Let’s take a look at what might be considered a very basic question. Basic though it might be – it is extremely important to understand the answer. The question is “Who Is Jesus Christ?”
If you were to ask this question to people, you would most likely get a multiplicity of answers.
Some say he was just a holy man – just like all the others – you know, Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi – and so on
Others say that he was just a historical figure and no more
Some say that he was God himself
and I’m quite sure that there are many other variations
Well, our concern at BibleHarbor is to say just what the Bible says to the best of our ability – so as always, let’s consult the Scriptures to answer this very basic question, “Who Is Jesus Christ?”
Did you know that Jesus himself asked a question very similar to this? Let’s consider a conversation that he had with his disciples from the Book of Matthew.
Matthew 16:13
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” [ESV]
He asked his disciples what people were saying about him. Who did they think that he was? And so they responded.
Matthew 16:14
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [ESV]
So here are some other options to add to our list: they were saying that he was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. So Jesus asked them directly,
Matthew 16:15, 16
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [ESV]
Peter’s response blessed Jesus Christ a great deal and here is what he had to say back to him.
Matthew 16:17
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [ESV]
Jesus was so excited that Peter had gotten the right answer. And he also said that it was God who had revealed this to him. So who, according to the Scriptures, is Jesus Christ. Well, he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. People might have various opinions on who they think that he is but the Bible is very clear – he is the Christ – the one who was promised in the Old Testament, the Son of the living God. So who is he? He is the Son of God.
The Book of John was written to the world at large and contains the exact same declaration as made by Peter when Jesus asked him that question.
John 20:30, 31
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. [KJV]
Here we are told that all that was written was so that people would understand and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – and furthermore, by believing this they would have life through his name. Now there are many other things that are written about Jesus Christ in the Bible and they give us more information regarding his ministry and the many responsibilities that his father God had given to him. However, the simple and Biblical answer to the question, “Who Is Jesus Christ?” is that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.