Jesus
and we know that Jesus fulfills that, he is the centerpiece of all history hence BC and AD in our yearly calendar
he would have to be unique in wisdom
the Bible says that Jesus fulfills that, it says there was never a man that spoke as this man spoke
if God became a man he would be unique in power
was Jesus unique in power?
Nature, disease, death, and demons were all subject to Jesus voice
if God became a man then he would have to be unique in death
Jesus arose from the dead !
Jesus certainly is unique and fits the uniqueness of a man who is God
Now think about this
B.Fulfillment of Prophecy
the Old Testament was written over 1400 years
By many authors
and in the Old Testament are many prophecies of a coming messiah
written hundreds even thousands of years before Jesus
Jesus claimed to be this messiah
lets reason together and look at just a few of these prophecies
and see if Jesus actually fits the description of this coming savior
he must be born in Bethlehem Micah chapter 5 verse 2 check
he must be born of a virgin Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 4
wise men will bring him gold and frankincense Psalm 72 verse 10 and Isaiah 60 verse 3 through 6
the king during his childhood must get angry and kill the innocent children Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 15
he must live for a while in Egypt Hosea Chapter 11 verse one
he must live in Nazareth Zachariah chapter 3 verse 8
he must be proceeded by a forerunner to prepare the way Isaiah chapter 40 verse 3
he must begin his ministry in Galilee Isaiah Chapter 9 verse one
he must do miracles of healing the blind the deaf the dumb and the lame Isaiah chapter 35 verse 5 through 6
he must speak in parables Psalm chapter 78
the Jews will reject him Psalm chapter 118 verse 22
he must ride into Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah Chapter 9 verse 9
he must come while the temple is still standing Psalm Malachi chapter 3 verse one
one of his own will betray him Psalm chapter 41 verse nine
30 pieces of silver must be taken for betraying him Zechariah Chapter 11 verse 12
His enemies must buy a Potter's field for the exact price of betrayal Zachariah Chapter 11 verse 13
he will be spit on cursed stabbed and died on a cross Isaiah chapter 50 verse 6 and Psalm chapter 22 verse 16 and Zachariah chapter 12 verse 10
he will be mocked despised given vinegar and gall to drink Psalm 69 verse 21
he must be forsaken by his friend Zachariah chapter 13 verse 7
his enemies must gamble over his garments Psalm 22 verse 18
he must say my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Psalm 22 verse one
he must die with two criminals Isaiah chapter 53 verse 12
he must not answer back to his accusers Isaiah chapter 53 verse 7
his bones must not be broken psalms 34 verse 20
he must be buried with the rich Isaiah 53 verse nine
he must die and rise again Psalm 16 eight through 10 also chapter 30 verse 3 and Hosea 6 verse 2
darkness must come over the land Amos chapter 8 verse 9
well check\k check check check all checks!
Jesus fulfilled all of those!
And that’s just a small few
there are actually over 300 prophecies of what Christ would say do and endure of men that he fulfilled!
Well how do we know he didn’t just do those things to make himself appear to be the messiah?
well lets think about that
could Jesus control those prophecies from happening
could he control these following prophecies
can he control the prophecies that he fulfilled when he was just a baby
can he find a girl of the right lineage to be his mom and say she is a pregnant virgin Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 14
can he control where he was born Micah chapter 5 verse 2
can he arouse Herod to kill the innocent babies Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 15
can he get his father to take him to Egypt Hosea Chapter 11 verse one
can he get his father to live in Nazareth Zachariah chapter 3 verse 8
can he get the kings of the east to come and visit him at two years old Psalm 72 verse 10 Isaiah 60 verses 3 through 6
can he control the gifts they give him Psalm 7210 and Isaiah 63 through 6
I don’t think so
And what about as a man
as a man can he do the miracles of healing and yet be so despised by the nation he benefited that they kill him Isaiah 35 five through 6 Psalm 118 verse 22
can he get one of his followers to betray him for just the right amount of money Zachariah 11/12
can he control how the betrayal money would be spent by the high priest Zechariah 11/13
certainly not!
And what about in death?
can he control how he would die on a cross pierced and given gall and vinegar to drink Psalm 2216 Psalm 6921
can he convince 2 criminals to die beside him Isaiah 5312
can he make sure that his bones would not be broke in Psalm 34 20
can he make sure the soldiers would gamble over his garments Psalm 2218
can he control nature and cause the darkness over the earth Amos chapter 8 verse 9
can he control where he would be buried Isaiah 53 verse 9
can he control his resurrection Psalm 16 verse 10
of course not!
