Who is Jesus?
Posted by brittgillette on February 3rd, 2007
Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Augustus, the 1st Roman Emperor. He is the only individual in human history to fulfill all the known prophecies of the first coming of the Jewish Messiah as outlined in the Old Testament. Jesus is the only human to live a sinless life, and the Bible reveals him to be God in the flesh. Jesus clearly illustrated this point while speaking with his disciples:
“Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus replied, ‘Philip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” John 14:8-10 (NLT)
So why did God choose to become a man? The prophet Isaiah reveals God’s purpose in a prophecy written more than 700 years before the appearance of Jesus:
“He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.”
“He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.”
“I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.” Isaiah 53:3-9,12 (NLT)
All humans are born with a fatal flaw called “sin.” Sin is what separates man from God. Just as a society demands a penalty be paid for a criminal act, God demands a penalty be paid for sin, and that penalty is eternal separation from God. To avoid this separation, Jesus interceded on our behalf. Blameless in every way, he was beaten and crucified for our sins. He took on the sins of the world, and paid the penalty for every human being who ever lived. Through his suffering, all who accept this free gift are counted among the righteous. This is most clearly illustrated during the crucifixion itself when Jesus was executed between two criminals:
“One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “’So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us too, while you’re at it!’”
“But the other criminal protested, ‘Don’t you fear God even when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:39-43 (NLT)
The second criminal did the only two things necessary to receive the salvation of the cross:
1) He acknowledged his sin
2) He placed his trust in Jesus
Although others may claim that salvation requires cumbersome religious rituals, certain good works, or other such actions, know that the free gift of salvation is available to all who place their trust in Christ. As the Scriptures tell us:
“Anyone who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11 (NLT)
If you want to have a personal relationship with the living God, place your trust in Jesus. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and he will. Read the Bible, and seek fellowship with others who trust in Jesus as well. If you do, you will be amazed with the changes in your life.
For “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
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