Why Jesus? (eBook)

CHAPTER 1

GOOD PEOPLE

When I first filmed a witnessing encounter way back in the late 1990s, I never dreamed for a moment that years later, those videos would end up on something called “YouTube” on “the internet,” let alone that they would get more than two hundred million views.

That first video was called “Seal Beach Kid,” and in it, I showed a very polite young man why he needed Jesus. More than two decades later, I still explain the same simple gospel—summed up in one question: “Why Jesus?”

Getting people to come on camera isn’t easy. Most respond to my “Would you like to be on YouTube?” with a quick but firm “No, thank you.” If they ask what it’s about, I respond, “I ask people if they think there’s an afterlife. What do you think?” When they give their thoughts, I say, “That’s interesting. Will you give me five minutes for an interview?” If they say they will, I turn my camera on, point it at them, and ask, “May I have permission to interview you for YouTube and for all media purposes?” They say yes, and away we go.

In the following transcript, you’ll see conversations I had with Abram and Elena. We recorded these on different days, but we’ve merged them together so that you can see two different people who both believe they’re good encounter the same gospel message. Abram surprised me with what he said, and Elena was a friendly woman.

I asked this question based on what Jesus did: “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God’” (Mark 10:17–18).

Arguably, the number one reason most people don’t see the need for the Savior is that they think they are morally good. This is based on their lack of understanding of God’s righteousness. Elena had a similar response. And so did Abram.

Perhaps you are cringing a little as I speak such strong words to Abram and Elena. So, let me address that concern by saying that I am very careful to watch my tone. I deliberately cultivate a good bedside manner, never speaking with a harsh tone although my words are serious. A doctor often needs to say heavy things to his patient. Perhaps the doctor tells the patient that he is overweight and needs to change his lifestyle or his diet will kill him. The doctor can either say these things with a harsh tone or cultivate his words with a genuine concern. That’s what I strive to do. Please know that my words issue from a deep concern for these people. If they are not awakened to their terrible danger, they won’t flee from God’s wrath. Think of the tone you would have for someone who remains in bed in a burning house. It would be mingled with love, a deep concern, and a tremendous urgency.

Also, keep in mind that not all gifts are material. We can give someone love. We can give them joy. What I’m seeking to do is give an immaterial gift that this world wouldn’t even consider a gift. They would consider it a curse rather than a blessing. But it certainly is a gift—one that leads to something infinitely greater. I am wanting to instill “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10), to cause someone to truly fear God. I want them to tremble at the very thought of offending him because, hopefully, this will lead to a godly sorrow, which produces repentance, which leads to eternal life.

When the Corinthians were given to sin, the apostle Paul gave them some very strong rebukes. But then he said, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:8–10).

While the world may not always see the purpose of our words, this shouldn’t stop us from speaking. Proverbs 28:23 says, “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.” I speak with a gentle tone so that my listeners will understand that my goal is to show them the hope found only in Jesus, not to criticize or judge them.

Can you see the battle going on here? Elena trusted in the conviction that she was a good person. She was clinging to a parachute that was filled with holes and refused to let it go. I needed to convince her that she wasn’t the good person she believed she was. She, therefore, needed more of God’s law. Same with Abram.