Who is Jesus? Rarely does a name evoke such passion and loving devotion by some, but anger and total disdain by others. Especially 2,000 years after that person has walked the face of the earth! None of us thinks much about Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great or Aristotle. And yet people around the world are laying down their lives to speak about Jesus, while others are giving up their lives to fight against Him.
Who is this man that causes emotions to run high?
Many of us know about Jesus. We can recount the Christmas story of the manger, shepherds and wise men–a baby born of a virgin who was fully God and fully man. We celebrate Easter, although often there’s more talk about dying multi-colored eggs than the Savior of the world dying on a cross so we can have eternal life. We’ve heard Jesus’ parables and how God’s Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Him when He was baptized. We have no problem coming up with words to describe Him: Messiah, Lord, Teacher, Shepherd, King.
But who is Jesus to you?
Hard question for many of us. We know a lot about Jesus, but we haven’t spent a lot of one-on-one time really getting to KNOW Him, like we would a best friend or brother or potential spouse. Why should we? Because God says that we are the bride of Christ. He has chosen us to spend eternity with Him if we will walk with Jesus now. Jesus knows everything about us–the good, the bad and the ugly–and He still adores us. That alone is reason to get acquainted. And yet many of us hardly know Him at all.
Jesus wants us to know Him intimately.
God has given us the Bible, His inerrant Word, to reveal who Jesus is. Even the Old Testament (pre-Jesus Bible) points to our Savior and His choice to lay down His life to save ours:
“He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the sin of us all.”Isaiah 53:5-6
Take some time today getting to know Jesus. Ask God to show you who Jesus really is. Here are some suggestions of how:
1. Pray to God and candidly tell him your fears or concerns about Jesus. Ask Him to reveal the truth to you in the coming days so that you can know for sure who Jesus is.
2. Open God’s Word and read a few chapters of one of the gospels, the books sharing the good news of the Messiah (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
3. Listen to praise music and meditate on the words, like the song “By His Wounds”.
4. Go to a friend or someone you know has a strong relationship with Jesus and ask them who Jesus is to them and why.
God’s greatest desire is that we would know Him and love Him. Don’t be afraid to have open and honest conversations with Him. That’s what He wants! As we grow in an intimate relationship with Jesus, we become passionate about Him. It’s when people allow fears and half-truths about Jesus to become His identity that they shy away or prepare to fight.
Move closer to Jesus and He will move closer to you. Your loving Savior, Shepherd, and Friend is waiting for you right now. Open the door, let Him in and start getting to know Him in a new way.
Let’s talk: Who is Jesus to you?
May I pray? Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Word so that we may learn about You and Your undying love for us. And thank You for Your Holy Spirit who reveals who You are each and every day. Open our eyes, ears, minds and hearts to encounter You like never before. Help us to know for sure that You are our Savior. You alone can pull us from the shame, regrets, and bitterness of our past and bring us to a new life of love, hope and joy. You are still the God of resurrection. Resurrect our beliefs and our lives for Your glory. Amen.