Jesus
asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;
others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.” (Matthew
16:13-16)
The
question of the identity of Jesus is still being asked in one form or another
in contemporary society as people wrestle with their own spiritual
identity. Is Jesus a man to be admired,
a myth to be disputed, a mystery to be explored or the Messiah to be
followed?
Such a thought provoking question demands a thoughtful response...
Response
#1 - Revelation
Within
the pages of Scripture we have a written record of a man named Jesus who is
revealed to be so much more than simply a historical figure who once walked the
earth. God’s ‘self-revelation’ through
the “witness of the New Testament” brings us “face to face with Christ in his
wholeness as God and man” (Torrance, 2008: 3) and confronts us with His
redemptive plan of reconciliation for humankind through the life of Jesus.
His
birth was supernatural as
He was born to a virgin mother, which was foretold by the prophets (Isaiah
7:14) and announced by an angel (Luke 1:28-37).
His
being was unique as
He was “truly and properly man and truly and properly God” (The Salvation Army,
1998: 37), that is, God taking on the form of a human being and living among us
(John 1:14). This unique characteristic
of Jesus was affirmed by the Apostle Paul who is on record as writing, “For in
Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians
2:9).
His
name is powerful: Jesus means ‘Saviour’ (Matthew 1:21, Luke
1:31-32) and Christ means ‘Immanuel’, that is, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14,
Matthew 1:23). The power of Jesus’ name
is declared by God Himself, who “exalted him to the highest place and gave him
the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
His
life was extraordinary as
Jesus cast out demons (Luke 4:31-36), healed the sick (Luke 5:12-26), raised
the dead (Luke 7:11-17), calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25), fed the multitudes
(Luke 9:10-17), interpreted the times (Luke 12:54-59), liberated the oppressed
(Luke 13:10-17), announced the coming of the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-35),
and presented Himself as the King of kings (Luke 19:28-40).
His
death and resurrection are transforming - “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man
stands before you healed…Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).
Response
#2 - Evidence
Within
the pages of other historical and religious writings we also find Jesus
presented as a man who is like none other; a man to be honoured and
revered! The evidence found in a variety
of sources can reasonably lead us to the same conclusion of the Roman centurion
witnessing Jesus crucifixion, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).
Roman
historian Cornelius Tacitus (born A.D. 52-54) referenced
the influence and death of Jesus: “Hence
to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the
most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated
for their enormities. Christus, the
founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in
the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time
broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but
through the city of Rome also” (McDowell, 1990: 82, quoting from Annals
XV. 44).
Jewish
historian Flavius Josephus (born A.D. 37) recorded: “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise
man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a
teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews,
and many of the Gentiles. He was the
Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had
condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake
him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets
foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him”
(McDowell, 1990: 82, quoting from Antiquities
XVIII. 33).
The
prophet Muhammad revealed in the Quran, “When
the angels said, 'O Mary, ALLAH gives thee glad tidings of a son through a word
from HIM; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this
world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God;” He also
recalled, “Remember when God said, ‘O Jesus! Verily I will cause thee to die,
and will take thee up to Myself and deliver thee from those who believe not;
and I will place those who follow thee above those who believe not, until the
Day of Resurrection” (Quran Surah 3:38-48).
Response
#3 - Experience
Within
the pages of my own life story I can speak of encounters with God through Jesus
Christ that transcend rational explanation and reasoned arguments into the
realms of faith. But don’t be mistaken
to think that the realm of faith is a baseless ideology! Jesus puts flesh on my faith, providing a
living expression of God who is spirit, so that what is unseen can be seen and
known by those who put their faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 4).
As
a child I received a vision of Jesus which was a profound encounter with God
that transitioned me from my parent’s faith to a personal faith. This was the beginning of a faith journey
that took on form as I explored the life of Jesus through the pages of
Scripture and sought to emulate His character and integrate His teaching.
As
a man, Jesus inspires
me. Just like other heroes of the faith
because of their impact on humanity. For
example: St. Francis of Assisi - his vow
of poverty and life of service, John Wesley - his life of holiness, William
Wilberforce - his abolition of slavery, Henry Venn - his missionary strategy,
Oscar Romero - his liberation theology.
