Who Is Jesus?

Many people have heard the name Jesus. Some believe He was a great teacher. Others think He was a prophet, a revolutionary, or simply a good man who lived long ago.

But Jesus did not leave us the option of seeing Him as merely a good teacher.

The central claim of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the promised Savior of the world, and God Himself who came in human flesh to rescue sinners and bring them into a relationship with God.

Understanding who Jesus is may be the most important question you will ever answer.

Jesus Was a Real Historical Person

Jesus of Nazareth lived in first-century Israel during the time of the Roman Empire. His life, death, and influence are among the most well-attested events of the ancient world.

Even non-Christian historians such as Josephus and Tacitus recorded information about Jesus and the movement that followed Him. His existence is not seriously disputed by modern historians.

The question is not whether Jesus existed.

The question is: Who was He?

Jesus Claimed to Be More Than a Teacher

Jesus taught with authority unlike anyone else.

He forgave sins.

He claimed to have come from heaven.

He accepted worship.

He declared that He would judge the world.

Most significantly, Jesus made claims that identified Himself with God.

Jesus said:

"I and the Father are one."

-- John 10:30

And:

"Before Abraham was, I am."

-- John 8:58

His listeners understood these claims clearly. They accused Him of blasphemy because He was claiming equality with God.

Jesus did not simply point people to God. He claimed to be God revealed in human flesh.

Jesus Is the Son of God

When the Bible calls Jesus the Son of God, it does not mean He was created by God or that He began to exist at some point in history.

The Bible teaches that Jesus has existed eternally with the Father.

He shares the very nature of God.

The apostle John wrote:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

-- John 1:1

A few verses later John explains that this eternal Word became human:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

-- John 1:14

Jesus is fully God and fully man.

He is not half God and half man. He is not merely a prophet. He is not simply an enlightened teacher.

He is God who entered His creation.

Why Did Jesus Come?

Jesus came because humanity has a problem we cannot solve ourselves.

The Bible calls this problem sin.

Sin is our rebellion against God. We have all fallen short of God's perfect standard.

Because God is holy and just, sin separates us from Him and deserves judgment.

Yet God loves us.

Instead of leaving humanity in its sin, God sent Jesus into the world to save sinners.

Jesus Himself said:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

-- Luke 19:10

Jesus Died for Our Sins

The most important event in human history is the death of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life.

Unlike every other human being, He never sinned.

When He died, He was not dying for His own sins. He was dying in the place of sinners.

The prophet Isaiah foretold this hundreds of years before Jesus was born:

"He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities."

-- Isaiah 53:5

On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment that sinners deserve so that those who trust Him could be forgiven and reconciled to God.

Jesus Rose From the Dead

Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose bodily from the grave.

The resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith.

If Jesus remained dead, Christianity would be false.

But the New Testament records that hundreds of people saw the risen Christ.

The empty tomb, the transformation of His followers, and the rapid spread of Christianity all point to the reality of the resurrection.

The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave.

He is alive today.

What Does This Mean for You?

Jesus did not come merely to give moral instruction.

He came to save.

He invites every person to turn from sin and place their trust in Him.

Jesus said:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

-- John 14:6

The Bible promises that anyone who repents of their sin and trusts in Jesus Christ will receive forgiveness, eternal life, and a restored relationship with God.

A Simple Question

Who do you believe Jesus is?

That question has eternal significance.

If Jesus is who He claimed to be--the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the risen Lord--then the proper response is not merely admiration.

It is faith.

It is surrender.

It is following Him.

And He invites you to do exactly that today.