Who is Jesus Christ? This historical figure has sparked countless debates and devotion. Who did “Jesus of Nazareth” claim to be, and how does the Bible portray him?
In this article, we will examine Jesus’ identity from various perspectives. These include his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, his divine and human nature, his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, as well as his current and future roles as Savior, Lord, and King. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ – The Son of God and Promised Messiah
While Jesus Christ was a real man who lived in ancient Israel during the first century A.D., the Bible teaches He was far more than just a wise moral teacher or influential rabbi. The name “Jesus” or “Joshua” derives from Hebrew roots meaning “the Lord is salvation”. At the core, Jesus is proclaimed as being the long-awaited Messiah (meaning “anointed one”) promised throughout the Old Testament, as well as the eternal Son of God who took on human form.
The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the coming of the Messiah through many specific prophecies about His birth, life, ministry, death, and future reign. Gospel accounts reveal how Jesus fulfilled these messianic prophecies down to precise details.
For example:
- His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1)
- Being born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18)
- His suffering and dying for sins (Isaiah 53, Mark 15)
- His resurrection from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:24-32)
Beyond this, the New Testament makes direct claims about Jesus’ unique nature as the Son of God who pre-existed from all eternity before becoming a human being (John 1:1-3, John 8:58, Colossians 1:15-17). He is one with God the Father, being Himself fully God, while also becoming fully human to dwell among us (John 1:14, John 10:30).
The Humanity and Incarnation of Jesus
While fully divine, an integral part of Jesus’ identity is that He became fully human through the miraculous event known as the Incarnation. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a town in Judea, during the reign of Herod the Great. Historians debate the exact year of his birth, but they believe it occurred between 6 and 4 BCE. Jesus’ birth took place in a humble setting, in a stable, as there was no room for his family in the inn.
The Gospel accounts provide important details:
Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, allowing Him to take on a full human nature while remaining fully God. This is known as the doctrine of the Incarnation of God the Son. He added true humanity to His eternal, divine personhood.
Why God took human flesh ?
The Incarnation was an absolute necessity for salvation. By becoming a man, Jesus was able to live the sinless life none of us could, and then give that perfect life as the ultimate sacrifice to atone for sins when He went to the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Only because He was both God and man could He become the perfect substitute for reuniting God and humanity.
The Gospels clearly depict Jesus experiencing the typical behaviors, emotions, limits, and experiences of a human being, all while living in perfect obedience to the Father and without sin (Hebrews 4:15). His humanity allowed Him to make the eternal God known in human terms. As the God-man, Jesus was fully able to represent and redeem mankind before God the Father.
The Teachings of Jesus
During His three-year earthly ministry, Jesus’ teachings and miraculous works gave evidence of His unique identity as the Messiah and Son of God. His authoritative words and ability to perform supernatural miracles set Him apart from any typical rabbi or prophet.
Jesus’ teachings
, as compiled in the Gospels, covered a vast array of subjects with profound insight and wisdom. He taught about the Kingdom of God, the way to eternal life, the true interpretation of Scripture, and numerous parables that conveyed spiritual truths.
Some of His most famous teachings:
- The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
- The Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13)
- The Olivet Discourse about the end times (Matthew 24-25)
- The Upper Room Discourse about the Holy Spirit (John 14-16)
The Miracles of Jesus
In addition to His authoritative teaching ministry, Jesus performed countless miracles that provided glimpses of His divine power over nature, sickness, demons, and even death itself.
- Turning water into wine (John 2:1-11)
- Feeding over 5,000 people with a few loaves (John 6:5-14)
- Calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:22-25)
- Healed the sick, the blind, lame, deaf and those with leprosy (Matthew 8-9)
- Raising Lazarus and others from the dead (John 11)
The apostle John summarized the significance: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God**, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
Jesus’ teaching and miracles gave proof of His claims, prompting many eyewitnesses to recognize Him as the promised Messiah and Son of God. His works provided a preview of the restoration and renewal He will one day usher in when He returns to establish His eternal kingdom.
Who Did Jesus Claim to Be?
Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus made stunning claims about His own identity that went far beyond just being a wise teacher or prophet. He spoke and acted as one who had the authority of God Himself. Some of His most direct claims included:
The “I Am” Statements
In John’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly used the powerful phrase “I am” to describe His eternal nature and oneness with God the Father:
- “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
- “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
- “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
- “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25-26)
By declaring “I am,” Jesus was ascribing to Himself the divine name of God from Exodus 3:14 – “I Am Who I Am.” To the Jews who understood this claim to divinity, it was the highest form of blasphemy unless He truly was equal with God.
His Messianic Claims
On multiple occasions, Jesus affirmed that He was the long-awaited Messiah promised in the Old Testament:
- “I am the Messiah” (John 4:25-26) – “The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.””
- “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” (Matthew 16:16 – which Jesus affirmed)
Claiming Equality With God
Perhaps most audacious, Jesus claimed equality with God the Father, making Himself equal with the one true God:
- “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)
- “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)
- “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18)
The religious leaders were outraged by these claims and accused Him of blasphemy, which they believed deserved the death penalty according to their law. Many refused to accept the truth Jesus proclaimed about Himself as being God incarnate.
Yet for those who believed, Jesus performed miracles and provided evidence to prove that He was indeed the divine Messiah and Son of God. This belief that Jesus is Lord, the Anointed One, and the eternal Son of God in human form is at the core of true Christian faith.
The Atoning Death and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal events that secured the truth of Jesus being the Messiah and Son of God were His atoning death on the cross and subsequent bodily resurrection from the dead. These two historical realities are at the very heart of Christian theology.
The Crucifixion
While Jesus could have used His divine powers to avoid a brutal execution, Scripture teaches His sacrificial death on the cross was absolutely necessary to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. As the sinless Son of God in perfect obedience, Jesus willingly gave His life as the ultimate sacrificial payment for sin:
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
According to the Bible, the effect of Jesus’ death was to fully satisfy God’s wrath against sin and establish the basis by which forgiveness and salvation could be granted to those who place their faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
The Resurrection
Just as crucial as His atoning death was Jesus’ miraculous bodily resurrection from the grave three days later. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then His death accomplished nothing. But the Gospel accounts record numerous eyewitness appearances, where Jesus showed Himself to be truly and physically raised to new resurrection life.
The apostle Paul summarizes the theological importance of the resurrection event:
1 Corinthians 15:17-20 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins…If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
The resurrection validated Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God and proved His sacrifice was accepted to conquer sin and death forever. It is also the basis for the promise of eternal life given to those who place their faith in Him. As the resurrected Lord, Jesus guarantees the future resurrection of all who belong to Him when He returns.
What Evidence Exists for the Resurrection?
Given the immense theological significance of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, it’s vital to examine the evidence for this event. The Gospel writers and apostles in the New Testament staked everything on the reality that Jesus rose from the dead in a transformed physical body. There are several key facts and circumstances that support this claim:
The Empty Tomb
All four Gospels record that when Jesus’ female followers visited His tomb early on that Sunday morning, they found it inexplicably empty except for His grave clothes. This is even reported in sources hostile to Christianity. For the tomb to be empty, a real historical event had to explain where Jesus’ body went after its burial.
The Transformed Disciples
Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, His disciples fled in fear, denial, and despair. Yet just a few weeks later, this same group underwent an incredible transformation and boldly proclaimed the risen Christ in the very city where He was executed. Skeptics have struggled to account for the dramatic change other than their wholehearted conviction of seeing the resurrected Jesus.
The Eyewitness Accounts
The New Testament provides many eyewitness testimonies of people interacting with the risen Jesus for 40 days across multiple locations. These include the Apostles (Acts 1:3), crowds over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6), Jesus’ own brothers (1 Corinthians 15:7), and finally Paul himself (Acts 9).
These eyewitnesses were so convinced of the resurrection that they will suffer and die for their belief. The most likely explanation is that they truly saw Jesus alive after his death, which motivated them to spread this truth even at the cost of their lives.
