An Interview with Jesus
Cafe Logos: We are very blessed to have this opportunity to share some of the things You have said with our readers. First of all, there are a lot of people nowadays who are saying that You are just a prophet and not the Son of God. They point to all the other religions and say that they are all just as valid. Who are You in your own words?
Jesus: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me (John 14:6). And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God (Luke 12:8, 9). All who came before Me are thieves and robbers… (John 10:8) See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name saying, “I am He!” and will mislead many. (Mark 13:5, 6) And then if anyone says to you, “Behold, here is the Messiah!” : or ‘Behold, he is there, do not believe them; for false Messiahs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray” (Mark 13:21, 22).
Cafe Logos: So you are saying that every belief system that came before You are “thieves and robbers” and any that rise after You are “false prophets” and “false Messiahs,” because there can be only one Messiah, one Redeemer of mankind. So then anyone who wants to argue the validity of any other religion has to contend with these statements from Your own mouth or accuse You of being a liar.
I suppose that if You were taken to a court of law, they would want some evidence for these claims. When you were talking with Nicodemus, You made a reference to Moses...”
Jesus: (smiles) He wrote of Me…” (John 5:46)
Cafe Logos: Exactly. In this reference Moses is instructed by God to ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it he shall live’ (Numbers 21:8, Deut. 8:15). This is a reference to the Cross, isn't it?
Jesus: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life (John 3:14,15). For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).
All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44, Luke 9:22, 18:31-34). For it is written that the Messiah should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46, 47).
Cafe Logos: So the evidence for who You are is contained in the hundreds of prophecies that You have fulfilled. Someone has calculated that the mathematical odds of Your fulfilling just a few of them, including those referring to Your death and resurrection, are about one in a quadrillion. That’s astounding.
One of the things that is so difficult for me to understand is the apparent vehemence so many harbor against You. Here You have come to forgive us, remove our fear of death and give us the gift of eternal life. No other religion in the world guarantees salvation like faith in You does, and yet, I don’t understand why there is so much resistance to something so wonderful.
Jesus: “Light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness, rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (John 3:20) “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:21).
Cafe Logos: It’s like a divine sifting process, isn't it? You are the Truth lifted up before all mankind, and like a magnet You draw those who are humble enough to admit they need You and Your forgiveness. And the others, well, it’s always been a question of free choice, hasn’t it?”
Jesus: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand " (John 10:27, 28).
Cafe Logos: The key to having a relationship with You is humility, isn’t it?
Jesus: “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself as a child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, 4).
Cafe Logos:Then that true Biblical humility the way You teach it is complete dependance upon God.
The Scriptures say that You are God manifest in human flesh, (I Tim. 3:17) that You are God, (John 1:1) because God the Father is in You (II Cor. 5:19) and that You have said that You and the Father are One (John 10:30). So I see this beautiful portrait of holy majesty enthroned in the heavens, with a humble child nestled in Your lap.You died for us to place us in that blessed estate. I never liked being a grown-up anyway. What do You have to say to any who are willing to admit they need Your parenting?
Jesus: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him and he with Me (Rev. 3:20).
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28,29).
Cafe Logos: I hope that all those who have been listening in on our conversation have found some answers. Maybe they will come back again, sit down with You and ask a few questions of their own…
Copyright 1984 by H.D. Shively