WHO IS JESUS...TO YOU?

In the middle of Matthew 16 Jesus asks some important questions. "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" And after the disciples share with Him some of the popular answers He asks them, "But what about you?...Who do you say I am?" You can know what other people say about Jesus and still miss the question that matters most: What do you believe about him? That same question is before each of us: Who do you say Jesus is?

The answer to the question of who Jesus is lays the foundation of Christian faith. When we understand who Jesus is we can better understand who God is, why Jesus came, and how we can have a relationship with Him. 

Who is Jesus? Peter’s answer 

In Matthew 16, when Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is Peter says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16).

Jesus commends Peter's for recognizing who He is and blesses Peter. Peter's confession becomes the bedrock upon which Christ establishes His church. 

When we ask, “Who is Jesus?” we need to move beyond other people's opinions. Consider Peter's answer, then ask yourself: What do I believe about Jesus, and what difference does that belief make?

Who is Jesus? He is the Christ, the Messiah

Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It is a title describing the office he holds. The Greek word Christ and the Hebrew word Messiah mean “anointed one.” In Old Testament times, people were anointed with oil as they began serving as prophets, priests, or kings. 

But Jesus is not just a religious leader He is the promised One anticipated in the Jewish Scriptures, the One who would bring the kingdom of God and salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

His arrival did not match the expectations of many Jewish people, including his earliest disciples. Only after His death and resurrection did His followers begin to understand more clearly that He came to become the sacrifice for the world’s sins and save those who trusted Him.

Who is Jesus? He is the promised Messiah whose mission became clearer through His death and resurrection.

Who is Jesus? He is God with us

What impresses you most about Jesus? There are many answers, like the different facets of a diamond. For me, one truth stands out: He is Emmanuel, God with us.

That means we must think of Jesus as more than a remarkable man. He is fully God and truly human. God came among us in human flesh.

John 1:1 describes Jesus as the Word, who existed in the beginning, was with God, and was God. John 1:3 adds that everything that was made came into being through Him.

That is an important clue when considering, “Who is Jesus?” If every created thing came into existence through the Word, then the Word himself is not a created being. John presents Jesus as divine and as the One through whom creation came into existence.

These passages stretch our thinking. They also keep us from reducing Jesus to merely a teacher whose ideas we appreciate.

Who is Jesus? He is an example for us

John does not stop with Jesus’ divine identity. John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us. The one through whom everything was made entered human life. God's love was expressed through Jesus personally among us.

John also describes Jesus as full of grace and truth. I love that combination. An emphasis on truth without grace can become harsh, critical, and preoccupied with how others fail to measure up. An emphasis on grace without truth loses the anchor that grounds our beliefs and understanding of God.

Jesus' example is an aspiration for our own lives:

• Value truth: Ground your understanding of God in what is true.
• Practice grace: Resist becoming merely critical of other people’s shortcomings.
• Combine truth and grace together: Reflect truth and grace rather than choosing one over the other.

Who is Jesus? He is part of the Trinity

When we explore “Who is Jesus?” we encounter the doctrine of the Trinity. John’s description of the Word as both with God and being God introduces us to something deeper than our ordinary categories can easily explain.

Does the Trinity mean there are three gods? No. Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that there is only one God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 provide important starting points.

Yet the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the same divine nature, power, and glory. Matthew 28:18-20 names all three together.

The distinctions matter:

• The Father is not the Son.
• The Son is not the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is not the Father.
• All three persons share in the nature of the one God.

Who is Jesus? He is the Son, distinct from the Father and the Spirit, yet fully sharing in the divine nature. This is mysterious, but mystery is not the same as contradiction or falsehood.

Who is Jesus? He is beyond comprehension

We use finite minds to consider God who is infinite. It should not surprise us that some things exceed our ability to understand completely. Frankly, I do not always understand my wife. Why would I expect to comprehend everything about God?

An astronaut once explained that some realities in the universe may exceed our brains’ capacity to grasp them. His illustration was simple: A dog’s inability to understand quantum mechanics does not make quantum mechanics untrue.

When we ask, “Who is Jesus?” keep in mind that a limit in our understanding does not mean a problem with the truth itself. If the universe God created is mind-boggling, why should its Creator be easy to comprehend?

Keep studying and asking questions. But do not make complete comprehension a condition for trust. God wants us to understand what we can, while loving and obeying him.

Who is Jesus to me?  

Who is Jesus? The answer should lead us beyond gathering information. God wants a relationship with us. That may be the most astonishing truth of all: The infinite God wants a relationship with you and me.

Jesus calls us to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Every dimension of our being belongs in that relationship. Studying matters, but so do love, obedience, and trust.

In Christ, we see God’s loving heart. Jesus came to do what we could not do for ourselves: provide the sacrifice for our sins. As you consider who Jesus is ask how you can respond to that love today.

For continued study the free Foundations materials offer lessons for growing in faith. Pastor Kerry Decker of Compass Christian Church developed these materials to help people establish a firm foundation within the Christian faith. Kerry is also a life coach, author, and apologist who works hard to help people navigate life’s challenges and better understand God.

Keep returning to the question, “Who is Jesus?” Read the Scriptures, think carefully, and bring your questions honestly. But remember the goal: not simply to understand more about Christ, but to grow in your relationship with Him.