The Biblical Jesus

 TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"  (Matthew 16:13-16).

Caesarea Philippi was one of the conquered cities of the Roman Empire.  It was known for its pagan worship and immoral acts.  It was at this place where Jesus asked His disciples a very important question.  It is important to note that whenever Jesus would ask a question in the Bible that it was not for His own information. 

Whenever Jesus asks a question, it is to teach an important truth to His disciples.  He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”  At this point His ministry was becoming more popular, and it is no doubt that people are talking about the miracles and the powerful messages of Jesus Christ.  With this question, Jesus was asking his disciples what the general opinion of the population was of His true character. 

The answer that the disciples gave Him varied from source to source.  According to the verse some were saying that He was John the Baptist, or Elias (the Old Testament Elijah), or Jeremias (the Old Testament Jeremiah).  All these were great men that truly made an impact in their generation for God, however, they were not the same as the Lord Jesus Christ.  They were Christ-like in character, but they were not the Messiah—the Saviour of the world.

As we look at the world today, many people continue to mistake the real character of Jesus Christ.  There are prominent religious groups today that do not preach and teach the Biblical Jesus.  One particular group teaches that Jesus somehow “earned” his way to godhood.  Others deny his deity altogether and teach that he is just a good man or just a prophet.  Lastly, there are others that question his very existence and claim that Jesus was never a true historical figure.

Jesus proceeded with another question to His disciples.  This time Jesus was not concerned  about the public opinion of His true character.  Jesus now directed the same question to them but on a more personal level.  He asked, “…But whom say ye that I am?…”  There were varying views of the general public’s perspective of the true character of Jesus, but Jesus wanted to know their personal opinion.  This is an important question that everyone must answer correctly because our personal view of who Jesus is will determine our eternal destiny.  We cannot simply rely upon what the general public is saying about the the true character of Jesus.  Every one of us will give an account to God someday, and our perspective of Jesus Christ will literally be a matter of eternal life or eternal death.

Peter gave the correct answer when he said, “…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  The word Christ in this verse is the Greek word Christos which means “the anointed one, that is the Messiah.”  Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  The Apostle John said, "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world"  (1 John 4:14).  In this article, I would like to present to you the Biblical Jesus.

First of all, it is important to understand that Jesus did not begin His existence in Bethlehem’s manger.  He said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty"  (Revelation 1:8).  The Prophet Isaiah said that He is, “…The everlasting Father…” (Isaiah 9:6).  Jesus said, “…, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am… "  (John 8:58).  The expression “I am” is the same expression found in Exodus 3:14 when God revealed who He was to Moses—the Jehovah self-existing God.  Jesus had no beginning or ending.  He is eternal.

When the Jews heard this claim of Jesus, they were ready to stone Him to death because they clearly understood what He was saying.  According to Mosaic law, claiming to be equal with God is blasphemy and is punishable by death (Leviticus 24:11-14).  On another occasion when Jesus had made the bold claim that He was the Son of God, he asked the Jews, “…Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God"  (John 10:32-33).

 This brings us to the next point.  Jesus is the second person in the Godhead (or Trinity).  He is God and possesses the attributes that belong to God alone.  In Matthew 28:18, Jesus is omnipotent—all powerful.  In John 16:30, Jesus is omniscient—all knowing.  In Matthew 28:20, Jesus is omnipresent—all present or present everywhere at the same time.  As already mentioned, Jesus is eternal—having no beginning or ending.  In Hebrews 13:8, Jesus is immutable—never changing.  Lastly, in Hebrews 7:26, Jesus is holy—without sin. 

Thirdly, it is important to understand that Jesus came to earth as God in the flesh to fulfill a specific task.  In summary, Jesus humbled Himself to come into the world, take on human flesh, die on the cross for our sins, and rise from the dead as our risen Savior.

The Bible says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."  Jesus came to earth not to establish a religion or a denominational sect.  He came for one purpose—to reconcile man with God.  Our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam has eternally separated us from God.  Our sin has a penalty that must be paid (Romans 5:12).  This payment is death, which is eternal separation from God in a place called Hell.  We can never pay for our own sins, and without a Savior we are destined to this place.  However, God has provided a plan of redemption for mankind.  Notice the following verses:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life"  (Romans 5:8-10).

The Bible says, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  Jesus is without sin.  He is the perfect Lamb of God.  His death paid the penalty of our sins.  The Bible says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”  (Romans 3:24-25).  Jesus came to die for our sins and to give us eternal life. 

This eternal life is available to anyone who would repent by admitting their sinfulness and acknowledging the penalty of sin then by faith alone accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as the only payment for their sins.

Around the world gravestones mark the burial places of famous religious leaders and founders.  Traditionally, people consider these memorials as the markers of the person’s final resting place.  However, one will never find a memorial of Jesus Christ.  This brings us to our last point about the Biblical Jesus.  All that can be seen as a memorial to the Biblical Jesus is an empty tomb!  This is what separates Jesus from the others—His resurrection.  Death and sin had no power over Jesus.  He said, “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: " (John 11:25). 

In closing, everyone alive today will have to answer this personal question someday: “Whom say ye that I am?”  Your view of who Jesus is will determine your eternal destiny.  Jesus is the Savior of the world.  He wants to save you from the penalty of your sin which is death, eternal separation from God forever.  The Bible says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"  (2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus wants to give you eternal life with Him in Heaven someday.  Would you acknowledge the Biblical Jesus and accept His offer of eternal life?