Who is Jesus really?

Preamble:

Many good and heartfelt words have been written about Jesus Christ. Equally, there has been much written that is confusing and mistaken. The bedrock documents for everything about Jesus and the God of Israel are the manuscripts that comprise the Holy Bible: the written record of the Lord’s interaction with the line of Adam. It outlines a promise; an assurance a redeemer would come with an inheritance for all that believed.

For someone seeking God or the truth of Christ, the Christian Church today can be a confusing place. Jesus is portrayed by one as an Angel, by another as Jehovah, and by the mainstream as a personality of a three part God. People who arrived at these views had read some form of Holy Writ, and since the Reformation, an edition of the Bible or the Gospels in their own language. While they all claim a form of Christianity, they give emphasis to an aspect of the Gospel, or the Old Testament.

For example; Baptists name themselves after the practice of baptism; Seventh Day Adventists base their religion in the seventh-day Sabbath; Pentecostals accent the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and profess Jesus a miracle worker. Methodists emphasize a methodical approach to Bible study and Christian living, as lain down by John Wesley. It appears every church has their own judgment on the teachings of Moses or Jesus; an event, or Feast day. Yet, they all seem to miss the essence of the Christ.

The Jesus we actually find in Scripture is very different from the one depicted by the churches, or by those hoping to overcome traditional values through a fresh, or radical approach to the Gospels. It is reasonable then these varied opinions can be confusing for anyone seeking a relationship with Jesus, especially if they have spent any time reading the Bible. For that reason alone, we need to ask who this Jesus is. To begin, let’s look at the opening of Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews as it carries an important message.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had … by himself … purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire… (v.8) but unto the Son he saith … Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1: 1-8)

Paul’s letter, squarely aimed at early converts slipping in their faith, openly states, Jesus is neither prophet nor holy man, but the LORD God Almighty. …thy throne O God is forever and ever. In this extraordinary letter, Paul throws up some weighty questions: many unanswered by the church throughout history, or today, and may account for recent attacks on his writings emanating from some quarters. Like Paul, the Apostle John also declared Jesus has existed from the beginning. The same was in the beginning with God… (John 1:2) He takes us step by step through this revelation. In the beginning was the Word … and the Word was with God, and then delivers the definitive statement …the Word was God. John tells us all things were made by Him and uses the term; the Word (Lo’gos) to show the eternal Jesus in this act of creation.

Lo’gos:

This Greek word has been the subject of much thought since Heraclitus: c. 535 -475BC first expressed his view on its meaning. He was followed by Aristotle, the Stoics, beginning with Zeno of Citium c. 300BC; Isocrates, and later Philo of Alexandria 20BC-50AD. Philo used the term Lo’gos to mean an intermediary being or demerge; a fashioner and maintainer of the material universe and while divine, not considered a creator. This prompted deep discussion within the growing church.

Philo followed the Platonic distinction between imperfect matter and perfect idea therefore requiring intermediary beings to bridge the vast gap between God and the material world. The Logos was the highest form of these intermediary beings and was called by Philo; the first born of God. (Copleston: a History of Philosophy, Volume 1: 2003)

Philo also wrote that the Logos of the living God is the bond of everything, holding all things together, binding all the parts, and prevents them from being dissolved and separated. (Friedlander: Hellenism and Christianity: Valentine 1912)

Discussion has focused on the ability of the phrase to convey a meaning sufficient to its purpose. In terms of its use by John to articulate the inter-relationship of the Godhead, Lo’gos seems more than adequate. While the Greeks sought to delineate a Creator or celestial intelligence, our theological understanding shows John’s inclusive rendering to be highly accurate, as his use denotes the embodiment of Divine Will and the personification of Wisdom. The Christian concept of the Logos is derived from the first chapter of the Gospel of John, where the Logos (often translated as Word) is described in terms that resemble, but likely surpass, the ideas of Philo. (Stephen L Harris: Understanding the Bible: Mayfield 1985)

Every name and attribute of God is sealed until its character or qualities are revealed by the Father. For example: Lo’gos (the Word) apart from being descriptive of Jesus is also a title of Jesus as we find in His Revelation. Ho Lo’gos tou Theou …and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13) We are now going to look into a sealed Name as revealed to Moses. To open the significance of this Name we need to find several keys in Scripture, the first is found in the Hebrew text.

