Who is Jesus?
The Bible speaks of Jesus as more than just a man; He is seen as the Son of God with divine authority over mankind. When Jesus was asked about His identity, He replied “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Therefore, throughout the Bible Jesus is described as the mediator between God and man. He is the God-man, fully divine, yet fully human. He is considered the only Son of God, who came to the world to save people from their sins.
Before His coming, prophecies about Jesus were found throughout the Old Testament, such as Isaiah 7:14, which states “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. This posed as a sign of Jesus’ miraculous birth and redemption. Jesus is also seen as the promised Messiah, as a unique representative of God, and an example of obedience.
The Teachings of Jesus
The teachings of Jesus are found throughout scriptures. Jesus taught love, compassion, humility, and forgiveness. He also taught a life of dedication to the law and the word of God, and exemplified living a life meant for the service of others. Jesus showed the way to God through his actions and commanded his followers to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:19)
In His teachings, Jesus demonstrated God’s commitment to a high moral standard by pointing to His commandments as the way to happiness and obedience to God. In addition, Jesus also emphasized the importance of prayer and communal worship. He spoke extensively on the issue of stewardship and commanded his followers to be generous with their resources and share with the poor. Jesus also called for a deeper understanding of the spiritual reality of eternal life and warned against the reliance on legalism and strict adherence to the letter of the Law.
The Nature of Jesus
The nature of Jesus is described in Scripture through a variety of divine attributes. Jesus is the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Word of God, the Light of the World, and the King of kings. In addition to these titles, Jesus is identified as the living Word of God and described as full of grace and truth. He is seen in scripture as having the power to cast out demons and heal the sick, and promise entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven to those who follow Him.
The nature of Jesus is also seen as the perfect image of God, expressing His divine attributes and character. Jesus was the epitome of grace, wisdom, power, love, compassion, justice, and mercy. He was the example of a life lived in perfect obedience to God, and He is seen as the Way to salvation and eternal life.
The Role of Jesus
Throughout the scriptures, Jesus is seen as the pivotal point in the plan of salvation; that is, the mission of Jesus is to provide a path to redemption from sin and death. His mission was to reconcile God to humanity by providing an example of how to live a holy and righteous life. In addition, Jesus’ mission was to provide for the welfare of all mankind, bring light and truth to the world, and demonstrate mercy and grace to all.
In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as the Passover Lamb, sacrificing Himself to take away the sins of all mankind. He is seen as the fulfillment of prophecies from the Old Testament, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe. Jesus’ role, thus, is the mediator between God and man. He came to defeat death and the power of sin and open the way to freedom, redemption and a life of eternal joy.
How Jesus Crafted His Message
Jesus used a variety of powerful ways to craft His message. For example, He was known to use parables and metaphors in order to make His teachings more accessible to His followers. He used stories like the parable of the sower as a way to teach His followers about the importance of living a life of faith in God. Additionally, Jesus used a combination of both judgment and grace, using His authority to challenge the religious elite, yet lavishing grace and mercy on the common people.
Jesus also used symbols and acts to demonstrate His power, such as feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two fish, and turning water into wine. He confronted human suffering and presented a way to confront it with compassion and love. He also used practical situations to sharpen the understanding of His teachings, such as the washing of the disciples’ feet and engaging in meaningful conversations with the rich young ruler.
Jesus and the Cross
The crucifixion of Jesus was the most significant event in Christ’s life. It was the climax of Jesus’ mission and the beginning of a new covenant between God and man. By dying on the cross, Jesus gave up His life to take the punishment of humanity’s sins and proclaimed victory over death through His own resurrection.
The cross also demonstrated Jesus’ authority, power and purpose. Jesus willingly gave Himself up in order to open the way to redemption. He faced all the adversity that came with being a human, while also bearing the ridicule, pain and suffering of being born in the flesh. The cross symbolized the love of God for humanity and the power of the atonement to liberate us from our sins.
Jesus in the Present
Jesus is forever present in Christianity, and continues to be a source of hope for humanity today. He is seen as a role model for living a life dedicated to God and others. Each day, countless people are taking up their cross and following Jesus, inspired by the example of His unconditional love.
In addition, Jesus is seen as the hope for a better tomorrow, guiding us to a life in which we are unencumbered by the heavy burden of sin and death. Through following in His footsteps and walking in a manner worthy of Him, we can have a life full of joy and purpose.
Jesus in the Future
Jesus has promised His followers a heavenly home to come. Scripture speaks of a new heavens and a new earth, in which there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, and no more pain.
Additionally, in the future, Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. In that day, Jesus will come in power and glory and separate the wheat from the chaff, and will ultimately rule with perfect justice and righteousness. He will take His people to the place He has prepared for them, where there will be rest and joy.
The Implications of Jesus in Our Lives
The implications of Jesus in our lives are far-reaching. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we become the children of God and set out on a new path. As we follow His example and seek to know Him in a fulfilling relationship, we are filled with peace, joy and purpose. We are able to trust Him in all areas of life and find rest in our faith.
When we follow Jesus, we are also invited to participate in the mission of bringing healing and hope in a broken world. Followers of Jesus are encouraged to witness to the world, using their talents and gifts to bring glory to God and honor to His name. As we look ahead and prepare for Jesus’ second coming, we can trust in His forgiveness, grace and mercy and be strengthened with the hope that surpasses all understanding.
