Billy Graham says Jesus Christ is 'anything but a failure,' urges people to 'believe in the power of His sacrifice'

Some people think Jesus Christ is actually a failure here on this Earth. Even though people hailed Him as their Saviour and Messiah, they eventually turned their backs on Him and crucified Him on the cross.

But world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham says Jesus is "anything but a failure" because He had no desire to become an earthly king.

"Instead, he came into the world to establish another type of kingdom — a spiritual kingdom, drawing together all who put their faith and trust in Him as their savior, and committed themselves to follow him as their Lord. This kingdom — the Kingdom of God — would never end, for it was part of God's eternal plan for the human race," Graham writes in a column for The Kansas City Star.

Jesus said in John 18:36: "My kingdom is not of this world."

Jesus' enemies said He was a failure, adds Graham. They also thought that physical death would be the end of Him. "By putting Him to death they believed everyone would soon forget about Him. But they were wrong, because on the third day His tomb was empty!" says Graham. "By the power of God, death had been defeated and Jesus was alive! And now, 2,000 years later, countless millions follow him and worship him every day."

Graham urges people not to adopt the same thinking as Jesus' enemies, and believe in the power of His sacrifice. "Don't be like those who rejected Jesus because they failed to see who He really was — the eternal son of God, sent into the world to save us from our sins and make us part of His kingdom forever. Instead, by faith turn to Him today, confessing your sins and welcoming Him into your life," he says.