Vol.15 No.2

Who Do You Think Jesus Is?
Around the person of Jesus has raged an age-long battle. No one has been so hated; no one has been so loved.
By J. L. Tucker

Based on Matthew 22:41, 42

This question must be answered by each one of us. Of all the questions in the Bible, this one involves more than any other, for what we think of Christ not only determines our code of morals, our daily conduct of life, but our eternal destiny as well.

Was Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God? This is the question that each individual of every generation must answer. The whole structure of Christianity is based upon it. Do we have a Savior who is divine?

A needy, sinning world needs a mighty Savior, and less than a divine Savior is insufficient for suffering, dying humanity. Human philosophies and systems of ethics are altogether inadequate to transform sin-polluted lives.

Around the person of Jesus has raged an age-long battle. No one has been so hated, no one has been so loved. Millions have willingly laid down their lives because of their faith in His divinity. Were they right or wrong? Can we be certain?

The Bible picture of Jesus is God manifest in human flesh. Paul calls this a great mystery. “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16. The prophet Isaiah, in speaking of this mystery, said: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. Paul wrote: “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.” Galatians 4:4. The Virgin Mary gave birth to a son and called His name Jesus. The angels of God heralded His advent into this world as good tidings of great joy and added that the Babe in the manger was the Savior, even Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11.

His disciples witnessed to His divinity, saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “My Lord and my God.” Matthew 16:16; John 20:28.

John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, called Him “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. The disciple Matthew, who records the story of the baptism, declared that after Jesus came up from the water, God said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.

What did Christ say of Himself? Did He claim divinity? Was He conscious of pre-existence, or of oneness with the eternal God?

He claimed to be the Jew’s long-looked-for Messiah. John 4:25. He quoted many of the prophecies concerning the Promised One of the Old Testament and declared that they were fulfilled in Him. He allowed the people to worship Him. He declared Himself equal with the Father; He declared that together They had lived from times eternal.

He claimed all the virtues and prerogatives of God. He said that His words would judge mankind. He assumed to know the hearts and natures of all men. He released men from the bondage of their sins as well as from bondage of disease. He claimed to have come to earth to bear the guilt of the world. He offered to every burdened heart, to all who are heavy-laden rest and peace. He claimed that He was the only way and hope for salvation. Surely, such claims cannot be passed by lightly. They demand our closest attention and study. Did His lifework, teaching, and character measure up to His phenomenal claims?

WHAT HISTORIANS SAY

“Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.…

“I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth so powerfully as has that one solitary life.” (Albert H. Newman, A Manual of Church History, Vol.1, p. 80.)

Historian and theologian Philip Schaff (1819-1893) wrote: “Jesus of Nazareth without money and arms conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mahomet, and Napoleon; without science and learning He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools He spoke words of life such as never were spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line He has set more pens in motion and furnishes themes of more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. Born in a manger and crucified as a malefactor, He now controls the destinies of the civilized world and rules a spiritual world. There never was in this world a life so unpretending and modest in its outward form and condition and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astonishing success in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man.”

YOU MUST DECIDE!

Here is a person who claims to be the standard for all, the judge of all, the Savior of all. Surely, His demand for an answer to the question, “What think ye?” is only reasonable. If you say that He is both Lord and Christ, then you are faced with the question that Pilate asked: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus?” You must do something. You will either accept Him as your Savior, as millions have done, or reject Him and let the wealth of His love for you be in vain. You must do one of two things—either be for Him or against Him; be His friend or His enemy; follow Him or turn from Him; obey His claim upon you or disobey; say either yes or no.

Eternal destiny hangs in the balance. Why spurn God’s unspeakable gift? While the Spirit pleads for your favorable answer now, accept the provision of divine grace and yield allegiance to Jesus Christ, your Lord and God.

* Pastor J. L. Tucker (1895-1989) founded “The Quiet Hour” radio broadcast. Adapted, God’s Great Questions to Man. Used by permission, The Quiet Hour Ministry, Redlands, CA.