By Rusty Wright

He's one of history's most controversial personalities. Was he a good man spreading love and peace? A rabble-rouser stirring rebellion? A charlatan deceiving the masses – then and now? Something else?

Easter seasons have spawned numerous Bible-related media projects. 2013 saw Mark Burnett's and Roma Downey's blockbuster "The Bible" series draw huge television audiences – 100 million viewers. Their "Son of God" film hit theaters in 2014. CNN's "Finding Jesus" investigative documentary series ran in 2015 and 2017.

So what's different about History Channel's "Jesus: His Life" in 2019? This one tells the story through the eyes of eight people intimately involved with him … friends and antagonists:

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Joseph, his earthly father, who protected him

John the Baptist, who publicly presented him

Mary, his mother, who raised him

Caiphas, who sought to eliminate him

Judas, who betrayed him

Pilate, who condemned him to die

Mary Magdalene, who supported him

Peter, who died serving him

The series blends dramatic reenactments with commentary from scholars and faith leaders. Some series commentators question the Bible's accuracy. Others support its plausibility.

You're pregnant by whom?

The opening episode depicts the challenge that Mary's premarital pregnancy created for Joseph. She believed an angel told her she was pregnant by God.

Suppose your fiancé/fiancée exhibited apparent evidence of sexual activity with someone else during your engagement … and said God sanctioned the whole thing. Would you believe that story? Would you cancel the wedding?

Joseph, whom biblical accounts describe as "a righteous man … decided to break the engagement quietly" to avoid disgracing Mary publicly. But, the record specifies, an angel appeared to him in a dream, explaining that the child was conceived in her by God, and told him to "name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Joseph followed instructions and cared for his family. By this reckoning, he clearly believed Mary bore God's son.

Divine or demented?

As the series likely will indicate (producers only granted advance press access to the first two episodes), other friends believed the same – though not without some equivocation. Adversaries had various reactions. Judas betrayed his leader. Religious official Caiaphas called Jesus a blasphemer for his divine claims, and advocated execution. Roman governor Pontius Pilate found Jesus innocent, but delivered him to flogging and execution.

Who was Jesus, really?

What are the alternatives? If Jesus' claim to deity was true, he would be the Lord. If it was false and he knew it, he was lying. If he didn't know it was false, he had serious delusions, perhaps paranoid schizophrenia or paranoia proper.

Jesus' claim to deity – that he asserted it has substantial support – sets him apart from great moral teachers. Either he was a liar, or a lunatic, or the Lord.

Was he a liar? If so, he died for that lie. Few, if any, would willingly die for something they knew was a hoax. Would you? Both believers and skeptics have considered Jesus a paragon of virtue.

Was Jesus a lunatic? His teachings about love, forgiveness, respect and interpersonal relationships are often used as a basis for mental health today. He had a genuine concern for others, a cool response under pressure, and a great love for his enemies as he said from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they don't know what they are doing." If Jesus was insane, what must we be?

Liar? Lunatic? Lord?

If he was not a liar and not a lunatic, we're left with the alternative that he was the Lord, as he claimed. Evidence for his resurrection supports this conclusion.

Who is Jesus, really? Why not examine the evidence and decide for yourself? "Jesus: The Life" could help you start exploring this. I also encourage you to investigate how to know him personally. These are the two most important questions I've ever tackled.

Jesus: His Life website

Premieres March 25 History Channel 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT USA/Canada

International premiere dates: Check local listings in March/April and December 2019

Rusty Wright is an author and lecturer who has spoken on six continents. He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford universities, respectively.