Who is Jesus?

 Jesus is a name well-known throughout the world.  He was born circa 5 B.C. in a town called Bethlehem in the province of Judea.  The person and life of Jesus have been heavily scrutinized over almost two millennia. One disagreement develops from the origin of the name Jesus.

 The Name

Some would argue that Greek and Hebrew languages do not have the letter J and do so justifiably. You see, the Hebrew name Yeshua converts to its English spelling “Joshua” while the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name is lesous, and its English spelling is Jesus.  Essentially, Joshua and Jesus are the same. Just because the language changes does not mean we change the person or object.[1]  Throughout scripture, Jesus is referred to by over 75 different names.  Each of these names refers to the same person of Jesus, and none change who He is within any capacity.  Listed below are just a handful of names to which Jesus is referred:

·       Immanuel

·       Lamb of God

·       Lord of Lords

·       King of Kings

·       Messiah

·       Word

·       I AM

One interesting note:  Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  Earlier in Matthew 1:20-22, Joseph is told by an angel of the Lord his wife Mary will conceive a son, and they are to call his name Jesus.

The Roles

Jesus was known for taking on many different roles.  He was a teacher (rabbi), prophet, healer, messiah, forgiver, servant, and future judge.  Strobel poses an interesting question when interviewing Edwin Yamauchi, PhD. He asks what we could conclude about Jesus without using any of the New Testament or other Christian writings.  Yamauchi replies assuredly,

“We would know that first, Jesus was a Jewish teacher; second, many people believed that he performed healings and exorcisms; third, some people believed he was the Messiah; fourth he was rejected by the Jewish leaders; fifth, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius; sixth, despite this shameful death, his followers, who believed that he was still alive, spread beyond Palestine so that there were multitudes of them in Rome by AD 64; and seventh, all kinds of people from the cities and countryside – men and women, slave and free – worshiped him as God.”[2]

 Even historical records of those who hated Jesus and sought his death confirmed multiple facets of his life and ministry.

Setting the Example

Throughout his time on earth, Jesus set an example for all to follow.  He showed his discipline, obedience, love, servitude, and sacrifice that we would do the very same.  Matthew 20:26-28 states, “It shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[3] 

Jesus is showing us that we need to put others first in our lives.  We must be selfless and put others before ourselves. If we take on a heart of service and sacrifice we will soon experience a newfound joy and peace indescribable. Luke writes in the Book of Acts, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).[4]

It still holds today in that we expect our leaders, bosses, managers, CEOs, and alike to be willing to get their hands dirty with us.  Many times, it may not work out that way, but true leaders will always lead from the front, not from the back.  Jesus set the example for us to follow – not to forget.  We are to give ourselves for others and give ourselves to Jesus in service as he is our Lord and Savior.

Jesus as Messiah

A Savior from the Davidic line was prophesied in the Old Testament.  In one example, the prophet Isaiah writes the following:

“He was despised and rejected by men…But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3,5-6).[5]

Jesus’ disciples believed he was indeed the Messiah, but they had the mission all wrong.  Many believed that the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek) was coming into the world to take his throne and rule.  They did not yet put together the words of Isaiah to what Jesus had been foretelling – his crucifixion.  Instead of crushing the Roman Empire, Jesus was to be the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. 

Jesus himself confirms that he is the Messiah when speaking to the Samaritan women:  “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ).  When he comes, he will tell us all things.”  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he” (John 4:23-26).[6]

As Messiah, Jesus serves both as the sacrificial lamb and as a shepherd to his people, guiding them along the narrow path.  His outpouring of love and perfect example are to be sought after and mirrored throughout these final days as we await his return.

Jesus as our Lord and God

Jesus had said that he had not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17).  Most of us have heard of the 10 commandments, but did you know that the Torah (1st 5 books of the bible) has 613 commands?  In addition, the New Testament has 1050 commands (some are repeated). 

Since the fall of man in Genesis 3, sin has set its roots and spread.  In Genesis 3:21 we notice where the first animal is sacrificed/killed to cover Adam and Eve (and their sin).  Stephen Miller explains that the Jewish sacrificial rituals covered their guilt, atoned for their sin, and conveyed their thanksgiving for what God has provided them.[7] 

Atonement reverberates throughout scripture reaching completion in the perfect, unblemished life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Christ needed to come and die for anyone to become justified in the sight of God.  What Jesus fulfilled no other can or will ever be able to accomplish, and he did so fully human and fully God.  That is the gift, the blessing, and the love that God has for us…

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:16-19).

Thomas is well known for doubting the resurrection of Jesus.  John writes of Thomas needing to physically see Jesus alive and place his finger in the mark of the nails to believe (John 20:24-25).

Thomas’ response 8 days later when he sees Jesus is classic:  He says, “My Lord and my God!”

What a truly amazing experience that must have been!  Even the disciples doubted, and they lived, ate, and breathed with Jesus!  That’s why faith is such an important part of this journey.  When we place our faith in Jesus, we are saying we trust him.  We acknowledge that we aren’t perfect and trust the work he did on the cross to be a perfect atonement for our sins.  Jesus paid it all – past, present, and future!

 How do We Respond?

In short, Jesus is everything and all things.  He was Messiah, Savior, Shephard, and even Brother.  Everything was created through Jesus! 

Knowing we could never meet the perfect requirements of righteousness, Jesus came and fulfilled it all. Because of this we may have forgiveness and a newness of heart.  What a merciful, loving God we have!

So, how will you respond to Jesus as he calls you into a relationship with him?

 Jesus wants you to come to him and he wants to provide you peace and joy. 

If you think it is too hard, or what you’ve done in the past is unforgivable – you’re wrong.  All you need to do is find a quiet space alone.

  Call out to Jesus and pray the following….

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for my past sins.  Please enter into my heart and take up residence.  I knock at your door and I seek you.  I accept you into my life and believe in your name.  I believe that you died for my sins and that because of what you did on that cross I may be set free.  Jesus, teach me to love you with all my heart and help me love others as you have loved me.  It is in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

 

For further reading check out: Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, by John Piper

 

[1] (2023, June 26). If His Name was Yeshua, Why Do We Call Him Jesus? Got Questions. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from www.gotquestions.org

[2] Strobel, L. (1998). The Case for Christ (1st ed., pp. 126-127). Zondervan.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

[7] Miller, S. (2007). The Complete Guide to the Bible (1st ed., pp. 43-44). Barbour Books.