Well for starters more books have been written about Jesus than any other person in history. His Sermon on the Mount established a new paradigm in ethics and morals. Schools, hospitals, and universities have been founded in His name. And even slavery was abolished in America and Britain due to Jesus’ teaching that every human life is valuable.
Then consider that the most scholarly and influential encyclopedia in the United States, the Encyclopedia Britannica, clearly recognized Jesus Christ’s phenomenal impact in our world by devoting more space to this one man than to any other human being who has ever walked the earth.
Lalachan Abraham adds the following interesting observation: “Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3, Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year teaching infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all ancient times.”1
Even the skeptic H. G. Wells, the famous English writer and historian, commented: “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”2
And when we talk about impact, perhaps historian Philip Schaff summed it up best: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science or learning, He has shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.”3
Not only is Jesus all of the above but He is the central figure of the most amazing, influential, and intellectually sound book ever written – the Bible. Josh McDowell has this to say about Jesus and the Bible: “The Old Testament records the preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The Gospels record the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord. The book of Acts records the propagation of the gospel (the good news) concerning Jesus Christ. The Epistles (letters) explain the gospel and its implications for our lives. The book of Revelation anticipates and describes the second coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. From beginning to end, the Bible glorifies Jesus Christ and centers on Him. Its Christ-centeredness is one of its wonderful features.”4
So where does this leave the skeptic? I think apologist Frank Turek says it best when he shared: “Whatever you currently believe about Jesus of Nazareth, you owe it to yourself to investigate Him thoroughly. It makes little sense to ignore the one solitary life that continues to impact you in eternity if His claims are true.”5
1 The Greatest Intellect And The Most Influential Life Ever Lived Sermon by Lalachan Abraham, Revelation 22:13 – SermonCentral.com
2 H. G. Wells Quote: “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is …” (quotefancy.com)
3 Christ Stands Alone – Bulletin Digest
4 TOP 25 QUOTES BY JOSH MCDOWELL (of 84) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
5 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 46.