Unto our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
|
|
Who is Jesus Christ? Even today as was nearly 2000 years ago, there are many ideas, but only one truth: Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God. This simple truth appears to be the hardest for mankind to realize and accept. Many faiths believe him to be only a prophet or as some call him; “a god”, but we know these as false teachings. Even the demons know who Christ is, shuttering at his presence and proclaiming him “Son of the Most High God” as did the demoniac Legion. 27 And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." (Luke 8:27-28) And again as in the Gospel of Mark: 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea . . . 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. (Mark 8:7, 8:10-12)
|
As this passage also tells us Jesus ordered the unclean spirits not to reveal who he was. This was so that the people would believe in him of their own accord. We have to take that first step in faith and realize for ourselves who Jesus is. John 1:1 tells us explicitly that Jesus is the Logos or Word and that nothing was made without him. It also tells us Jesus was always with God from time eternal.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(John 1:1-4)
We also know who Jesus is by Peter’s confession when Christ asked his Apostles who he was:
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
(Matt. 16:13-16)
Despite all of this some still do not believe, so we shall look at the very words of Jesus himself, when he appeared before Ca'iaphas the High Priest at that time:
62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
(Matt. 26:62-63)
Then this most profound answer that even the Sanhedrim did not expect to hear:
62 And Jesus said, "I Am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." 63 And the high priest tore his garments, and said, "Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
(Mark 14 62:64)
Of course the English translation loses some of the meaning; Jesus’ answer “I Am” in Greek is “OWN” or in Hebrew, “Yahweh”, The One Who Is. Jesus called himself by his own name, the name God gave to Moses on the holy mountain.
Christ rightly named himself as thus for he is God (not “a god”) but one person of the true God who has revealed Himself to all Mankind.