Who is Jesus?
Jesus is a name familiar to everyone. It would be difficult to find someone that has not heard of Him. Who is this man? Many say He was a moral teacher or a prophet. But what do those who walked along side of Him say? What does He say about Himself?
Nothing is normal about Jesus. His mother was a virgin when He was conceived, making His birth an absolute marvel. He taught that God loved humanity and wanted to restore the broken connection between them and that He came to re-establish that relationship between God and mankind. In everything He did, Jesus demonstrated compassion to the poor and hurting, and in the ultimate act of love, He offered His body to be crucified as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Because Jesus is fully God, death couldn't have the final say-so. Jesus rose from the dead giving hope to all those who believe in Him.
One with the Father
John, perhaps Jesus' closest friend, writes about one statement Jesus made about himself, "I and the Father are one." ( John 10:30 ). This means is that He Himself is fully God and co-equal to the Father in status and power. Jesus left the heavens and came here simply to let humanity know who God is. He is identical in every way to the Father, and so that qualifies Him to be the perfect messenger and sacrifice for the sins of a hurting world.
Amazing Birth
From the beginning of His life, Jesus attracted attention. His birth was unique. It was spoken of and anticipated by many generations before His time. The prophet Isaiah promised the nation of Israel that God would send someone to save the world. Isaiah said we would know who it is because his mother would be a virgin when he was conceived ( Is. 7:14 ). Her pregnancy would not be the result of a man, but from God. Luke, an author in the New Testament, records the circumstances of Jesus' birth. He writes that an angel appeared to a girl named Mary and told her, "You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the most high." ( Lk. 1:31-32 ). To be called the Son of God simply means that He bears God's name and authority. Jesus' astonishing birth identified Him as the one who was promised by God to be the savior of all people.
Teachings
The description of Jesus' life is given in the first four books of the New Testament. Jesus lived many years of His life as a normal 1st century Jew. Jesus began His public ministry around the age of 30 after being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus regularly taught in churches and public squares. The message of Jesus was simple. He focused a lot on "The Kingdom of God." He told His audience that God's reign and authority was everlasting, and that God was setting up His kingdom through Him.
Compassion
Jesus captivated large audiences because He taught things that challenged them and healed those who were sick. Jesus wasn't afraid to approach those who were rejected by society because of their illness. Because of this, Jesus was ridiculed and rejected by the religious leaders of His day. Jesus traveled from city to city modeling compassion to those who were sick and hurting. He said that this is what the Father had chosen for Him to do ( Lk. 4:18-19 ).
The Sacrifice
The most unusual event of Jesus' life was his death. Jesus was wrongly charged by the authorities and was deemed worthy of capitol punishment. In the first century, only the most extreme crimes were punished by the Roman government through crucifixion. Jesus was sentenced to the worst of penalties for crimes He did not commit. What is even more peculiar is that Jesus claimed that this injustice was the reason he was born ( Jn. 12:27 ). He told the man who overlooked his trial that the true decision of his death came from God and not man. Another writer says that Jesus' brutal death was God's demonstration of His powerful love. "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" ( Rom. 5:8 ). Christ didn't die because He was a threat to some or because He broke any laws. Yet His death was purposeful. When He died, He was receiving the punishment for the sin of every person who has ever existed and will ever exist ( 1 Pet. 2:24 ).
Victory
Three days later, the grave that held Jesus' body was found empty. Because He is God, Jesus could not be held down by death. In the greatest event of all time, He rose from the dead. His resurrection is the hope of every believer that one day they too will be raised. Also, His resurrection confirms His identity as God. Only God has the power over death. After He rose from the dead He gave instructions to His followers, and then ascended to heaven. He left them and us with a promise- that one day He will return to set up the eternal Kingdom of God here on Earth.
Jesus' life here on Earth was remarkable. He was perfect in all that he did and said, not committing any sin. He modeled the giving and compassionate heart of the Father in every way. What does Jesus tell us about himself? He gives a description of himself so exclusive that no one can ignore it. It challenges even the most brilliant of minds today. He tells us that He is God's only plan for the world. That humanity only has one hope, and His name is Jesus. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( Jn. 14:6 )