Who Is Jesus? -Part One

Ignorance is expensive. Ignorance of God's word, more so.

If Christians do not know Scripture well, and understand what is meant, we will not be ready to answer when others corrupt it.

1.) We will not be able to expose the lie.
2.) We may not be able to recognize the lie.
3.) We may, ourselves, believe the lie.

Any other religion has a different understanding of who Jesus is. There are even some groups that actively train their members to cite verses of Scripture which, if taken out of context, can give a distorted view of His nature. It is our responsibility to know the difference.

We do not appeal to bare reason to understand God. It is clear that, although reason can give a beginning of an understanding about Him, a finite mind cannot truly grasp an infinite God. We who cannot even properly grasp the bare concepts of infinity or eternity, cannot boast that we understand the God who gave us both.

Knowing we needed a trustworthy source, God has revealed a description of Himself and His nature in His Word: the Bible.

Contained in this self-description are texts which describe Jesus as Divine. Jesus has characteristics which are expressly the domain of God. He is eternal, in His essence. The same One who said only God is good, is Himself called Holy. He is omni-present. He is Creator. He sustains the World. He accepts Worship. He promised to hear and answer prayer. He forgives sin.

At the same time, this same Scripture describes Him as fully human. Though He was eternal, He was at a born at a particular point in space (Bethlehem) and time (in the reigns of Cesar Augustus & Herod). He was an infant, learned to walk and talk, was under the authority of parents, and grew in grace and favour with God and men. He lived in every way as a creature placed in a created world, except that He did not sin. He was baptized, fasted, was hungry and tempted, had friends, and was betrayed by friends. He was weary, insulted, beaten, humiliated, thirsty, and left to die publicly on a cross among thieves. He was wrapped in a shroud, and placed in a borrowed grave. He physically rose from death.

All of these things he did, while living on earth with every limitation (save sin) common to the remainder of creation.

Jesus is unique in that he is God incarnate. God-made-flesh. He alone, of the Godhead became man, and no other creature can claim to be God.

This stands in sharp contrast to the Greek concept of the demi-god. 'Demi-gods' -- like Hercules -- were alleged to possess some divine attributes co-mingled with some human ones so that he did not fit neatly into the category either of man or god.

Jesus is the Hypo static Union of God and Man. He is fully, and in every respect God. He is at the same time fully and in every respect man.

In this fact rests the hope of all mankind.