Who do you believe Jesus is?

is your belief based on truth, or misrepresentation?

by Craig Scott

“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”—Matthew 16:13

❦

We hate it when someone misrepresents us. A person overhears a half-truth about you and then shares it with others. Before long, rumors spread quickly, and people start treating you differently.

Here’s how it could happen. Robert, who works as a cashier at Walmart, inherited $2,000 from his late aunt. He was grateful that this unexpected but timely windfall would help him pay for needed repairs on his car. Robert shared his good news with a friend at a coffee shop. John, who was seated nearby, overheard the conversation. But he thought Robert said he inherited $2 million. John couldn’t wait to tell everyone about Robert’s newfound fortune. As the news spread around town, the misinformation led everyone to believe that Robert was a millionaire. At first, the townsfolk were especially nice to him, and then they began to share their financial problems with him. But then they became angry with Robert, thinking he wasn’t sharing his wealth. “He’s tight-fisted,” said Jane. “He is uncaring,” said Jake. Robert was confused: “Why are people so cold toward me?” The answer? His friends and acquaintances were misrepresenting him.

The same problem of misrepresentation has affected Jesus Christ for 2,000 years. All kinds of people have held wrong views about Jesus because they have heard half-truths. On one occasion (Matthew 16:13–14), Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” The disciples answered, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Due to snippets of truth and the story changing as it spread (like the game “Telephone”), many formed incorrect opinions about Jesus.

What is your opinion of Jesus? Is it based on facts? Or have you likewise heard things here and there and come to a wrong conclusion? We must be careful to base our opinions on the truth and not a misrepresentation of Jesus. So, let us ask a simple question: Who is Jesus?

jesus is an actual historical figure

The Bible is God’s written revelation to mankind. God spoke by moving men to compose perfect Scripture without error. The purpose of the Bible, from the book of Genesis to Revelation, is to teach us about Jesus. He is not a myth or legend but an actual historical figure:

  • Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1).
  • He was raised in Galilee in northern Israel (Matt. 2:23).
  • He began public teaching when he was thirty years old (Luke 3:23).
  • He healed the sick and raised the dead (Matt. 4:23–25).
  • His friend, Judas, betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15).
  • Roman Governor Pontius Pilate interviewed him (Matt. 27:2).
  • He was rejected by his own Jewish people to be crucified (Mark 15:14).
  • He died on the cross outside the city of Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha (Matt. 27:33).
  • He was buried in the tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathaea (Mark 15:43).
  • On the first day of the week, he was physically raised from the dead (Luke 24:6).
  • Forty days later, he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9).

But you may ask how anyone can believe these facts since they all come from the Bible. Did you know that the Bible speaks of historical figures who were once doubted but later corroborated through archaeological evidence? Not long ago, experts denied the existence of King David as the Bible was the only evidence. Then, in 1993, archaeologists discovered the Tel Dan Stele in northern Israel. This basalt stele, dating back to the ninth century BC, has an inscription referring to the “House of David.” Today, no scholar denies the existence of David. It is the same with Jesus. The Bible records him as an actual historical figure, and the four Gospels record eyewitness testimony. First-century historians Flavius Josephus and Tacitus corroborate this testimony.

jesus is god

One day, a group of religious men challenged Jesus’ identity (John 8). They wanted to know exactly who Jesus was and where he came from. Jesus’ answer was astonishing: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). The phrase “I am” refers to God’s name in Exodus 3:14: “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM.” The phrase reveals that God is who he is and will always be who he is. In other words, God is eternal without a beginning or an end, unchangeable without alteration, and self-existent without dependence.

When Jesus says, “I am,” he is revealing who he is. Jesus is the eternal, unchangeable, and self-existent God. Jesus is the Creator, not a creature. Jesus made all things that exist (John 1:3). Look at the universe, behold the countless stars and galaxies, and see the complexity and uniformity of nature. Open your eyes to the beauty and grandeur of the human body. Who created all this? Jesus!

Jesus is worthy to be worshipped because he is our God. You should be thankful to Jesus for your life. Let your lips praise him for his wisdom, power, and goodness. Acknowledge that he is your Creator, submit to him, and adore him.

jesus is man

Jesus is not only God but also man. Why is our calendar year 2025? Why is history recorded as either BC or AD? The answer is the birth of Jesus. BC means “before Christ,” and AD is Latin for “anno domini (the year of our Lord).” It is 2025 because 2,025 years ago, Jesus, the eternal God, became man. In the town of Bethlehem, the Son of God united himself to a true human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary and was born Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:14; Luke 2:31–35).

Jesus possessed a true human body and a reasonable soul. He has a true body. Jesus, like you and me, had eyes, ears, legs, and hands. His body could bleed and bruise. From childhood to manhood, he physically grew and matured (Luke 2:41, 52). Jesus also has a soul. The reasonable soul is what separates mankind from animals (Gen. 2:7). The soul is the source of all reasoning, all emotions, and all willing. Jesus was a real man because he reasoned with men, loved with his heart, feared what was painful, rejoiced at good news, felt sad by rejection, and had a will to obey (John 3:1–10; John 13:1–3; Luke 10:21; Isa. 53:3; John 6:39–44).

jesus is savior

Why does all this matter? What significance lies in Jesus being an actual historical figure, God and man? It matters because we are sinners in need of a savior, and if we do not have a savior who is a real historical figure, God and man, then we are all doomed for eternity.

Our laws demand justice. When someone does something wrong, there must be fair punishment. The degree of punishment, however, is determined not only by the nature of the crime but also by the victim’s dignity and place in society. According to Michigan state law, the punishment for assault without injury committed against a fellow citizen is up to 90 days in jail. The same crime committed against a police officer carries a sentence of up to four years in prison. But if a person assaults the president of the United States without injury, he could get up to ten years behind bars.

This sense of justice is not only inherent in man but also in God because he is perfectly righteous. Since God is of infinite dignity, one sin against him is worth an infinite punishment. And a fair, just, and good punishment for sinners is eternity in hell. If hell is not everlasting, then God is unjust!

The good news is that Jesus is the perfect Saviour to save us from hell. He is the only one who can save us because he alone is God and man. As God, he is of infinite worth to satisfy the justice of an infinite God. As a sinless and holy man, he can truly represent us and receive the punishment in our place. Therefore, 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to this world to save sinners like you and me. He offered himself on the cross to pay the debt of sin and satisfy God’s righteous wrath, which accomplishes the complete forgiveness of sins.

How can you receive such a salvation? A man named Paul said it best: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Confess yourself to be a sinner worthy of hell and place your trust only in Jesus. Behold his love to save sinners, respond by receiving him as your Lord, and serve him all the days of your life.

Dear reader, who is Jesus to you? Do not misrepresent him or let others misrepresent him. Do not form an opinion based on hearsay or half-truths. Open a Bible and read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Fill your mind with the truth and respond by trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. ❦

The Rev. Craig Scott is the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville, Texas.