Is Jesus Who He Says He Is?

Every one of us must answer this question for ourselves, "Is Jesus who He says He is, or is He an imposter?"

Early in His ministry He warned those who knew his secret not to tell anyone because He knew that when the news got out He would be killed for blasphemy in claiming to be God (Matt.16:20). Even those closest to him had difficulty in discovering his true identity.

John the Baptist had spotted Jesus as the Christ (Messiah), while baptizing him. A dove-like Spirit had appeared and a voice from heaven said "This is My beloved Son" (Matt.3:16). The following day John pointed Jesus out as "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). Yet the same John had doubts later on and sent his followers to ask Jesus, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another"? (Matt.11:2-3)

Andrew told his brother Peter, "We have found the Messias which is, being interpreted, the Christ" (John 1:41). Peter was present that day on the mountain with Jesus when again a voice said, "This is my beloved Son" (Matt.17:5). Peter spent three years with Jesus and, at their last supper together, affirmed Jesus as "the Christ the Son of the living God" (John 6:69), yet when Jesus was arrested, Peter fled and said he didn't know Him (Matt.26:72).

Twice the disciples had heard God say, "This is my beloved Son." Yet they did not quite understand.

Jesus said, "I have come in my Father's name" (John 5:43). "If you knew Me you would know my Father also" (John 8:19). The Jewish religious leaders disliked such talk. This ordinary man whose parents they knew was "calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5:18). For this claim He was arrested and brought to trial. They asked Him if He was the Christ, the Son of God, and He replied, "Yes, it is as you say" (Matt.26:63-64). Small wonder they killed Him. He was claiming to be God!

The Jews, you see, were looking for the Messiah predicted by the Old Testament prophets, one who would be a great king of Israel. When they crowned their kings, they always anointed them with oil as a sign of kingship. The names "Christ" in Greek and "Messiah" in Hebrew both mean "Anointed One." Because the Jews were expecting an earthly king, they had no way of knowing that He would become a King of hearts, a "King of kings and Lord of Lords" who in a future day will rule the whole world (Rev.19:16).

The names given the Christ-child help us identify him. Isaiah gave Jesus a name hundreds of years before His birth (Isa.7:14), the same name God told Joseph to name his unborn child, "Immanuel, being interpreted, means God with us" (Matt.1:23). The name itself foretold that He would indeed live among us as a man, then as a Spirit in believers, and in a future day return to rule as King of the whole earth (Zech.14:9).

Born in a manger, He rode to Jerusalem on a donkey to attend His mock coronation ceremony as "King of the Jews." When arrested for blasphemy, a crown of thorns was placed on His head to mock His claim of King. If you and I had lived in Israel in the time of Christ, would we have recognized who Jesus was? I doubt it. We would probably have thought that the religious leaders must know better than us about these things. Even today, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, many deny that Christ is truly a member of the triune Godhead.

But true Christians know who Jesus is. How do we know?

"He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Cor.1:22). We can feel his presence in our bodies!

Jesus truly is who He says He is, otherwise He died in vain! (Gal.2:21).