WHO IS JESUS?

Happy Easter! To celebrate this wonderful holiday, take a moment to ask yourself and honestly answer these three questions: What do the nonchristians around you know about Jesus? What do you know about Jesus? What do you believe about Jesus? On any Christian holiday, it’s easy to get caught up in family, food, friends, and festivities. In the midst of the craziness, here are some thoughts.

Who The World Claims Jesus To Be

Some people do deny the existence of Christ, but thanks to an abundance of extra-biblical verified historical sources, most Americans do believe Jesus existed and is a real historical figure. Even Wikipedia and Britannica list Jesus as a real person. People might also say that Jesus was a good man, a baby, a prophet, a good teacher, a religious leader, a martyr, all-loving, or an example for our lives. This is nice. But if we stop there, we must ask the question, how is Jesus any better than any other human religious leader?

Who Jesus Claimed To Be

The true source for info about Jesus is the Bible. So what did Jesus say about Himself? In John 8:38 Jesus said of Himself, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”. In the Old Testament, when God revealed His name, He simply said, “I AM who I AM” (Exodus 3:14). That name, which is the Hebrew name “YAHWEH” and in the English Bible “LORD”, encapsulates God’s essence. It is His deity, eternality, immutability, and so much more! When Jesus claimed this of Himself, the Jews actually tried to stone Him for being blasphemous because they knew He claimed to be God Himself! Jesus knew He was God.

Who God Claimed Jesus Is

Here’s an interesting progression of thought. God inspired the Bible and it is perfect. Would God have allowed Jesus to claim deity in His perfect book if Jesus was lying? Simply the presence of Jesus and His claims to be God in the Bible is proof enough that God affirmed who Jesus is. In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets about the coming of His Son (Here’s a list of 55 to get you started). He clearly planned this. Jesus wasn’t some random new person. And in the New Testament in Matthew 3:16-17, God also approved Jesus’ ministry. Why would He approve someone who was lying about being God? The answer is, He wouldn’t.

Who You Believe Jesus Is

If you believe Jesus is more than just a religious teacher and that He is the God He claims to be and that the Bible affirms Him to be, how is this belief directing your life right now? If He is God, He deserves our praise, our obedience, and our very lives. So after the festivities die down today and we’re left staring into another week, take some time to think about all the wonderful attributes of Jesus. If you don’t view Him as Lord of your life, it’s time to humble yourself, repent, and believe the gospel (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10). If you do know Him in a personal way, think about how often He is practically and directly guiding our thoughts, emotions, and actions. If it’s not very often, maybe we need to get to know Him a little deeper by reading the Word. May we all continually seek to know the true Jesus!

RESOURCE: Mike Winger’s Series on How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO