I often hear people say, “I don’t understand the Bible!” When I ask if they’ve read it, the response is usually, “Well, not really, just parts of it.”

Many might express, “That’s why I attend church; it’s the pastor’s responsibility.”

I would challenge anyone to gather 10 pastors, priests, rabbis, and spiritual leaders of various kinds and ask them the square root of 16. They would all provide the same answer, as it is a straightforward truth. However, if you ask them to summarize the message of the holy scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, you might find a wide range of interpretations. 

Will the real Jesus please stand up!

Imagine a scenario reminiscent of the show “To Tell the Truth,” where Jesus is seated among representatives of all the world’s religions and beliefs.

Will the real Jesus Christ please stand up?

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to “To Tell The Truth,” the show where three contestants claim to be the same person, and our panel must determine who is telling the truth. Tonight, we have a very special episode.

Three figures sit before us, each claiming to be the way to eternal life and reconciliation with God. Each speaks with conviction and authority. Each has followers numbering in the millions. Each claims to be the truth.

Contestant #1 represents Religion: well-dressed, adorned with symbols and ceremonies, speaking of rules, rituals, and human effort to reach the divine.

Contestant #2 represents Self-Spirituality: casual and contemporary, speaking of finding one’s own path, creating personal truth, and reaching higher consciousness through various means.

Contestant #3 sits quietly, bearing scars on his hands and feet.

The Questioning Begins

Panelist: “Contestant #1, how does one achieve salvation?”

Religion speaks confidently: “Through careful observation of sacred rituals, following divine laws, and performing good works. You must prove yourself worthy through your actions and devotion.”

Panelist: “Contestant #2, same question.”

Self-Spirituality responds: “There are many paths to enlightenment. You can reach divine consciousness through meditation, spiritual practices, or whatever feels true to you personally. All paths lead to the same destination.”

Panelist: “Contestant #3?”

The scarred one speaks simply: “It is finished. I have done it all. While you were yet sinners, I died for you. Whosoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Evidence Speaks

As the questioning continues, distinct patterns emerge:

Religion speaks of what humans must do – a endless list of requirements, rituals, and rules. Like the builders of Babel, it represents humanity’s attempt to reach God through their own efforts.

Self-Spirituality speaks of personal journeys and individual truths, offering countless paths but no concrete destination. It promises enlightenment without addressing the fundamental problem of sin and separation from God.

The third contestant speaks differently. He doesn’t demand performance or promote self-discovery. Instead, He points to what He has already done – a completed work, a perfect sacrifice, an invitation to rest in His finished achievement.

The Verdict

Before the final revelation, let’s examine the evidence:

1. The real Savior would have to address the root problem of human sin and separation from God
2. The solution would have to be perfect and complete, as God accepts nothing less
3. The true way would have to be accessible to all – “whosoever” – not just the religiously accomplished or spiritually elite
4. The real Savior would have fulfilled hundreds of specific prophecies written centuries before
5. The true way would require divine initiative, as dead men cannot resurrect themselves

Only one contestant meets all these criteria. Only one bears the marks of sacrifice. Only one offers a complete solution that works for everyone – from the most religious Pharisee to the thief on the cross.

The Revelation

“Will the real Jesus Christ please stand up?”

The third contestant rises, and as He does, both Religion and Self-Spirituality must remain seated. They are revealed as imposters who, despite their claims, cannot bridge the gap between God and humanity.

The real Jesus stands alone because:

• He didn’t come to establish a religion but to fulfill all righteousness
• He didn’t come to show us how to save ourselves but to be our salvation
• He didn’t come to give us more rules but to give us His life
• He didn’t come to condemn but to save
• He didn’t come to make bad people good but to make dead people live

The Invitation

The show closes, but the invitation remains open: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” No auditions required. No performance necessary. The work is finished. The price is paid. The door is open.

And that’s the truth.

The credits roll as the host reminds viewers: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

SINNERS PULPIt@sinnerspulpit.com