Jesus really is the answer
Benjamin F. Plybon
Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, Miami University
Christians sometimes post signs with the words: JESUS IS THE ANSWER. Non- Christians look at the sign and laugh at this foolishness, making remarks like, “Hey, I don’t even know what the question is.” That’s true , non Christian, and that is part of your failure to understand many of the big problems faced by human beings living today in this troubled world. The intent of this ‘sign reader’ is to be witty; but it probably is true that this critic doesn’t know the question. In fact, the words on the sign do give the answer, or at least a partial answer, for some of the most troublesome, profound questions thinkers have pondered about life and our existence, for thousands of years. Consider a few of these difficult questions pondered by ordinary thinkers daily.
Does God exist? Some may say they don’t really care about whether God exists or not, but that is not true . The answer to that question is vitally important to all humans. Some don’t want to think about it but it is unavoidable. Sooner or later the question will demand an answer. A difficult question to answer for many people, but those who have read and accepted the wisdom of the words spoke by Jesus know the answer. Jesus really did exist and did some amazing things; without God, the Father in Heaven, the life of Jesus has no rational explanation. Answering this question is easy. The answer is yes. Yes, indeed. Jesus confirmed that long ago by his daily actions and words.
Why did God destroy my house in a tornado? What did I do to cause that?
Every Spring in the Midwest we hear victims of storms ask that question. The answer is: you did nothing wrong. God did not destroy your house. The God revealed to us by Jesus is a loving God that does not harm anyone. Blame science, or mother nature, not God. A tornado is a natural phenomena occurring from time to time because of particular atmospheric conditions known to meteorologists. Your house was probably built in an area known to have tornadoes every year. You moved in and became a target waiting to be hit. Tornadoes are a normal event in certain times of the year, a seasonal phenomenon. God can only observe the damage and cry with you. That is the answer Jesus gives you.
Why does God allow so many children to suffer and die of starvation in Africa?
Even intelligent, college educated people, ask that question. Their stored knowledge provides no answer. This one is a difficult question, but Jesus gave us the key to the answer by assuring us that God does not cause suffering and starvation. That is not his nature. The cause is human sin. We humans cause children to starve by choosing actions leading to this problem of human suffering. We are the problem, not God. God gave humans free will; we can freely choose our actions. There are many things humans choose to do that contribute to the problem. That is sin. We know, with modern farming methods we can produce enough food to feed everyone on earth. Thank God for that. The problem is distribution of the food to hungry mouths. Children depend on adults to feed and care for them. Some adults neglect to do that caring job for their children. Sometimes there is no food because of wars in the region that are a result from humans choosing violence to settle their disagreements. Sometimes greedy, uncaring adults hoard food, failing to distribute the food to those who need food to survive. Christians label all such actions as sin, a very unpopular word that some would like to remove from our language. But sin is a reality of life. Jesus reminded his listeners of the tragedy of sin and pleaded to all not to make such choices. So again Jesus answered the question.
What must we do to have peace in the world?
Who has not wished for peace in the world? Musicians write songs about it. Religious people pray often for peace everywhere. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, for good reason. He taught the world how to have peace in the world. Peace begins with individuals and families, then expands outward through communities and nations; then there is some hope for peace worldwide. Jesus taught his followers that peace must begin in our individual hearts with the love of God producing peace with God. The man at peace with God will not start fights or wars. Wars are started by troubled people who have rejected the God revealed to us by Jesus. No other God will suffice. Jesus came and told everyone the key to this problem. We have been taught the answer. Then the key was rejected.
The key is love but not the Hollywood idea of love. Jesus spoke of love that goes beyond and also deeper into the nature of each one of us. Love God and love your neighbor; two kinds of love that are inseparable. This kind of love is hard for ordinary mortals like us to understand. Jesus, while walking the earth appearing as another man like us, demonstrated what such love looks like and he demonstrated that kind of love is possible for those who believe in him. He gave us the desired answer to the peace question but so many today have rejected the truth they claim to seek.
Some will deny Jesus is the answer to such questions for them because they do not believe in Jesus. Believing comes from understanding his teachings and actions during the short three years he taught his followers. The one who does not believe is simply demonstrating their failure to understand Jesus. Who was this man who allowed good men to execute him, an innocent man, by hanging on a cross? Yes, that is true , he was executed by good men, not evil men; men believing they were doing the right thing. While he was dying, hanging on a cross and breathing his last, Jesus confirmed that. At that terrible time he spoke to God the Father in heaven,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
He did not condemn his executors despite what they were doing. They really did not understand what they were doing. He knew that very well. How do we ever understand such love. A Roman centurion, a soldier who recognized great bravery, observed what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."
True, but Jesus was much more than just another righteous man.
To understand why Christians say Jesus is the answer to so many of our questions, one must learn about this amazing man. No one can do that for you. The Book is there. Read and study; there is no other way. If you do not understand how Jesus could be the answer to anything you are in the same position as the physics student who cannot find answers to his questions about relativity because he has not done his homework. General Relativity is a difficult mathematical subject. Such a student could blame God for his inability to understand relativity, when the real problem is, that this student has refused to study enough mathematics. He, or she, has rejected the tool needed to understand.
Consider the young man who does not like school, so he refuses to do the necessary work. He chooses to drop out of High School before graduating. He rejects an opportunity to get a good education, then as an adult, the lack of education makes this man unqualified for well paying jobs he would like to have. This leads to financial problems and suffering. His car is re-possessed, and he goes bankrupt. So he blames God for his unhappy life and asks, why did God do this to me? “What kind of miserable life is this? No thanks, God.” Jesus would tell him that God did not do this to him. You reap what you sow, Jesus taught.
Trying to understand the really difficult questions about life after rejecting Jesus is just as silly as the actions of the student who can’t understand relativity and the man who cannot find a better job because he rejected a good education. You will never find the answers you seek to such deep questions if you continue to reject the source of answers to such questions.
Our finest philosophers cannot provide answers to many of our deep questions. They will tell you there are no answers for the troubling questions about pain, death and suffering in life. “Don’t ask me questions about another life after death, heaven and angels. There is no life after death or heaven.” Such philosophers have disregarded Jesus in their search for knowledge. They have rejected the key. St. Augustine, a truly brilliant thinker, more than just a philosopher, did not reject the key to real wisdom. He understood both death and life. He knew the answers to many of our most troubling questions about life in this world and the next. You can only find answers for mathematics problems by learning more about math. To find answers for questions about weather you study meteorololgy. To know more about the mysteries of life, Jesus is the place to begin. St. Augustine knew that.
St. Paul a brilliant thinker, was well educated in the wisdom of the Greek philosophers and the knowledge of his Jewish elders; the wisdom of his day. Yet, he was a violent man, unwise in so many ways; unable to see and comprehend the truth surrounding him. Then he met Jesus. His blindness was removed. Astonished and stunned by the great truth about Jesus and his disciples revealed to him he dedicated the rest of his life to teaching others the way to better lives. He found Jesus is the answer to his questions that troubled him. He found the peace that surpasses all understanding. Listen to these words of wisdom written to the Greeks in Corinth 2000 years ago.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Yea, verily. You better believe it, O wise one.
(Copyright 2015 Benjamin F. Plybon. All rights reserved.)
