Chapter 3 – WHO IS JESUS?
Does Jesus have a resume? A valid resume will document the individual’s capabilities, his qualifications, his experience, his fitness and competence for the position. So, exactly who is this Jesus? Let’s put together a comprehensive Biblical resume for the LORD Jesus Christ, and we’ll see!
The Bible initially refers to Him by His pre-creation title, which is “The Word.” According to John 1:1, 2, “In the beginning was The Word; and The Word was with GOD; and The Word was GOD.” He was with GOD, and He was GOD from the very beginning of time. And He is today GOD personified! Now, fasten your seat belt!
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) There’s no mistaking that this is a clear reference to Jesus, the only-begotten Son of GOD. The Word was incarnate; that is, He became flesh and blood! He “put on” humanity! As Hebrews 10:5 testifies, “When Christ came into the world, He said to His Father, ‘… a body You have prepared for Me.’ ” He was GOD, born of a woman into flesh and blood and bone!
Jesus’ Incarnation was prophesied in the Older Testament, perhaps seven-hundred-or-more years beforehand: “Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
This is confirmed nearly verbatim in the Newer Testament, by Matthew: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us.” (Matthew 1:23) Jesus was incarnate in Adam’s flesh; your human flesh. Thus, His name, “GOD with us”, or GOD, wearing mankind. GOD in you!
“For in Him all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell.” GOD was abiding in Christ. Father and Son in One! (Colossians 1:19-20) Jesus, testified years later to the religious leaders who refused to believe He was sent from Heaven, “I and My Father are One.” (John 10:30)
The Apostle John further corroborates Jesus’ testimony in his first letter to the Church: “For there are three that bear witness in Heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)
Jesus Is Our Creator!
Of Jesus, John 1:3 states, “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” Then, in John 1:10, we find further reinforcement: “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.”
The Apostle Paul boldly supports John’s testimony: “For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16) Might those “all things” include you? Absolutely! You were created for His glory, for His fellowship, and for His service.
He Sustains Us!
“He Himself gives everyone life and breath, and everything else.” (Acts 17:25) The beating of your heart; the breath in your lungs, the very functioning of your physiological systems all are powered by our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer, the Word, your LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ! Look: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
Hear King David as he acknowledges his Source and His Keeper: “I lie down to sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me!” (Psalms 3:5) Further, of Jesus as our Sustainer, Hebrews 1:3 states, “Who, being the brightness of His (GOD’s) glory and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power.” Moreover, “… He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
Jesus Is a Prophet and More!
A prophet is Heaven’s divine messenger: “GOD, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds; GOD’s Son shines out with GOD’s glory, and all that GOD’s Son is and does marks Him as GOD. He regulates the universe by the mighty power of His command. He is the one Who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in highest honor beside the great GOD of Heaven. Thus, He became far greater than the angels, as proved by the fact that His name ‘Son of GOD’, which was given to Him by His Father, is far greater than the names and titles of the angels.” (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Jesus is “The Son of GOD!”
The most beloved and most frequently-quoted Bible passage, John 3:16, testifies that Jesus is indeed the only-begotten of the Father: “For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The further testimony of John 1:18 is, “No one has ever seen GOD. The only Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.” Jesus Christ, the Word of GOD, came to this earth to model for us in living flesh the character and true nature of our loving Heavenly Father.
Yet, He Is “The Son of Man!”
Jesus was, and is presently, Corporate Man, the Representative of humankind. Our Savior referred to Himself most frequently as the “Son of Man”; not as the “Son of GOD”, or the “Son of Mary and Joseph”, but as the Son of Man. Our Elder Brother now in His risen, glorified, immortal human flesh will forever be permanently linked with us throughout all eternity as the Son of Man. The Scriptures refer to Him as “The Son of Man” 86 times – that’s 83 times in His own words, and 3 additional instances by eyewitnesses. Jesus does so completely identify with us.
Jesus Is the “I AM”, and “The Rock” in the Wilderness! (John 8:58)
First Corinthians 10:3, 4 reveals that Christ is “the Rock” which followed the Church in the Wilderness, supplying them with pure water for drinking and bathing, during those 40 years. “… and they did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.” That Rock still provides us with an endless supply of Living Water today!
Jesus is The Good Shepherd!
The Psalmist, King David sings: “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture,” (Psalm 100:3) Please read, savor, and thoroughly enjoy our Good Shepherd’s resume in Psalm 23, all the way through to its joyful end. “The LORD is my Shepherd; and as He leads me, I will lack nothing!” Jesus asserts, “I know My own and My own know Me.” (John 10:14) Speaking as our own Good Shepherd, He says, “… the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:4-5) In John 10:11,12, Jesus prophesies, “I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” And He did just that!
Jesus Is the Lamb of GOD!
John the Baptist’s most-memorable and oft-quoted introduction of Jesus was, “Behold the Lamb of GOD, Who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) And Paul’s testimony brings us front-and-center: “… Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) Jesus is verily that “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)
He is Our Blessed Savior!
