What is the true identity of Jesus?

Jesus crucificion

During the history of the world there have been many teachers who have founded their own religions and it is often thought that Jesus is just one amongst the many.

But as we try to answer this question it is helpful to ask how Jesus viewed himself and it soon becomes clear that he did not regard himself as someone who had come to establish yet another religion and to tell us how to live. He once said that he had come "to seek and to save the lost". Fundamentally Jesus viewed himself as being a Saviour. As someone who has come into this world to rescue us from the brokenness of our own lives and to bring us back to a relationship with God.

It is also clear that Jesus made far greater claims about his own identity then any other teacher, because he claimed to be the Son of God! This bold assertion caused consternation amongst the religious leaders of his day, who regarded him as being guilty of blasphemy. But when we consider the facts of his miraculous birth, his extraordinary wisdom and teaching, and the power he displayed as he cast out demons, healed the sick and raised the dead, it is clear that what he said about himself was true.

But perhaps what sets Christ apart most of all is the fact that he achieved the salvation of his people, through his own death upon a cross. The Bible makes it clear that despite living a perfect life, Jesus went to the cross in order to pay the price for our sin and having paid that price, he rose triumphantly from the dead after three days. On the basis of these facts we can understand why H. G. Wells once said "Christ is the most unique person in history."

Some helpful Bible verses:

Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 52:13-53:12; Matthew 1:18-24; John 1:1-18; 3:16-18; 14:6; 20:30; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:3-10; Hebrews 1:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24.

Article copied, with permission, from the 4you.ie web site.

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