2: Who IS Jesus?

Who IS Jesus anyway? This one question has sparked more literature, debates, sermons, and changed lives than any other issue. There are a lot of different ideas about who Jesus is and who He claimed to be. It was the same way during His life on earth and maybe that is why Jesus asked this question:

Matthew 16:13–15 (CSB)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

These are no small claims.

John the Baptist had been beheaded.

Elijah had been taken to heaven over 850 years before Jesus.

Jeremiah & other prophets had long passed.

* See these passages for more significance of John & Elijah: Mal. 4:5-6; Lk. 1:13–17; Matt. 11:13–15, 17:10-13.

Who we say Jesus is, is the FOUNDATION for our faith. After all, we don’t put faith in faith, instead, we put faith in Someone. If the foundation is flawed, the most beautiful building will be in danger of caving in. So too, misunderstanding who Jesus is, can cause everything we have believed to collapse.

Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was and they answered (as we’ll study in a moment). Since that time, many others have shared their beliefs about Jesus is as well.

What do others say about Jesus?

Jehovah’s Witness teach that Jesus is a created being. According to their doctrine, Jesus is a God – one of many gods. At one time, the Son of God did not exist...but Jehovah created the Son of God as the 1st created being. So while Jesus is super important, he should never be worshipped.

Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) teach that Jesus was a literal offspring of “The Father”, who was once a man and became God of his own planet (Earth), although many other Gods exist.

Judaism (Jews) teaches that Jesus was simply a misunderstood prophet. Other Jews believe he was a false prophet. Remember that Jesus was tried and turned over by the Jewish religious leaders to be killed by the Romans. Why? Because they clearly believed Jesus was a false prophet.

Islam teaches that Jesus was a sinless prophet & miracle worker. The Koran teaches Jesus never died on a cross and consequently never paid for sin, nor resurrected from the dead.

Who do YOU say Jesus is?

Look how Peter responded to Jesus’ question:

Matthew 16:15–16 (ESV)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ...

➲ Jesus is the CHRIST.

John 1:41 (CSB)

He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”),

John 4:25–26 (CSB)

The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”

The Bible refers to Jesus as “Christ” 235 TIMES!

But the term “Christ” is really a TITLE, not the last name of Jesus.

“Christ” comes from the Greek term for the Jewish title “Messiah”, the Anointed Savior the Jews had been looking forward to for hundreds of years.

When someone says “Jesus Christ” they are actually saying, “Jesus Messiah” or “Jesus is the Messiah.” When you hear someone yell out “Jesus Christ!” you can yell back, “Yes! Jesus is the Messiah!” See what kind of look you get from that!

Now look at the response of Peter one more time.

Matthew 16:15–16 (ESV)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

➲ Jesus is the SON OF GOD.

When Jesus was baptized here’s what happened:

Matthew 3:17 (NET 2nd ed.)

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”

The voice of God from heaven matches Peter’s response about the person of Jesus seen in Matthew 16:16.

What does the phrase “Son of God” mean?

John 5:18 (CSB)

This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

Many people would say that God created Jesus, that Jesus was God’s kid. Read the next passage to see what the Jewish term “Son of God” meant in Jesus’ day.

Jesus is the Son of God, meaning He is EQUAL with God.

Yet, the Bible teaches there is only ONE GOD.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NIV)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord [YaHWeH] our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord [YaHWeH] your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Isaiah 43:10–11 (NIV)

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord [YaHWeH], “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord [YaHWeH], and apart from me there is no savior.

So how could Jesus be equal with God unless…

JESUS IS GOD…IN SKIN.

Jesus wasn’t killed for a crime. He was killed for His CLAIM.

The religious leaders of the Jews believed that Jesus blasphemed or dishonored God by who He claimed to be. Jesus claimed to be GOD.

John 10:31–33 (NIV)

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Mark 14:61–64 (NIV)

But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.

see Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel 7:13–14 (CSB)

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

After Jesus came back to life He appeared to a disciple named Thomas. Look how he responded to Jesus:

John 20:28–29 (CSB)

Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Hold on Thomas. Don’t say I’m your God…because I’m not. I’m just a man.” Instead Jesus affirms his belief. Jesus is not just a good man. Jesus is the GOD-MAN.

One of Jesus’ best friends, John, answers the question “Who is Jesus?” in his writing we call the Gospel of John. He refers to Jesus as THE WORD. It is obvious he is speaking of Jesus in verse 14 where he says, “The Word became a human and lived among us”. We learn 3 very important facts about Jesus within the first 3 verses of John’s writing.

John 1:1–3 (CSB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

In the beginning was the Word,

1. JESUS IS TIMELESS. Further Study ¶ John 1:15-18; John 8:56-59; Rev. 22:12-13

What does the phrase “In the beginning” mean?

Jesus has ALWAYS existed. Although He WAS born in Bethlehem, Jesus has always been. You and I can find out how old we really are by adding about 9 months to our current age. Although Jesus was in His 30’s when He died, resurrected, & went to heaven, that wasn’t His true age.

Jesus is ETERNAL=NO BEGINNING & NO ENDING.

and the Word was with God

2. JESUS IS SINLESS. Further Study ¶ John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 3:5

God is PERFECT. Jesus must have been perfect to be “with God”. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus lived His whole earthly life without sinning even once! Jesus is PERFECT and can pay for our huge sin debt.

and the Word was God... 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

3. JESUS IS LIMITLESS.

Jesus IS GOD. He CREATED EVERYTHING we see in nature. This is why He could calm the raging sea (Mark 4:39) while His disciples feared death. This is why He could raise the dead and heal the sick. This is why the tomb couldn’t hold Him. Jesus not only loved you and died for you…HE CREATED YOU!

We have said that understanding the Trinity is difficult, but One God in 3 persons is taught throughout the New Testament (cf. Matt. 28:19-20 “Father, Son, Spirit). Here is one more example of what we have studied so far. Look at the words that Jesus prayed to the Father.

John 17:1–5 (CSB)

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.