Was Jesus a Lunatic?

The argument is:
If Jesus was not God, but He did NOT know He was not God, then He was a lunatic.

Meaning of Lunatic

What do we mean by "lunatic"?

First, we understand that this is an outdated term and derogatory. Mental illness of any kind is nothing to be made fun of. In the lifetime of C.S. Lewis (1898 to 1963), our culture's knowlege of mental illness was comparatively small and many of the labels were insulting and insensitive.

But, I am reasonable sure that C.S. Lewis was using this word to mean:
delusional,
deranged,
unpredictable,
insane,
perhaps schizophrenic.

If a person is not God, but think they are and proclaim that that they are, then we have a person who is seriously detached from reality.

Implications

If Jesus is a lunatic, his words and actions should be consistent with lunacy. The implications of Jesus being a "lunatic" are the following:

His words and actions should be foolish
His words should be deranged and illogical
His actions should be unpredicatable and erratic
His actions should be irresponsible and lack consistency

Does It Make Sense?

Does Jesus as a lunatic make sense? Does His character match that of a lunatic? The following sections match His words and actions using the criteria of:

Teachings
Answering Opponents
Predictability
Intentionality

Would a Lunatic Teach Wisely?

Probably not, but consider the sanity of His teachings:

Topic	Reference	Verse
The Golden Rule	Mathew 7:12	So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Love	John 15:12	My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Judging, Giving, Forgiveness	Luke 6:37	"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Would a Lunatic Smartly Answer His Opponents?

Could a lunatic astutely and immediately answer trick questions from His opponents? Probably not.

Jesus Confounds the Pharisees

The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking Him whether "it is right" to pay taxes to Caesar or not.

Reference	Verse
Mathew 22:15–22	Then the Pharisees left the place where Jesus was teaching. They made plans to trap Jesus with a question. They sent some of their own followers and some men from the group called Herodians. These men said, "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. We know that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you. All men are the same to you. So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. So he said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a coin used for paying the tax." The men showed him a silver coin. Then Jesus asked, "Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on the coin?" The men answered, "Caesar’s." Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. And give to God the things that are God’s." The men heard what Jesus said, and they were amazed. They left him and went away .
	Explanatory Comment The Pharisees think they have tricked Jesus because they think both options have negative consequences for Him: If he says "it is right" to pay taxes to Caesar, then He may alienate His more revolutionary followers who are hoping for an actual overthrow of Roman rule If He says "it is NOT right" to pay taxes to Caesar, then it may get Him executed as an insurrectionist But Jesus has no intention of establishing an earthly kingdom. His logical answer calls out the hypocricy of the Pharisees and amazes the listeners.

Reference

Verse

Mathew 22:15–22

Then the Pharisees left the place where Jesus was teaching. They made plans to trap Jesus with a question. They sent some of their own followers and some men from the group called Herodians. These men said,
"Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. We know that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you. All men are the same to you. So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. So he said,
"You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a coin used for paying the tax."
The men showed him a silver coin.
Then Jesus asked,
"Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on the coin?"
The men answered,
"Caesar’s."
Then Jesus said to them,
"Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. And give to God the things that are God’s."
The men heard what Jesus said, and they were amazed. They left him and went away .

Explanatory Comment

The Pharisees think they have tricked Jesus because they think both options have negative consequences for Him:

If he says "it is right" to pay taxes to Caesar, then He may alienate His more revolutionary followers who are hoping for an actual overthrow of Roman rule
If He says "it is NOT right" to pay taxes to Caesar, then it may get Him executed as an insurrectionist

But Jesus has no intention of establishing an earthly kingdom. His logical answer calls out the hypocricy of the Pharisees and amazes the listeners.

Jesus Speaks with Wisdom

Would a lunatic speak with wisdom as Jesus did?

Topic	Reference	Verse
Wisdom	Mark 6:2	When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?

Would a Lunatic Be Predictable?

Would a lunatic be predictable or erratic? Probably erratic, but Jesus proves that He consistently followed basic habits and customs.

Topic	Reference	Verse
He followed routine	Luke 22:39	Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
He followed a custom of teaching	Mark 10:1	Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
He participated in Jewish customs	Mark 14:12	On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

Would a Lunatic Be Intentional and Follow Through?

Would a delusional person have clear intentions, voice his goals, and then follow through, even when it includes a painful death?

Probably not.

Jesus stated His intended purpose, said He would die and rise again, and then did exactly that.

Topic	Reference	Verse
His purpose	Luke 19:10	For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He died	Mark 15:39	And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
He had intention and followed through	Luke 33:31-33	31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Back Next