The Great Debater

Denzel Washington, one of the greatest actors of our time, is incredibly talented. His charismatic style often captivates audiences in the roles he plays. As I grew up, my mom was a big Denzel Washington fan. She would often say his name with some emphasis, “Denzeeeeeeel.” I’ve also heard other women say his name just like my mom, “Denzeeeeeeel.” I’ve always wondered why they say this man’s name like that. Hmm! Interesting!

Denzel’s awesome performance in movie “The Great Debaters,” where Melvin Tolson, a brilliant and controversial professor at Wiley College, played by Denzel, used an intense coaching style to mold students into an elite debate team. Inspired by real events, the movie delves into themes of education, perseverance, and the transformative power of words. Wiley College achieved national prominence by defeating their opponents with remarkable skill, even defeating the University of Southern California. This remarkable true story, along with the exceptional performance of one of our greatest actors, made it a triumphant movie experience.

The greatest debater of all time, Lord Jesus, never lost a single argument. The testy Pharisees and Sadducees often challenged him about his identity and authority to perform the actions he did. Despite their best efforts, they were always left bewildered and angry because they couldn’t defeat Lord Jesus. One of the greatest responses Lord Jesus ever gave to them is found in Matthew 21:27:

“…Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” [ESV]

The testy group always sought to ensnare Lord Jesus in controversy so they could prosecute him. In this passage, they attempted to challenge Lord Jesus’ authority. Lord Jesus struck a deal with them, agreeing to answer their question after they answered HIS question to them about the baptism of John the Baptist. However, the testy group lied, claiming they didn’t know the answer because they would’ve trapped themselves if they had. In response, Lord Jesus delivered the most gangsta response ever: “…Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

As I close, I want to leave you with this: you don’t have to debate what has been proven and has stood the test of centuries. Lord Jesus, the greatest debater, defeated the testy bunch, death, and centuries of defunct challenges. Be encouraged and recognize the truth of Lord Jesus. Stand firm, even in the face of human arguments. We are called to embrace our relationship with Lord Jesus, grounded in trust rather than debate. 

Next Step:

Reflect on ways to strengthen your personal faith in Lord Jesus, allowing it to provide assurance rather than getting entangled in discussions that may lead to doubt.

God bless you, God keep you. God loves you and I love you too!