What was Billy Graham’s Message ?

Billy Graham wanted people to address the question, ‘Who was Jesus?’. He spent his life helping people do so. What made him so special was not how he looked or eloquence but his conviction that God spoke to us all through the Bible. The catchphrase he used repeatedly was ‘the Bible says . . .” He recognised that most people see themselves either from the perspective of other people or through their own rose-tinted spectacles but Billy longed that people should see themselves as God sees them. When people see their weaknesses, the relevance of Jesus claims and what he did for us on that cross become very relevant.

The question ‘Who is Jesus?’ is vital as so much depends on the answer. If he is just a remarkable human teacher and example, there is no obligation for people to follow him, but if he really is the God who created and sustains this world there are major implications for all people of all backgrounds. Billy’s essential message was the same as that of John the Baptist.

Opening Summary of John’s Gospel

John, the apostle, starts his gospel by refering to Jesus as ‘The Word of God’ - in other words he embodies the message that God wants all people to hear and understand.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made . . .” John 1:1

That is the conclusion that John wants all his readers to come to – Jesus is the divine creator of the universe, he is the God that all of us owe our allegiance to. This news is not just for a religious elite, it is a message that all people need.

John the Baptist was, like Billy Graham, an evangelist who pointed people to Jesus as the answer to man’s greatest need. Jesus is called the ‘Light of the World’ because he alone can reveal the way God wants us to live. This is the description of John the Baptist’s ministry,

“There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that all men might believe.” John 1:7

John continues to explain why this message is so important. God had chosen a special people to be his representatives on earth, his ‘own people’ but now he was extending the focus of his message to all people in the world.

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:11-13

This is an astonishing claim. John summarises his message about Jesus:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

John the Baptist asked his own followers to become Jesus’ disciples as he recognised that he was insignificant compared to Jesus:

“He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:27

John even recognised that Jesus, the Son of God, had entered this world to give his life as the ultimate sacrifice for others sin. The sacrifices of perfect animals could not atone for peoples sin, they modelled what Jesus, |God’s Son, would do. He said to his disciples:

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Today’s Need

How we need more people of the ilk of John the Baptist and Billy Graham who will call people back to their God and Saviour. Billy had four words that you can hear in every single sermon, Sin, the Cross, Repent, Turn to Christ. Billy, like John the Baptist preached about the good news of Jesus. Both stressed that all had sinned and need to turn to the cross, repent and turn from sin to Christ. It’s a message we do not hear enough. We hear so much about the love of Christ but not enough about why such a sacrifice was necessary. Billy reminded us that we are all sinners and need Christ - that was Billy’s central message in every sermon.

Billy not only taught this, he also lived it. He put obedience to Christ as the core to his ministry. In 70 years of ministry there was never a single scandal. Billy ensured his personal devotion to Christ was above anything else.

BVP