Who is Jesus? Person of Jesus Christ

The Christian Basics series covers the basics of Christianity. This article summarizes the basic truths of the person of Jesus Christ.

Article Content

1. Jesus Became Man
2. Jesus Who Is Truly God
3. Jesus the Savior
4. Jesus the King
5. Christian's Response to Jesus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1,14)

1. Jesus Became Man

Jesus Christ came into the world in human flesh. By coming into the word as a man, He voluntarily set aside the use of His divine powers and took on the form of a man. He was a human in every way except without sin. We refer to this as the “incarnation.”

“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6–7)

Before He was born, Jesus was in the form of God, coequal with God. He emptied Himself to take the form of man, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus grew and developed as a youth.

“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40)

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Jesus needed sleep.

“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

Jesus got hungry and needed food.

“For forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” (Luke 4:2)

Jesus got tired and weary.

“Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.” (John 4:6)

Jesus got sad and wept.

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

Jesus had a literal physical body.

“See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. gouch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:39)

2. Jesus Who Is Truly God

Even though Jesus was truly man, He was also truly God.

Jesus’ Attributes

• Sovereign: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)
• Eternal: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—” (1 John 1:1-2)
• Unchanging and immutable: “Jesus Christ is hthe same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
• All-knowing and omniscient: “To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2b-3)
• Perfect and sinless: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Holy: “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:14–15)
• Truth: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus’ Power

• Power over weather: “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”” (Matthew 8:23–27)
• Power over sickness: “Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.” (Luke 4:40)
• Power over demons: “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”” (Luke 4:33–36)
• Power over death: “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”” (John 11:43–44)
• Power to forgive sins: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”” (Mark 2:10–11)

““Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”” (Mark 2:7)

Only God alone can forgive sin, so Jesus must be God.

Jesus’ Titles of Deity

• “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23 ESV)
• “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11 ESV)
• “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”” (John 8:58 ESV, “I AM” is reserved for God in Exodus 3:14)

Jesus’ Deity Stated

• “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
• “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV)
• “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14)
• “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

3. Jesus Christ Who Is Savior

• “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
• “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
• “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
• “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

4. Jesus the King Coming to Rule

“To keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,” (1 Timothy 6:14–15)

Jesus is the destined King of kings and Lord of lords who will one day reign over all the earth.

“And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:31–32)

“And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:11)

“When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
(2 Thessalonians 1:7–10)

5. The Christian's Response to Jesus Christ

• On earth: “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14)
• In heaven: “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:11–14)