Who is This Man Jesus?

Many non-religious archaeologists and historians admit that history proves Jesus probably did live as a real person. But was he really God's Son?

Why was Jesus not a liar about who He was?
Many Jewish people, Muslims and others say that Jesus was a prophet and a good teacher of morals. But it is their final conclusion that he lied about being the Son of God.

Then, how could a man who was called a good "moral teacher"lie about who he was? How is that teaching good morals?

What did He have to gain by being a fake?
People made fun of him, spit on him and hated him. He was criticized and called crazy. He was beaten beyond recognition and whipped with a cat o' nine tails that had steel pieces at each tip, tearing at his flesh each time the whip was pulled away. He suffered one of the worst kinds of deaths.

Once he was dead, he certainly wouldn't be around to enjoy the fruits of his labors, or the respect of being a martyr. Even his closest disciples walked away from him. What would he gain by this?

What makes Jesus different from the David Koreshes and Jim Joneses of the world?
Jesus didn't make his followers drink some potion and join him in death. On the contrary, he said he was dying for everyone else.

Jesus didn't take his men's wives for himself, or tell them they had to breed his offspring as some of these self-proclaimed "messiahs" have.

Jesus never demanded that his followers live in one secluded place with him. David Koresh gathered his followers in Waco. Jim Jones took everyone to Guyana. The Heaven's Gate suicide cultists were all in a dormitory in California.

But Jesus purposefully told his followers to spread out and go elsewhere: "Go into all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). Some stayed in their own homes and started small church groups, others traveled around to spread the gospel. He never kept them under his thumb.

There's no proof that Jesus ever amassed riches, property or money. One thing you'll rarely to never hear him called is a thief. He took donations merely to sustain him from day to day. During the years of his ministry leading up to the crucifixion, he didn't have own a house, crops, flocks or herds, and often didn't have anywhere to sleep but outdoors.

What was Jesus' real Mission?
-Jesus' mission was not to make men adore Him as a prophet, but to make men adore and worship God.
-His mission was not to make friends, but to befriend sinners and draw them to God.
-His mission was not to admire those who were doing great things (like today's star preachers, star singers, church deacons?), but to get those to turn toward God.
-His mission was not to be served as a man, but to serve, and train other servants.
-His mission was not to gain power on earth, but to empower us with God's word.
-His mission was not to be a great man, but to instill greatness in others.
-His mission was never to start a whole different religion. His first mission was to restore the Jews and get them to truly worship God.
-He was not trying to dispose of the Jewish faith, but to increase it.
-He didn't come to "start Christianity". But He did invite all people to join in the faith and serve the One True God.

Why didn't he get down off the cross?
Yes, He was able, and He may have wanted to in his earthly flesh, but knew He couldn't in His godly wisdom. He crucified his fleshy desires so He could be crucified for us. He loved us that much.

Isn't it preposterous that he rose from the tomb?
Millions of people every year will spend $3.95 a minute to get a psychic's advice by phone, never meeting them or asking for credentials. Others chant mantras or read tarot cards to achieve awareness. Still more wear crystals for strength and success. Yet they will ask a Christian to "prove" that God exists and "prove" that Jesus rose from the grave. Whatever happened to the phrase "TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION"?!

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Every kind of faith is believing in something intangible. People often say "I only believe what I can see". Yet they have "faith" that ape turned into man or that we got here by a big boom, just because some scientists tell them so. There were over 500 eyewitnesses to Jesus' presence after his burial, and not all of them had become "Christ followers". So why is Jesus rising from the grave so ridiculous?