Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

This is the question of questions.

Jesus asked this question of His disciples and the religious men of His day in Matthew 16:13-15 and 22:42, and in the 2,000 years since He walked on the earth, this question has remained a mystery for all men to consider. Our personal answer to this question determines our eternal destiny.

 Who is He?

Is He just a carpenter’s son?

The Galilean countrymen from the region where Jesus grew up were blinded by their personal knowledge of the man Jesus. They said, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55a). They knew Him according to His physical life, and they only knew Him as “the carpenter’s son.”

But who is He really?

Is He just the greatest among the prophets?

When Jesus took His disciples away to teach them privately, He asked them, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” They responded, “Some, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matt. 16:13-14).

Apart from God’s revelation, men thought Jesus was a great religious leader, or even the greatest of the prophets.

But isn’t He more than this?

Yes, He’s the Christ, the Son of the Living God!

Jesus didn’t end His conversation with the disciples about what others thoughts about Him.. He went on to ask them directly, “Who do you say that I am?”

One of His disciples, Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16).

Jesus affirmed this answer by saying, “…flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in the heavens” (Matt. 16:17). Based on Peter’s response and Jesus’ confirmation, we know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

What does this mean?

For Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, means that He is God incarnated as a man (John 1:1, 14). He’s the Second of the Divine Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and He’s 100% God and 100% man.

The Bible says this about Jesus: “Now the origin of Jesus Christ was in this way: His mother, Mary, after she had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together, was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18).

Verse 23 continues: “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel’ (which is translated, God with us).”

The man Jesus of Nazareth was more than merely a carpenter’s son, and more than the greatest among the prophets. He was more than a good man, and even more than a great man. He was (and is) the very God of the universe incarnated as a man. He is God with us.

Although He was God from eternity, He became flesh in time (John 1:1 and John 1:14), the entire God embodied in a man (Col 2:9). Jesus of Nazareth was the complete God and the perfect man, the One uniquely able to be the Savior of sinners (1 Tim. 2:5).

Believing into Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to have eternal life

Jesus was qualified to be the Savior of sinners because He lived a sinless human life for thirty-three and a half years. He was then crucified on the cross to die for man’s sins and to redeem man from his fallen condition. Now, the Bible says that anyone who believes into Jesus will receive eternal life.

The Apostle John said, “But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). John 1:12 also says this: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name.” Additionally, Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We all must answer the question that Jesus posed to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” You can answer His question by making Jesus Christ your personal Savior and receiving His eternal life by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for showing me that You are really the Christ, the Son of the living God. I believe that as the Christ, You shed Your precious blood to save me and to take away all my sins. I also believe that You are the Son of God. Lord Jesus, I believe into You and receive You as the eternal life of God that I may become a child of God and enter into the kingdom of God. Lord Jesus, I love You!”

Now that you’ve prayed this prayer, you are a child of God, having received the eternal life of God. Please leave a comment to let us know about your experience of receiving Christ as your Savior!

Now take a moment to watch this short video to receive more appreciation for “Who is Jesus?“