Powerfull Voices

Ironic Surprise
Ravi Zacharias

One of the recurring elements in the Bible, especially in encounters
involving Jesus, is the element of surprise. That surprise is not only
contained in what Jesus said, but more often it is to whom He said the
words that brings the surprise.

Consider Jesus' claim in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the father except through me." These words of Jesus
certainly establish what we would call exclusivity. Jesus is saying here,
"I am the only way to God. There is no other religious practice or guru or
prophet that can lead you to God." Now no doubt, such a claim provokes a
strong response and perhaps you yourself find it difficult to believe. But
friend, let us be honest here: Every major religion in the world claims
exclusivity and has a point of exclusion. And truth by definition is
exclusive. Everything cannot be true. If everything is true, then nothing
is false.

But back to this element of surprise. Yes, Jesus did say that no one could
come to God except through him alone. But have you ever noticed to whom
Jesus said these words? He said them to Thomas, the apostle whose name,
even after two millennia, is synonymous with doubt. Thomas was the last to
believe in the resurrection of Jesus because he did not want to trust such
a magnificent claim secondhand. He needed to see and feel before he would
bend his knee to the Christ he knew had been crucified. Ironically, Thomas
went on to preach the gospel in India, my homeland, a land of over 330
million deities and innumerable "ways to God." Ultimately he gave his life
for the exclusive claims of Christ.

Another example of the Gospel's apparent irony is found in Jesus' question
to his disciple Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus patiently waited
for Peter's response—"You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God"—knowing later that three times Peter would eventually deny knowing
Jesus. Yet, Peter recovered from that painful moment and spent the rest of
his life striving for the gospel and in the end, he himself was crucified
upside down.

What surprises us in these instances is Jesus' ability to understand our
weaknesses and to touch our hearts and minds where each of us needs it
most. You see, He knew of Thomas' doubt before it was spoken. He knew of
Peter's denial before the act. And He knows you and me and can still
surprise us today wherever we are and meet us in our weakness.

Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM)

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Toto

This is not true. It is mainly monotheist religions that claim to have a monopoly on Truth (tm). The pagans before Christianity and many eastern religions do not claim to have the only way.

Besides which, what Jesus meant depends on which interpretation you buy. Did he mean that anyone born into another religion who did not become converted is damned? Or did he mean that everyone who wants to become enlightened must symbolically / psychologically die and be reborn as Jesus was?

And how long is this religious spam going to be in this forum anyway?

xeren

Yeah, seriously, can someone move this away from this forum, this is not even close to philosophy, and it's annoying to boot.

Thank you

Bill Snedden

Agreed. Off to RR&P...