New Testament

                                                    So, Who Is Jesus, Really ?

Many people look at Jesus and mistakenly assume that because he was a man, therefore, He must be like all men and cannot be God. To determine the truth about who Jesus really is, one must turn to God’s revealed truth of the Bible. To answer otherwise without Biblical support is nothing more than opinion without basis. The first clue that Jesus is unique and distinctly different than any other person who has ever lived on this earth is the ‘Virgin Birth,’ testified to by Joseph and Mary in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2, and then the ‘Resurrection’ testified to by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and 1 Corinthians 15.

These two events, that bookend Jesus’ life, reveal to us that Jesus existed before He came into this world and that He is alive today because the grave could not hold Him. The fact that death could not hold Him is the second clue that Jesus is unique and distinctly different. 

Acts 2:24 states that is was impossible for Jesus to be held by death’s power, and the reason for this is because He was without sin as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21. So, Who is Jesus, really? The Greek is explicit in Hebrews 1:2-3 that Jesus is the same substance as God. The Greek is explicit in Matthew 1:23 as the definite article precedes ‘Theos’ which declares the Son the Virgin will bear, will be Holy God with us. Isaiah 9:6-7 declares that the Son who is given will be called Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. The Bible says in Isaiah 44:24 that God created all things and in John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 the Scriptures declare that Jesus created all things. Zechariah 12:1 states that the God who created all things also formed and created the spirit of man within man. Isaiah 43:10 and 46:9 declare only One God exists; so Jesus must be that God. 

Jesus also holds the offices of ‘Prophet, Priest, and King;’ Prophet (Deut.18:15; Matt. 24; John 4:44), Priest (Hebrews ch. 2-10), and King, (Psalm 2; Revelation 19:16). The Bible presents evidence, which proves that there is no question as to who Jesus really is, (Matthew 16:13-17). 

Yet, not everyone is willing to admit it (Romans 1:18-32). 

                                                     Begotten vs. Created

In John 1:14, the apostle says that, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh and further states that Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. It is essential that the difference between begotten and created clearly be understood. The word ‘begotten’ is used to indicate one of the same nature is brought forth, such as a father begetting a son. Whereas, the word ‘created’ is used to describe something other that is formed or fashioned from a design that first originates within a rational intelligence, before being brought forth, such as God creating angels, mankind, animals, or the earth. 

So, in Genesis 1:27, when it states, “God created man in His own image.” Scholars take this to mean that man has a dignity and superiority about him that separates him from the rest of creation. Within man’s character, he has emotion, the intelligence for reasoning and a will. Within his morality, man has the freedom and responsibility of obedience towards right and wrong, and within his spirituality, man has the capacity for relationship and communion with God. 

However, all of the elements of mankind’s makeup were severely marred by sin. This is not so with Jesus Christ, for He’s unlike any other man. Psalm 2:7 states, “The Lord hath said to Me, Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee,” this along with the statements of John 1:14 and John 3:16-17 leave us with an ‘absolute’ that demands Jesus must have the same nature as His Father, and there is not another like Him. 

God could not have made a greater sacrifice, than sending his Son. Six absolute truths about Jesus are present in John 1:1-5. (1) Whenever the beginning was in eternity past, the Word (Jesus) was already there existing. (2) In the beginning, the Word was there co-existing with God (Father). (3) From the beginning, the Word has the same nature as God the Father. (4) The Word created all things. No created thing or being exists that He did not create. (5) The Word is the source of all physical and spiritual life. Man’s physical and spiritual life comes from Him. (6) This light (Jesus) would invade the dominion of the darkness (the world).

                                                       Pride And Unbelief

John 12:37 presents a sobering statement; “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him.”

The miracles of Jesus were neither few in number nor unimpressive in nature. Jesus had performed unbelievable works of power of almost every conceivable kind. He healed the sick, healed the crippled, expelled demons, controlled the winds, walked on the sea, turned the water into wine, gave sight to the blind, revealed to men their secret thoughts, and raised the dead. 

Jesus’ miracles were done openly, in the light of day, before numerous witnesses, yet the people as a whole and especially the religious leaders “still would not believe in Him.” The prevalence of unbelief, and the indifference of the people then, down through the ages, and especially now, is really illogical, tragic, and makes no sense at all. People’s heart and conscience tells them one thing, but their pride tells them another, and they choose to follow pride. 

God has done all He can do to help people believe, yet people reject and refuse to believe the truth that has been openly revealed to them multiple times in multiple ways. In a sense, people close their eyes to the truth and therefore become blind by their own choosing. The Bible exposes the corruption, the sinfulness, the pride, and the hardness of the human heart towards God. Pride is the arrogance and the false assumption that you have power and complete control over your life, that you determine what is truth and what is important, and that your code of ethics and moral values are the right ones. 

When God addresses pride in the Bible He addresses it in malignant terms; (1) Pride is an abomination and the sin God hates most (Proverbs 6:16-17), (2) Pride is the root of evil (Proverbs 8:13), (3) Pride leads to dishonor (Proverbs 11:2), (4) Pride will lead to destruction (Proverbs 16:18-25). 

God says that people love to rule by their own authority, but what will they do when they come to the end of it all? (Jeremiah 5:30-31).