Are we not all sinners in dire need of a Savior? GOD’s prophet foresaw in Isaiah 53: 5, 6: “… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Please take time-out to carefully, prayerfully “mine” the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, which simply overflows with Messianic prophecies!
The bad news is that we are guilty as charged! But, the good news is that Jesus stood in our stead, carried our baggage, took upon Himself our condemnation, and went to Judgment clad in “us” at Calvary! Jesus took upon Himself what we deserve, that we might receive what He deserves! Can you imagine if we were to be dealt what we truly deserve? We see here but a fleeting glimpse of Christ’s wonderful grace, beyond human comprehension! Oh, the wonder of all that He is, and as done!
Jesus is Our Redeemer!
“But when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth His Son, born of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4, 5) In Christ, we have been redeemed and restored to the Family of Heaven. “For in Him all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of His Cross.” (Colossians 1:19, 20)
He is Our High Priest, Our Advocate, Our Intercessor!
“For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) Then, Hebrews 4:14,15 takes us even deeper: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens (ascended to Heaven), Jesus the Son of GOD, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” That is to say, rejoice for we do have a High Priest Who is able to sympathize with our weakness, because He was tempted in every way as we are, though without yielding an inch!
He Is Our Judge!
Say whaaat? Yes, that’s as Biblical as your Bible! John 5:22 states plainly, “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son.” And John 5:27 fully concurs that GOD “has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.” Moreover, Jesus possesses the divine authority to “blot out” our sins, according to Matthew’s inspired gospel: “… that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins …” (Matthew 9:6) (Acts 3:19)
He is Constant, Timeless, Eternal!
You can stand with both feet firmly planted on “The Word.” The LORD Jesus is, as is His Heavenly Father, immovable, unchangeable. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Hebrews 13:8 is in total accord: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Lean fully upon Him, as He is the Mighty Rock of your Salvation, upon which to lay the foundation your life.
He Is Able …
Jesus is able to give you power to stand in the Judgment! As Revelation 6:17 warns: “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” GOD’s reassuring response comes via Romans 14:4: “…to his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the LORD is able to make him stand.” Will you stand in the Day of Reckoning? “…He is able to save to the uttermost …” (Hebrews 7:25) Is Jesus your Master? He’s the One “… Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) Ask!
It’s Jesus Who Is the Head of the Church! Yes!!
“And He is the Head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.” (Colossians 1:18) Now, sink your spiritual teeth into this power-passage detailing the extent of the authority GOD has bestowed upon the Risen Christ: “… according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,” (ready? follow this:) “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; And hath put all things under His feet (in submission), and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body.” (Ephesians 1:19-23) That’s all the power in all of Creation! “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in Heaven and earth has been given to Me.’ ” (Matthew 28:18)
Jesus Will Come Again!
The Savior solemnly vowed in John 14 to return for all of His faithful ones. Might that be you? Do you want Him to come back for you, too? He has assured you: “I go to prepare a place for you …” that you may abide with Him in His Eternal Kingdom throughout endless ages to come!
Continuing with John 14, verses 2 to 5 “… if it were not so, I would have told you. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am, you may be there also.”
In the Biblical culture, a man would customarily court a woman over a period of time before proposing marriage. If her response were affirmative, he would then return home, where he would begin to prepare a home for his bride-to-be. Can you see where this is going? When all was ready and the time was right, he would return for his bride, and take her with him, back to the place that he had so caringly, lovingly prepared especially for her. Our LORD has been courting us since the Fall in Eden. Scripture depicts Him as the Bridegroom, while the Church, collectively, is His Bride-to-be. The Gospel invitation is His marriage proposal, to share everlasting life with Him in His House. “I will betroth thee to Me forever.” (Hosea 19:2) “For thy Maker is thy husband; the LORD of Hosts is His name.” (Isaiah 54:5) Have you received the Bridegroom’s proposal? The good news is that it doesn’t involve scrubbing floors, washing windows, or running the vacuum cleaner; although it does require that you surrender your heart to Him, and pledge your forever loyalty, because …
… He has already gone back home, to prepare a place especially for you. Jesus has promised to return soon, that you may be with Him in His Kingdom throughout endless ages forever and for forevermore!
I firmly believe that time is short now, and that His return is very near, ”even at the door,” (Matthew 24:33) You’ll want to seek Him while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6-13), invite His presence, pursue His companionship daily. Cultivate a personal relationship with the One Who loves you; Who has created you; Who sustains you and has promised to protect and defend you! His desire is to be with you “for keeps!” “… And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Our kind and loving Heavenly Father – I thank You and praise You for the gift of Your dear Son, my Savior, Jesus. I thank You, too, for the gift of a more complete understanding of all that He is; and all that You have done for me, in and through Him. I ask in the power of the only “name given among men whereby we must be saved,” Jesus Christ! – Amen
