why jesus?
There's really no questioning whether or not Jesus existed. There's more evidence for His existence than for Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar. The real question is, was Jesus simply a great teacher and leader, or was He more? Arguably, no other man has had such a tremendous impact on humanity for good than Jesus.
There have been many religious leaders throughout history, but none can make the claims that Jesus made.
In only 3 1/2 years of public life and ministry, Jesus impacted this world like no other.
Jesus' legacy is more than His teachings, healings, and miracles, but the purpose for why he came. Jesus stated in John 10:10,
"I have come that you may have life, and life more abundantly."
What's this "life" Jesus is talking about? He is referring to eternal life through Him. He said in John 14:6,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man goes to God except through me."
How could Jesus make such a claim? How could He be so bold to say He alone is the way to God? He boldly claimed salvation could not be through any religion, nor through any church or religious figure, but through Him alone!
Others have claimed that they know the way to salvation, but there is always one insurmountable problem. That problem is sin, and that sin problem is what separates us from God. That sin results in our unrighteousness. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that we all have sinned. Some have said if you're a good person, you'll be all right, but the Bible says our righteousness is a dirty rag (Isaiah 64:6). Our religious or personal efforts to right our wrongs can never be enough.
God knew this and made a way to forgive our sins. That way is through Jesus. He said that through Him only could your sins be forgiven. He could make that claim because of what He alone had done.
Jesus alone came down from Heaven as God, lived as a man, being born through the virgin Mary and lived a sinless life. He then sacrificed His life on the cross, shedding His innocent blood in place of ours so that you and I may be made right with God. Why could Jesus claim that He could forgive sins in Mark 2, that He alone is the way to God? It is because He alone stands as the mediator between God and Man as He alone is both God and Man. No other person or religious figure can claim these things.
Mary said of Jesus in John 2:5, "Do whatever He tells you." From the beginning, when an angel visited her as a young woman, Mary knew the significance of her son Jesus. Her advice to do as Jesus tells us is the wisest wisdom. So what is it Jesus tells us we should do?