Who is Jesus?

Is He a prophet? a good man? an evolved being? a conscience reincarnation? Creator God? This is the central question that we must all answer. Jesus Himself asked this question to his followers in Matthew 16:13 "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" His followers gave many answers based on what they heard others say.

Two verses later Jesus asks them, "But whom do you say that I am?" When Peter answered the question correctly, Jesus responded that Peter was blessed. If we want to be blessed then we also must be able to answer this question correctly.

With all of the confusion and opinions on this eternally important question, it's urgent that discover what Jesus and His Word says.

John 1:1-3, 10-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Based on these verses, who is the Word? Is the Word God? Was it the Word that created all things? Did the Word show up in our world in the flesh? Is the Word Jesus? The answer is yes... the Word is Jesus. Jesus is creator God. Jesus, although born into this world as a baby, always was and always will be. He is eternal. He is God.

What does Jesus say about Himself?

John 8:56-58

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus just made a bold statement that really upset the religious leaders! By stating that he was alive before Abraham (approximately 1900 years before Jesus was born into our world) He was claiming to be immortal (no beginning, no ending). Then when Jesus said "I am" He was actually claiming to be the very same God that sent Moses to Pharaoh to let His people go.

Exodus 3:13-14

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Speaking of immortal, let's take a look at another statement made by Jesus...

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Now compare that verse with this one found in Isaiah...

Isaiah 44:6

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Let's take a look at what Jesus said regarding Himself in relation to His death, burial, and resurrection and then compare those words with others in the Bible regarding the same context...

John 2:19-21

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

1 Peter 1:21

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Based on these, and many other Scriptures that speak the same thing, who raised up Jesus? That's correct, God raised Himself up from the grave. This often brings up a very common question... how can Jesus be both the Son of God and God at the same time... and who is the Holy Spirit and how does this all fit together? That is a good question, and although the answer is simple, many stumble over it. Let's see what the Bible says about this to clear things up...

Are the Father, Son, and Spirit one in the same -or separate?

John 10:30

I and my Father are one.

1 John 5:7  

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he (God) saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Does the Bible ever show God in the plural sense?

Genesis 1:26  

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Over and over again, the Bible mentions one name with three, distinct roles. The best, and most simple, way that I have found to understand this is by looking at yourself. If you are married, you are a husband or a wife. If you are a parent, you are a mother or a father. To your friends, you are a friend. You are one "what" but three, distinct "who's" with different responsibilities in each role.

Although we did not cover every aspect of this topic nor every Bible verse, it is plain to see that Jesus is God!

According to Scripture He is our Messiah (which means anointed/appointed One) who came into our world in the flesh, lived a sinless life (although tempted like all of us), died, was buried, and rose again to pay your sin debt so that you would have a way to be reconnected to God for eternity! That, and much more, is why we call the "How do I get to Heaven" story the "Gospel" which means good news!

Only Jesus could do this. He, being sinless through a virgin birth, had no debt of His own to pay. And only He, being eternal/immortal, has the power to pay for the sins of all mankind. Without Him and His finished work none of us would be able to enter into Heaven due to our sin.

Here are other Scripture references that declare that Jesus is God.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Immanuel is Hebrew for, "God with us"

Matthew 1:23

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Colossians 2:8-9

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

John 20:27

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.