Two thoughts lie behind this assertion:

-The most basic is that there is no God or supernatural.  A study of the claims, character and actions

  of Jesus Christ provides some of the best evidence for the existence of God.

-Jesus was a man who was later idealized by his followers like the hero in a folk-tale.

 INITIAL CHALLENGE

 "I am interested you should say that, it shows you have been thinking about these things, Many people say the same as you but could you prove from the evidence that Jesus was only a man?

It must have been overwhelmingly convincing to change the minds of His staunchly monotheistic disciples."

 THE BIBLICAL BASIS

 The facts of history show that Jesus is in a class of His own and is far more than "just a great man".  Unlike Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius and other founders of religions:

1. Only He was foretold in detail centuries before He came, Matthew 1: 22, 23.  It was prophesied where He would be born, who his parents would be, how He would live and die and rise again.  He fulfilled over 300 prophesies in detail.  This is unique in the world's history and literature.

2.    Only He said He came from outside the world, John 6: 38.  Other men claimed messages, revelations, insights, but none claimed to come from outside this world's scheme.

3.    Only He said He was without flaw of character (John 8: 46) and backed it up by the way He lived.  It is a characteristic of saints and spiritual leaders that the more they develop the more conscious they become of ignorance and shortcoming.  Jesus was never like this.

4.    Only He declared He was God (John 8: 58) and backed it up by a life of wisdom, authority, humility and love.

5.    Only He died for the sin of the world, the result of man's rebellion against God.  Other men just died.  Jesus Christ was born to die, Mark 10: 45.

6.     Only He rose from the grave as He promised Ho would, Luke 24: 33-35.  You can visit the tomb     of Mohammed; his bones are there.  Buddha was cremated, his ashes were buried in ten centers in  India.

Was He a LIAR?

Men lie for profit.  When the lie is unprofitable, when death threatens, they confess.  Jesus confessed nothing.  Further, men lie because they are selfish.  But every aspect of Jesus' personality shows how selfless He was.

 Was He a LUNATIC?

Schizophrenia is a symptom of a disturbed personality.  But in every way Jesus displays balance, humility, poise and selflessness.  He does not have the marks of mental illness or megalomania.  He came to serve.  He came to give His life.  He even washed the feet of the disciples, including the traitor, Judas.

 Conclusion:

The explanation that He was Lord is the only one that really fits the facts.

 QUOTATION

 "A man who was merely a man and said the things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.  He did not intend to."

                                             C.     S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 TURNING THE TABLES

 "If Jesus Christ is God, then nothing is more important than your relationship to Him.  He is Lord.  The Four Spiritual Laws especially Law Three, shows His uniqueness and the way you can receive Him personally.”