jesus
WHO IS JESUS?
1. Introduction:
Two thousand years ago, Jesus appeared on the scene of history. He was born into the world and grew up just like every other person, but He was no ordinary man. He was called the “Son of God” (Luke 1:26-38) and the Word of God. (John 1:1,14). Bible says the main purpose for which Jesus was sent into the world is -seek and save mission.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. The Mission of Jesus:
There are some special purposes mentioned for which Jesus came to this earth
- To give his life as a ransom
Matthew 20:28 (NKJV) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- To destroy Satan’s works
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
- To give us eternal life
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 3:15-17 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
- To give us birth into God’s family
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- To restore fellowship with God
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
The coming of Jesus changed our lives forever. He was the door through which heaven was opened to us.
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
3. The Nature of Christ:
Pre existence:
Jesus existed before he was born. His pre-existence is established in Scripture and is testified to by none other than Jesus himself.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became 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.
He proclaimed that He is God:
John 8:56-59 ………. before Abraham was born, I am
Here the word “I Am”- indicates ever-continuing existence outside of the bounds of time.
Every Jew who heard Jesus words knew that he was claiming divinity, for the term ”I AM” was the covenant name of God himself. This is the meaning of the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh or Jehovah.
Exodus 3:14, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you…
This sacred name of God “I AM” was to become so revered by the people of Israel that no one would even dare utter it for fear of contravening the command of Leviticus 24:16. This is the reason Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus. He was declaring himself to be God (John 5:18).
This meaning is brought out vividly in The Message bible:
John 8:58- “Believe me” Jesus said, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything”.
4. The “I AM” declaration by Jesus Christ
In book of John, Jesus makes seven declarations concerning himself that begin with the phrase, “I AM”….
- I am the bread of life (John 6:35-40)
- I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)
- I am the door (John 10:7-9)
- I am the good shepherd (John 10:11-14)
- I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
- I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
- I am the true vine (John 15:1-8)
Jesus was not just a good teacher. He embodied the truth he was teaching. He is not just the one who shows the way; he is the way. He is not just the one who reveals the truth; he is the truth. He is not just the one who gives life; he is the life. He doesn’t just save us; he has become salvation for us. He has become everything we need from God.
5. He represented duel nature
Christ is both God and man in one person. It is because of this dual nature that God’s plan of salvation is so effective.
- Jesus is human (Galatians 4:4)
- Jesus is divine (John 1:1,14; 20:27-28)
It is only as God that Christ can represent God to man. And it is only as man that Christ can represent man to God.
a. Jesus Represented God:
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Jesus existed eternally before he took on human nature. Before being born into the world, Jesus was called “the Word of God” . As the Word, he communicated the heart of God to mankind. In Jesus, we see what God the Father is like. As Jesus said to his disciples in
John 14:7-11:If you really knew me [Jesus], you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.
Jesus showed us the nature of God’s love, holiness, wisdom and power. He fully represented God to us in word and indeed.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
b. Jesus Represented Man:
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
In Jesus we not only see the perfect image of God, we also see the perfect image of man, as God intended us to be. He didn’t just take on human form; he completely identified with life as we know it. He shared totally in our humanity.
During his life on earth, Jesus experienced all the troubles of life that we face, and so understands how we feel (Matthew 8:17). In this way Jesus became the example for us. In His words, His actions and His character He showed us how to live a life pleasing to God.
The dual nature of Jesus as both human and divine has another important benefit. Because he is able to fully represent both God and man, he is able to act as a mediator or reconciler between the two. This is the meaning of Jesus becoming our “great high priest”.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
6. The Name of Salvation
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 10:9-11 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
The Bible tells us that there is no other way to be saved except through the name of Jesus. This is because only the death of Jesus on the Cross deals with the barrier between you and God. Jesus is the only way back to God. This is why, in John 14:6, Jesus said:….I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..
When you accepted Jesus into your life, God linked your life with Jesus. Now, as a Christian, you are forever linked with Jesus- with His righteousness, with His authority, with His character, with His life.