The integrity of the Gospel portrait of Jesus must demonstrate truth in his claims about his person. Jesus must claim no more or no less than his relationship with deity and humanity. What were his claims? How did his hearers understand these claims? Did Jesus teach the truth about himself? Four affirmations by Jesus demonstrate his practice. In unequivocal clarity Jesus repeatedly claimed to be God with the exclusive ability to give eternal life to mankind.

Climaxing his claim to be the bread of life, Jesus declared, Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath eternal life. Jesus emphasized that his ability to save was unique and exclusive by saying, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture... My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any may pluck them out of my hand.

To his disciples Jesus was even more specific in his claim to exclusive ability to save, saying, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Just before Jesus raised Lazarus, the Jews raised the question of his identity. The conversation ended in a significant confession: Jesus said, I and the Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father: for which of these works do you stone me?

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

This conversation allows only one conclusion: Jesus claimed identity with God. Jesus' hearers accused him of blasphemy because they understood that he was claiming to be God.

In John's record of Jesus' high priestly prayer, Jesus specifies that his power to save relates to his unique relationship to deity: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given them. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

These few samples afford sufficient evidence to enable common sense to choose between alternatives:

Choice One. Jesus was good. Jesus was truly God revealing himself to mankind as the ONLY Savior.

Choice Two. Jesus was crazed. Jesus was deluded and, therefore, at least partly insane. Jesus was himself deceived and was deluding other into a false hope.

Choice Three. Jesus was evil. Though Jesus knew that he was only human, he sought deliberately to deceive others into believing that he was the only Savior.

Only one choice can be correct!

Either Jesus spoke the truth about himself when he said that he and the Father were one or the crucifiers were right when they said, "He is a blasphemer."

Jesus cannot be a liar and a good teacher.

Jesus cannot be crazed and a good prophet.

Jesus cannot be a deceiver and a good man.

Herick Johnson was stating the only alternative when he declared, "Christ was either the grandest, guiltiest of imposters, by a marvelous and most subtle refinement of wickedness, or He was God manifest in the flesh."

The choice is inescapable!

Common sense can only accept the explanation that Jesus was what he claimed to be: the Son of God!

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