As God in human form, Jesus transforms
me. His Spirit lives within me; changing
my heart to care about what breaks God’s heart, renewing my mind to conform to
God’s likeness, and empowering my life to pursue God’s calling. No other person in the past or present has
had that level of influence or impact on my life.
Jesus
Christ has given me a new identity as a child of God who is created in His
image to live in relationship with the Creator according to His pattern and
purpose. Reciprocating this relationship
has become the primary purpose of my life so that others “would seek him and
perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us”
(Acts 17:27).
While
you can debate historical evidence or deny biblical truth concerning the
divinity of Jesus Christ, no argument could cause me to doubt the transforming
impact His story has had on my story.
Summary
of Responses
The
question 'Who Is Jesus?' presents us with a question of identity
which defines the way we see Jesus and interact with Him. If Jesus is just a man to be admired, then He
would be little more than an inspiration.
If Jesus is a myth to be disputed, then He is a controversy to be
avoided. If Jesus is an unresolved
mystery, then God can never really be known.
If Jesus is Messiah, as I’ve sought to establish through three different responses, then He is the Saviour who reconciles us to right relationship with
God.
A
response based on revelation
begins with Scripture as the foundation for a revelation of Jesus Christ. The evidence for the identity of Jesus is formed
by what is presented through God’s self-revelation in the prophets, gospels and
other writings contained in the Word of God and interpreted through a Christian
worldview.
A
response based on evidence looks to other
factual sources to provide written evidence for the existence and uniqueness of
Jesus as a man who made an indelible mark on history. When these accounts are consistent with the
biblical representation of Jesus, they contribute to the argument of Christian
claims about Him, even if the evidence is interpreted differently through other
worldviews.
A
response based on experience
provides a faith perspective that may not be justified rationally, rather
presents a relational actual encounter with the truth being argued. While this position is driven more from a
platform of faith than fact, a person’s experience of Jesus Christ is as real
and tangible as any empirical evidence.
The
‘revelation’ and ‘evidence’ responses presents truth about Jesus that appeal to
the religious and rational person, however, the ‘experience’ response presents
truth about Jesus that makes a relational connection with a wider
audience. I believe all responses help
to form a solid case for the identity of Jesus Christ, but to be able to
connect His story with our story
through an encounter with Jesus moves our audience beyond the rational where
they are informed about Jesus into the relational where they can be transformed
by Jesus.
Song
writer Scott Dyer penned the following lyrics that capture this
conclusion:
You
ask me how I know that God is real and why it is that I believe
Is
there some truth that I’d reveal that might convince you to concede
And
can I prove it. Can I quantify it?
And
where’s the evidence of Christ in a world that’s in decay
And
can I prove He really died and that the stone was rolled away
Cause
you’re not quite convinced you’d really buy it.
Well
I could tell you of the prophecies that Jesus has fulfilled
And
I could talk of archaeology and the proof that it’s revealed
But
the greatest evidence that I could give you is the change He’s made in me.
“Amazing
Grace how sweet the sound” may seem a tired old cliché
“I
once was lost but now I’m found” might sound simplistic now a days
But
that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
He
took my hardened heart of stone and put a heart of flesh in me
He
gave me peace I’d never known and a soul that’s full and free
And
it’s a miracle that God could do it.
Well
I could speak about eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ
And
I could preach of how those followers believed enough to give their lives
But
the greatest evidence that I could give you is the change He’s made in me.
And
I could tell you how the love of God has turned a sceptic into saint
And
I could talk of how historians back up the Bible’s claims
But
the greatest evidence that I could give you is the change He’s made in me.
After
my investigation I concluded it would take more faith
For
me to hold onto my unbelief
But
even with this revelation by far the strongest evidence I’ve seen
Is
what Christ has done in me.
I
wanna tell you how the love of God turned this sceptic into saint
And
how His mercy and His sacrifice washed away my guilty stain
But
the greatest evidence that I could give you is the change He’s made in me.
Words
and Music by Scott Dyer
©
2001 Ever Devoted Music (ASCAP)
Life Lesson #2 - Overcoming DIFFICULTIES
Life Lesson #3 - Facing DANGERS
Life Lesson #4 - Dealing with DISAPPOINTMENT
Life Lesson #5 - Going the DISTANCE