You know, it seems to me that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be
The evidence is overwhelming
Peter W. Stoner was an American mathematician and astronomer.
He served as Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College until 1953, and then as Chairman of the Science Division at Westmont College from 1953–57.
He later was Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & Astronomy at Pasadena City College.
He is best known for his book Science Speaks, in which he applies probability theory and mathematics to Bible prophecy, arguing for the statistical improbability of certain prophetic fulfillments being mere coincidence.
according to Stoner if only 48 major prophecies were fulfilled the mathematical possibility is one chance and one tredecillion! That’s a 1 with 42 zeros behind it!
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
In other words
Unless you are that man it is statistically impossible!
And that’s just 48 Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies!
have you ever heard of any other man in all history that even comes close to fitting this description?
We know that no such man will ever come in the future either
For some of the prophecies are no longer able to be fulfilled
Such as the lineage this savior must come from
From eve to Shem to Abraham to Judah to Jesse to David to the virgin Mary
we know that this lineage only fits one man in all history
and that is Jesus of Nazareth
since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD no jew can trace their lineages back to David anymore
now lets look at the
4. evidence of the resurrection
the tomb is empty
so where is the body?
Some say maybe the Jews stole it
well if that was the case they would have produced it on Pentecost and shut the mouths of the apostles
later many of the chief priests ended up obeying the gospel of Christ
some say the Roman government stole it
well they would have produced the body to stop the friction between the Christians and the Jews
surely Felix and king Agrippa would not have been impressed with Paul's speech as they would have known of any government involvement in the theft of Christ’s body
some say the guards helped to steal it
well how could they hope to explain the theft to superiors
can you bribe a man when he knows it means his death
would guards usually admit falling asleep on duty
what would be their motive
then, some say individuals stole it
well what was their motive
how did they get past the Roman guards
if they were good why would they have allowed Christians to remain deceived
if evil what was their motive
how would you account for the testimony of over 500 people who saw the resurrected Christ
some say it must have been the disciples who stole it
then why did they die for a thing they knew that was a lie
how did they get past the Roman guards at the tomb
then some talk about the swoon theory
maybe Christ was not really dead maybe he was simply in a swoon till the coldness of the tomb revived him
well how did Christ escape seeing he had not eaten he had been beaten and stabbed
he had nail holes in his hands and feet how could he have walked
how could he in this condition push away the stone that five women could not hope to remove
How did he get by the guards
surely the evidence shows that Jesus’ tomb was empty
because God raised him from the dead, the angels rolled the stone away
put the guards into a deep sleep and he walked right out of that tomb
just as the bible records that he did!
no other religious group has that claim.
it is unique among all other religions.
visit the graves of the other religious leaders and you'll discover their bodies are still there.
but the tomb of Jesus that is still able to be visited today.
is empty!
5. Eyewitness Testimony
none of them have ever recanted their testimony
none of them ever gave conflicting reports
many of them were even threatened to deny Jesus as the messiah or be put to death
and no recording of any of them confessing that it was a lie
think of it this way
if we called these witnesses to trial
in order to discard their testimony
we would have to impeach the witnesses
here is how you must impeach the witness
you must
1. show that the witnesses are so wicked that they are not worthy of belief
can that be proven/
no, not one time in all secular writings of first centuries is this charge brought against the apostles
#2 can you show the witnesses to be mentally incompetent
read the New Testament and see they were sane competent people- lawyers, doctors, tax collectors, politicians, business owners
#3 can you show that they had anything to gain by lying or an ulterior motive
No they had everything to lose they died for their faith
in men's eyes they were the scum of the earth
there was no monetary profit to be gained
#4 can you convict them of being prejudiced before the fact
No it was the opposite Christ rebuked them for not believing he had risen till they saw him mark 1614
remember doubting Thomas
#5 can you show the witnesses statements to be so contradicting that none are worthy of belief
no there are no credible contradictions between their eyewitness testimonies
ladies and gentlemen of the jury
it is clear that the accused is not guilty of impersonating and perjury.
and therefore he is exactly who claims to be
He is the Messiah the old testament prophesied about
The one who came died and who arose from the grave!
as a member of the jury do you find Jesus Christ guilty or not guilty
is he a liar a lunatic or is he the Lord
was he a deceiver deceived or was he deity
your eternal destiny depends upon the verdict that you make
what then will you do with this Jesus who is called the Christ
pilot washed his hands of him
you ,what will you do with this man named Jesus