Who Is Jesus?

Unlike the question, “Does God exist?”, very few people would legitimately question whether or not Jesus existed.  It is historically accepted that Jesus was a very real man who walked on the earth, in Israel, a little over 2000 years ago.  He is documented by the Romans in Palestine at the time, the Rabbinical writers in Jerusalem concerning his death and Josephus, the Hebrew historian, whom may well have known him, if not been a convert to The Way himself!  The debate begins when the discussion turns to Jesus' full identity as being God incarnate.  Almost every major religion teaches or acknowledges that Jesus lived, was a prophet or a good teacher or at least a godly man. The problem is that the Bible tells of the man to come and points out how to spot him; of the effort to kill him during his toddler years; of the ministry which was to prove whom he was; his rejection by his people and ultimate death which came to be understood as the sacrifice to atone for all mankind.

Whom does the Old Testament claim Jesus will be?

Isaiah 9:6-7
"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end."

Isaiah 53:4-5, 12
"Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows ... He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed ... for He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." 

Whom did the New Testament Jesus claim to be?

John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... Through Him all things were made ... the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. He (God) appeared in a body (in the flesh)..."

Revelation 1:8, 17-18; 22:13

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty ... I am the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End ... I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! "

Whom did Jesus claim to be?

John 10:30
“I and the Father are one.” 
At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God.  However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement, “‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (John 10:33). The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews by saying, “I did not claim to be God.” That indicates Jesus was truly saying He was God.

John 8:58
“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”
Again, in response, the Jews took up stones in an attempt to stone Jesus (John 8:59).  Jesus’ announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14).  Why would the Jews again want to stone Jesus if He had not said something they believed to be blasphemous, namely, a claim to be God?

John 1:1
“the Word was God.”

John 1:14
“the Word became flesh.”
This clearly indicates that Jesus is God in the flesh.
Thomas the disciple declared to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him.
The apostle Paul describes Him as, “…our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
The apostle Peter says the same, “…our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).
God the Father is witness of Jesus’ full identity as well, “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’”

Jesus clearly and undeniably claimed to be God.  In attempts to explain away the words of Jesus, modern “scholars” claim the “true historical Jesus” did not say many of the things the Bible attributes to Him.  Who can argue with God’s Word concerning what Jesus did or did not say?  How can anyone two thousand years removed from Jesus have better insight into what Jesus did or did not say than those who lived with, served with, and were taught by Jesus Himself (John 14:26)?

Why is the question over Jesus’ true identity so important?  Why does it matter whether or not Jesus is God?  The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for your sins (1 John 2:2).  Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ deity is why He is the only way of salvation. Jesus’ deity is why He proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

So, whom do you say Jesus is?
You have to have an opinion, because history says he is real.  But, whom do you say he is?  That answer becomes the very basis of how you will choose to live your life and interact with others, yourself and even you decisions yet to come.