Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus? Since He came into this world, there have been those who have asked, “Who is this man? Is He just a man, or is He the Son of God and the Saviour of the world?” From the Scriptures we may see that Jesus is, indeed, the Christ, the Son of the living God
In the first place, Jesus is referred to as “God” in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah, inIsaiah 9:6,7, called Him “the Mighty God.” In John 1:1-3,14, Jesus is called “the Word” which became flesh and dwelled among men. In Hebrews 1:8 we read, “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’” In John 3:16, Jesus is called the “only begotten Son” of God sent to save the world from sin. Yes, Jesus is Divine, according to the Scriptures. He is referred to as God, as the living Word, and as the only begotten Son of God. He is the Christ, not just a good man or a great teacher. In the second place, Jesus showed that He is God. Who but God has the power to create? Yet, in John 1:1-, we read that all things were created through Jesus Christ. Who is to be worshipped but God? Scriptures such as Matthew 4:10, Revelation 19:10, and Revelation 22:9, show that men are to worship God. But Jesus accepted the worship of men while on earth (Matthew 8:2; 9:18). Therefore, Jesus is God. He is eternal. He is not a created being. He is the author of creation. He is the living Word through whom all things were created.
The epistle to the Colossians sets forth the dignity and the Divinity of Christ (Colossians 1:13-20). Also in Philippians 2:9-11, Paul wrote, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Thus, Jesus Christ is more than an angel and He is more than a prophet. Jesus Christ is Deity. He is the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father.
Who has the right to forgive sins? God has the right to forgive sins; yet, while on earth, Jesus had the power to forgive sins and to heal miraculously (Mark 2:1-12). Only God can forgive sins. Therefore, since Jesus forgave sins while on earth, Jesus is Deity.
Jesus is also spoken of as equal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit. InGenesis 1:26 we read, “The God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness….” Those present were God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—the Godhead. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit worked together in these mighty acts of creating the world (Genesis 1:1,2).
Finally, we note that Jesus was one with the Father. In John 10:30, we read, “I and my Father are one.” These are the words of Jesus describing His relationship to the Father. They are one in nature, purpose, and teaching. Philip once said to Jesus,“Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”Jesus answered, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” (John 14:8,9). Yes, Jesus was one with His Father. In Philippians chapter 2, there is a statement which shows that Jesus was one with God. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in ChristJesus: Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” Philippians 2:5-8).
What has been said of Jesus here is true of no other person who has ever lived. Just as the centurion declared as he stood before the cross of Christ and watched the Son of God crucified for the sins of the world, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). He is the Son of God! He is not mere man! He is not a created being! He is not as one of the angels! He is above the angels! He is the only begotten Son of God!
The entire epistle to the Hebrews points out the contrast between the old Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Christ. It also exalts Jesus above all. The epistle begins:“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).
It is clear that Jesus Christ is above all others, that He, even now, is at the right hand of God as our great High Priest, and King over His spiritual kingdom, the church. It is also clear that through obedience to His Gospel, we may be made citizens of that spiritual kingdom, His body, over which He is Head. Then, by continuing to live faithfully in His body, we may spend eternity with Him. To be members of His church, the body of the saved, we must come to God through Jesus, believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God (John 8:24). We must then repent of our sins; that is, change our minds and then change our lives, turning away from sin Luke 13:3). Then we must confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and be buried in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 8:36-39). It is then that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and added by the Lord to the church of Christ, which was purchased with His precious blood (Acts 2:41,47; Acts 20:28).