I AM:

Moses was the first to hear this Name when he enquired of the LORD what His name was, so he could tell Israel who had sent him. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. (Exo 3:14) But, when we look at the Hebrew translated directly into English we find a lot more. And •he-is-saying Elohim to Moses I-shall-become who I-am-becoming and• he-is-saying thus you-shall-say to sons of-Israel I-shall-become he-sent• me to •you.  The Hebrew word: אהיה (aeie) translated into English: I AM, literally means, I am becoming.  The first part of this verse given in the King James, I AM THAT I AM when rendered directly from Hebrew is: I-shall-become who I-am-becoming. It points directly to Jesus and declares the Messiah. We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty, which is and was, and is to come… (Rev 11:17) This is the first key.

The next is found in the 9th chapter of Isaiah. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God; The everlasting Father; the Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6) This great verse speaks again of the Christ; but it was the Name given to Moses that laid the foundation for this announcement. Jesus is …I-shall-become made flesh. The bridge linking these keys is found in Matthew’s Gospel. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matt 1:23)

The third key is found in the eighth chapter of John’s Gospel. The prelude to its unveiling took place in the temple. In yet another attempt to waylay Jesus the Pharisees brought a woman found in adultery. Their Law called for her death by stoning, and they sought His opinion. The issue resolved by the impossible question …let he who is without sin… led to the Pharisees calling Jesus a liar when He gave testimony of Himself. This in turn brought the discussion around to ancestry, and a dawning in the Pharisees that Jesus was linking Himself directly to God, to which they brought up Abraham, which led to this exchange:

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead: who makes thou thyself?  Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews to him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, truly, truly, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM. (John 8:53-58)

By this unequivocal statement, Jesus declared who He is. Jesus revealed that He is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father as proclaimed by Isaiah. This is the essence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This makes Him not only important, but the hub of all existence. He is the Ever-Living God.

The Existing One:

There are numerous examples throughout the Bible, which declare the Father and Son are one. From Paul; There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. (Eph 4:4-6) And, Jesus said; I and (my) father and one. (John 10:30)

Note: The word my in the KJV and RV is in brackets and faded italics. These words were inserted by early compilers to smooth the narrative. But in some cases, like this example, has removed the intent of the writer. In John 10:30, Jesus actually said; I and Father One are.  In many new translations the word, my, has been fully incorporated into the text, obscuring the truth of the original Greek.

In His Revelation to John, Jesus announced Himself as …the beginning and the end; the first and the last… In this, we are told by Jesus directly that He is the author and finisher of all things. In Acts we learn, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Name that bestows salvation. (Acts 4:12) Yet, in (Isaiah 43:11) we find: I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. So, what is Isaiah showing us?  Peter stated at Pentecost (Acts 2:36) Jesus is both LORD and Christ. But, early in his ministry, Isaiah had also declared who the Christ was; wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God and the everlasting Father. But now, this extraordinary prophet reveals a unity of name and being; Jehovah and Jesus.

But more than this; in His declaration that He is Alpha and Omega, Jesus is showing us a remarkable thing about Himself. He states He is the beginning (the Father) and the end (the Son). His eternal dimension; the Spirit has no beginning or end. As we see in John’s Gospel, Jesus declared that God is a spirit, and like His Prophet Isaiah He reveals, to any with eyes to see and ears to here, the greatest truth in heaven or earth: Christ Jesus is the Ever-Living God.

Here are just three of numerous statements from the New Testament, which reveal this truth. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? ESV (John 14: 8-9)

And again from Jesus …whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (John 12:45) The third is this. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: (and for you and me) blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (Jn 20:26-29)

This conversation between, Jesus and Thomas is one of the most compelling statements concerning the true nature and being of the Lord Jesus Christ. His deity is not attested or affirmed by a believer, but a doubter. Even though Thomas had seen the Lord’s miracles, like the feeding of the multitudes; had played his part in the ministry, had been a witness to the ascension, and with the others, met Jesus at the appointed place in Galilee, (Matt 28:17) Thomas was still not convinced. But now, he can no longer hide among the eleven, and comes face to face with the resurrected Christ. Jesus talks directly with Thomas and challenges his faith by His visible wounds. Only then, does Thomas see and hear. Only then, does he in trembling speak his hope; My Lord and my God. Only then does he… believe.

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: In that day shall there be one LORD, and his Name one. (Zechariah 14:9)