Who is Jesus?
Jesus loves you! How do I know?
Take a few minutes and let me tell you who he is and how you can have a personal relationship with him.
Historically and today, people – both religious and non-religious- have offered several different answers to the question, “Who is Jesus?”
Some answers you would likely receive if you asked someone, “who do you say Jesus is”?
You would hear statements like- Jesus was:
- a first-century rabbi,
- a historical figure who gathered disciples and preached about the kingdom of God
- a prophet of God,
- the Messiah,
- a miracle worker,
- A Jewish teacher crucified by Rome
- a holy teacher, spiritual guide,
- a great guru,
- an enlightened teacher
- a moral example of compassion.
Modern non-religious, secular views would more apt to be-
- a moral philosopher,
- a social reformer,
- a radical ethical teacher
According to the Bible, Jesus did more than claim to be a teacher or prophet. He claimed authority, identity, and honor that belong to God alone, and His followers concluded that God had come among them in the person of Jesus Christ.
So, who is Jesus? What claims did he make about himself?
Who is Jesus? The "I AM" claim
Jesus uses God’s divine name – “I AM” the name that God gave to Moses when Moses asked for His name. Exodus 3:14 So, this is one of the clearest examples of His divinity as we read in John 8:58 where Jesus said:
“Before Abraham was born, I am.”
This is extremely significant! The phrase “I AM” echoes the divine name God revealed to Moses.
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.”‘
The Jewish listeners immediately understood that Jesus was making a claim to divinity, which is why when Jesus made this statement, they picked up stones to stone him for blasphemy. John 8:59
Who is Jesus? He Claims Unity With God
Jesus said:
“I and the Father are one” John 10:30
Once again, the response of the listeners shows how they understood Jesus’ statement as they replied to Jesus:
“You, being a man, make yourself God.” John 10:33
Who is Jesus? He claims authority to forgive sins
Holy Scripture teaches that only God can forgive our sins.
Jesus said to the paralyzed man:
“My Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5
The teachers of the law said,
“What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins? Mark 2:5-7
Jesus then heals the paralyzed man, tells him to pick up his mat and walk.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. Without the truth of this message, Jesus Christ’s death was worthless, and those who believe in Him remain in their sins without hope. However, Christ, as the sinless Son of God, took the punishment for sin so that those who believe in Him can have their sins removed. Jesus was buried and raised from the dead on the third day as the Scriptures said. 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14; Matthew 26:28
Who is Jesus? He claims to be the judge of the world
John 5:16 tells us that the Jewish leaders began to harass Jesus for breaking Sabbath rules. His crime? He healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath.
“The father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor the Son, then you are certainly not honoring the Father who sent him” John 5:22-23
Jesus full response to them can be read in John 5:17-47
Jesus claims the same honor as the Father!
Who is Jesus? Jesus accepted worship
In Scripture, worship belongs only to God, yet Jesus accepted worship.
Examples:
“Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” Matthew 14:33
When Thomas who doubted the resurrection of Jesus was shown the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and feet and the wound in His side, how did Thomas respond?
“My Lord and My God”
And Jesus accepted this confession.
The apostle Peter declared in Matthew 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
and Jesus affirmed this statement
A blind man receives the gift of sight from Jesus and Jesus asks him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he sir as I would like to.”
You have seen him, “Jesus said, ‘ and he is speaking to you!”
The healed man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him. John 9: 35-38
More examples can be found in Colossians 2:9; John 1:1,14; Matthew 28:8-9; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10
It’s important to acknowledge that Jesus never rebuked people for worshipping Him.
Divine works of Jesus- Things He did that only God does
- Jesus created all things. John 1:1-4
- He controls nature. Mark 4:39
- He raises the dead John 11:32-45
- Jesus has authority over eternal life. John 11:25-26
- One with God. John 14:9
- Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with something to be used to his own advantage….Philippians 2:6-11
All that is to say that the Bible presents Jesus as fully human, fully divine, the son of God and the Savior who died and rose again.
Why these claims matter
Jesus’ claims force us to make a decision about Him.
C.S. Lewis, a Christian writer, summarized the logical options we have as we consider the claims of Jesus.
- A liar (claiming something false)
- A lunatic (mistaken about His identity)
- Or truly Lord
Jesus asks each of us - Who do you say that I am?
The New Testament does not simply say Jesus was a prophet or teacher. It repeatedly takes Old Testament passages about Yahweh and applies them to Jesus, strongly suggesting that the earliest Christians believed Jesus shared in the identity and authority of God Himself.
Jesus said in John 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
A personal relationship with Jesus begins when we realize His great love and sacrifice for us; when we realize our brokenness which leads to sin. He is the Messiah who chose to take on human flesh and be born as our Lord and Savior.
Forgiveness of sin requires a blood sacrifice. We know from reading the Old Testament that animals, often lambs without any blemishes were sacrificed for the sins of the people.
Jesus came into the world to become the final sacrifice for sin. He was the final sacrifice because Jesus was the sinless, perfect Lamb of God who died so that we can have forgiveness of sin and have a loving relationship with Him for eternity.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son , so that everyone (your name) who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgement awaiting those who trust Him. John 3:16,17
He invites us to believe in him and receive eternal life with Him.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…
for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 12:13
Further Reading on Jesus love and His plan of salvation.
The Biblical Way of Salvation: God’s Plan from Start to Finish | Bible Study Toolbox
