He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop and was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held a political office. He did none of the things we usually associate with greatness. Nineteen centuries have come and gone. And today, He is still the central figure of the human race. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the kings that have ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on this earth as much as this one solitary life.
– James Allan Francis, One Solitary Life
Why did this one solitary life affect the life of mankind on this planet as deeply as He did? Because of who Jesus is.
When it comes to the WHO of who Jesus is = the world has never suffered from a lack of suggestions:
- According to modern Jewish leaders = Jesus was a man, a great teacher, and maybe even a prophet.
- According to Muslims = Jesus was one of Allah’s many prophets, of whom Mohammed was the greatest
- According to Mormons = Jesus Christ was a man who worked his way up into being a god (just like you & I can do)
- According to Jehovah Witnesses = Jesus was the first created being in the universe
- According to Unitarians = Jesus Christ was nice man who tried to help everybody “just get along” in a tough world
- According to Eastern Mystics = Jesus was an enlightened soul, a guru, a person who had attained Nirvana.
- According to Secular Humanists = Jesus was a great moral teacher & a great ethical philosopher.
If Jesus is not exactly who the Bible says he is, then all of Biblical Christianity crumbles.
Jesus is…Fully Human
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus is…Fully God
For in Him (Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus himself spoke of his dual nature.
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put my enemies under your feet?’ If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:41-46)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)
In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son; He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. (Hebrews 1:2-3)
Phillip 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, Phillip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:8-9)
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, true God of true God, of identical substance as the Father, but who for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was made flesh and became man.
– Council of Nicea, 324 A.D.
This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Jesus, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)
Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:30-33)
Evidence supporting Jesus’ claim to be God:
Jesus had a power over disease and sickness that only God could have.
- Why this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes… Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing! (John 9:30-33)
Jesus had a power over natural forces that only God could have.
Jesus had a power over demons that only God could have.
- When one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. (Luke 11:22)
Jesus had a power over sin that only God could have.
- Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? Jesus said, ‘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.’ And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God. (Mark 2:9-12)
Jesus had knowledge that only God could have.
The crowning proof of all was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
- Concerning God’s Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:3-4)
The resurrection proves the deity of the Son of God. In fact, no greater proof exists for the divine nature of Jesus Christ than He rising from the dead. That is the most monumental thing that He did to verify that He is God, for only God can give life, only God can conquer death.
– John MacArthur
