Chapter 5.1.Who is Jesus?
The answer to the Question WHO IS JESUS? can only be
found in the Bible.
1. What the Bible says about Jesus.
Let’s start with the key events in the life of Jesus as mentioned
in the Bible as summarized in
QotQuestions.org (Go to GotQuestiones.org
for the full article about those Key Events in the life of Jesus. ( https://www.gotquestions.org/life-of-Christ.html
)
Those Key Events in the life of Jesus can be summarized in the following 14 events. (with the Bible references for easy reading if needed)
1) Birth: (Matthew 1—2; Luke 2)2) Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23)
3) First miracle: (John 2:1-11)
4) Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5:1-7:29)
5) Feeding of the 5,000: (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13)
6) Transfiguration: (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:26-36)
7) Raising of Lazarus: (John 11:1-44)
8) Triumphal entry: (Matthew 21:1–11, 14–17; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44; John 12:12–19)
9) Last Supper: (Matthew 26:1-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-38; John 13:1-38)
10) Arrest at Gethsemane: (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-50; Luke 22:39-54; John 18:1-12)
11) Crucifixion and burial: (Matthew 27:27-66; Mark 15:16-47; Luke 23:26-56; John 19:17-42)
12) Resurrection: (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10)
13) Post-resurrection appearances: (Matthew 28:1–20; Mark 16:1–20; Luke 24:1–53; John 20:1—21:25; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6–8)
14) Ascension: (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12)
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them
were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for
the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
2. Jesus’ own testimony that He is the Son of God:
- “This
was why the Jews were seeking more to kill [Jesus], because not only was he
breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making
himself equal with God ("Son of God" was understood that it means
"God himself")
- So,
Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his
own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father
does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him
all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so
that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so
also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has
given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honour
the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent
him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who
sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from
death to life’” (John 5:18-24).
- At
Jesus’ trial, Jesus Himself testified: “. . . Again the high priest asked him,
‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you
will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the
clouds of heaven’" (Mark 14:61-62).
- “We
know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that
we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in his Son
Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
3. God’s confirmation about Jesus being His Son:
- God
spoke at Jesus’ baptism: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were
afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is
my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him’” (Luke 9:34-35).
- “If
we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is
the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in
the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has
made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has
borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does
not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal
life” (1 John 5:9-13).
- Previously,
God had spoken to man through His prophets, but then He sent His own Son: “In
the past God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in
various ways. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom He has
appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is
the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being,
sustaining all things by His powerful word. After he had provided purification
for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).
- Jesus
is the “exact representation” of God. Although one with His Father in essence,
Jesus is also distinct in Person as God’s Son. God has revealed Himself as one
God manifest in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Even before the world began, Jesus was always with God and was God (John 1:1-2; 17:5). God created all things in the universe
through Jesus (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-20).
- Although
eternally one with God, Jesus came to earth in the form of man (Philippians 2:5-11). Born to the virgin Mary,
Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time (the incarnation: Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:14; Romans 1:3-4; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 4:1-3; 5:20).
4. What people testify about Jesus as the Son of God in the Bible.
Many people openly testify that Jesus is God’s Son as well
as God. When people witnessed Jesus’ miracles, teaching, death, resurrection,
and ascension to heaven, many believed and openly declared that Jesus was the
Son of God.
Followers of Jesus concluded this after He calmed a storm: “And when they got
into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying,
‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:32-33).
Peter testified this: “Now when Jesus came into the district
of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples,
‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the
Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He
said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 16:13-17).
A woman, whose brother Jesus raised to live, testified
afterwards: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever
believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and
believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes,
Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the
world’” (John 11:25-27).
Even the demons know Jesus is the Son of God: “Whenever the
evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son
of God’” (Mark 3:11).
A military officer and soldiers who were guarding Jesus at
His death on the cross testified: “When the centurion and those who were with
him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they
were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:54).
Thomas testified after Jesus rose from the dead: “Thomas
answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed
because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may
have life in his name” (John 20:24-31).
5. Conclusion: Jesus Christ Is Far Above Everything
Colossians 1.15-21 claims it clearly...
15Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can’t be seen. He
is first, and he is over all of creation. 16All things were created by him. He
created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be
seen and everything that can’t be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers, and
authorities. Everything was created by him and for him. 17Before anything was
created, he was already there. He holds everything together.
18And he is the head of the body, which is the church. He is
the beginning. He is the first to be raised from the dead. That happened so
that he would be far above everything. 19God was pleased to have his whole
nature living in Christ. 20God was pleased to bring all things back to himself
because of what Christ has done. That includes all things on earth and in
heaven. God made peace through Christ’s blood, through his death on the cross.
21At one time you were separated from God. You were enemies
in your minds because of your evil ways. 22But because Christ died, God has
brought you back to himself. Christ’s death has made you holy in God’s sight.
So now you don’t have any flaw. You are free from blame.
It clearly shows that Jesus is more than a man and is proof to His deity.
This is a very important objection for Islam. That Jesus is God or the Son of God.
A question I received from a Muslim.
- Him:
Can we chat? I have many questions to ask.
- Me:
Welcome to chat on this profile.
- Him:
My first question: is Jesus God or God's son???
- Me:
Both
- Him:
Then who is the father?
- Me:
Can I answer you from the Bible: One verse from the Old Testament to show who
is Jesus of the Bible (not the Isa from the Quran) – from the Book ISAIAH.
For a child has been
born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is
called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NET)
Jesus as seen from the New Testament – Romans 9:5 NET
[5] To them (the Israelites) belong the patriarchs,
and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all,
blessed forever! Amen. https://bible.com/bible/107/rom.9.5.NET
Jesus as seen from the book of REVELATION...
“I am the Alpha and the
Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to
come – the All-Powerful! (Rev 1:8)
When I (John) saw him I
fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me
and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who
lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the
keys of death and of Hades! (Rev 1: 17-18 NET)
He also said to me, “It
is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. To the one
who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of
life. (Rev 21:6 NET)
6. My Muslim friend asked a direct question: Where did Jesus said: "I AM GOD?"
Why is it so hard for Muslims to believe that Jesus is the
Son of God, our Saviour? That He is God?
Muslims, What more evidence do you need?
You say Satan is your enemy, right?
Well, he is also ours!
But Satan believes Jesus is the Son of God!
Every time a believer just says His Name, demons run!
So, what more evidence do u need?
Isn't it clear enough?
A few examples...
The devil possessed man that lived among the graves in Gerasene (Luke 8:28 NET) When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!”
In Luke 4:41 (and Mark 3:11), when Jesus casts out demons, they fall down before him, and declare: "You are the Son of God."
In John 1:34, John the Baptist bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God.
In John 11:27 Martha calls him the Messiah and the Son of God.
Do you know that Jesus is called "the Son of God" more than 80 times in the New Testament?
Jesus said it clearly about Himself...
"Do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? John 10:36 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/jhn.10.36.NET
All are welcome to look at this
video... “The Gospel of Mark show Jesus
is God in every chapter”
( https://youtu.be/YwQF-SS-O_g?si=mJ_07F4bJDPJdiEp )
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