The Emergence of the Church
Within just a few weeks of Jesus’ crucifixion, a rapidly growing movement of believers in His resurrection emerged, with thousands leaving Judaism to follow Christ. This is exceedingly difficult to explain unless the Church founders truly believed they had seen the risen Messiah.
While theories like hallucinations, theft of the body, or a cover-up have been proposed, these alternatives struggle to account for the comprehensive historical evidence that points to Jesus’ bodily resurrection as the most compelling and coherent explanation for the empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances.
Jesus Christ – Savior and Lord
Based on the scriptural truths about Jesus’ identity, His death and resurrection represent not just a historical event, but the defining moment upon which all of Christian doctrine rests. Because Jesus is the divine Son of God who gave His life for sins and conquered death, He alone has the authority to provide salvation to those who place their faith in Him.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
By His grace through faith in Jesus as Savior, anyone can receive complete forgiveness of sins and the free gift of eternal life – being brought into a restored, eternal relationship with God the Father. The Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way for salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6).
However, the title of Savior is inseparable from the title of the Lord. When one places faith in Jesus for salvation, the natural next step is to fully submit to His authority over every area of life as the sovereign Lord.
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Those who have been spiritually reborn and reconciled to God by faith in Christ are now called to fully embrace the life He modeled by loving God and others in full obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus is not just Savior but also Lord over all.
The soon coming King
Finally, Jesus is revealed as the coming King who will one day return to consummate His eternal Kingdom and reign as the rightful ruler over all creation:
Matthew 25:31-32 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him…”
The New Testament is filled with prophecies about the future Second Coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world and establish His promised Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. At that time, He will right all wrongs, defeat evil once and for all, renew all of creation, rule in perfect righteousness and peace, and reign eternally as king of kings and Lord of lords.
What Did Jesus’ Earliest Followers Believe About Him?
To understand Jesus according to Christianity, look at what His early followers believed and taught about His identity after His resurrection.
The Book of Acts and the Epistles (letters) in the New Testament provide a window into the doctrine regarding Jesus that was formulated and preached by the first Christians in the decades immediately following His earthly ministry.
In Acts, Peter’s sermon at Pentecost proclaimed boldly that Jesus was both the promised Messiah (Christ/Anointed One) and also the Lord – the Divine Son who was raised from the dead and exalted to God’s right hand (Acts 2:22-36). This revelation of Jesus as the Davidic King and also God Himself was foundational to the apostles’ message.
Paul’s letters expounded on Jesus as the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh, the visible image of the invisible God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11). He is worthy of all honor, worship and submission due His cosmic Lordship.
John’s Gospel and epistles emphasize Jesus as the eternal Word/Logos who was present with God from the beginning, being fully God yet also becoming fully man (John 1:1-18, 1 John 4:2-3). John leaves no doubt that he and the other apostles were teaching the full incarnation and deity of Christ.
It is remarkable that Jesus’ early Jewish followers came to worship Him as equal to the God of Israel, despite their monotheistic beliefs. This was a surprising revelation for them, but they were convinced by strong evidence that Jesus was the divine Messiah and Son of God.
Who is Jesus Christ to you ? Knowing Him will change your life for eternity.
Who is Jesus Christ? For His disciples, Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He became the God-man to save those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus fulfilled the Law and Prophets as the promised Messiah. He died as a sinless Lamb for sin, and will return as the resurrected King to establish His everlasting Kingdom.
Jesus was both fully God and fully man. He lived with us, taught wisdom, performed miracles, and died and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. These events are the foundation of Christian beliefs.
Those who saw Jesus after his resurrection believed he was the Lord incarnate, not just a man. They spread this message about Jesus to others, even if it meant risking their lives. Today, over 2 billion people follow Jesus because of this same belief that has been passed down for 2000 years. Others don’t believe in Jesus, but for believers, he is the sole Son of God who came to save those who have faith in him.
Jesus came to offer eternal life to “whomsoever” will believe in Him, not to create a religion.
He is the focal point of the Bible and the only way of salvation. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (Bible).
