Who Was Jesus?

Series: The Big Questions

Was Jesus a man, a God, or something else?

Simple answer

Jesus was a man who represented God and brought a message that changed or clarified the relationship between God and people. He condemned no one during his ministry (John 3:17).

The change in the relationship was a further clarification of what God requires from people. It was a message of goodwill toward people and the Good News of forgiveness to all for the asking and rejection of bad conduct.

He was different from the prophets of Israel from 400 years earlier in that he had divine powers that attested to his authority from God. The prophets had their own set of criteria for speaking for God and it didn’t include divine powers. As he told John the Baptist in Matthew 11:5, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

He did these things partly out of compassion, but not to cause belief other than to recognize the authority given to him by God.

The simple thing that God requires of us was not complicated by Jesus and fell in line with the earlier prophets:

“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” – Deuteronomy 10:12 (NASB)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8 (NASB)

“Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17 (NASB)

The complicated answer – a Jew

Jesus was a Jew. He came to the people who God had chosen as an example of how to live in ways that made them acceptable to God. Nearly everything Jesus said was said to Jews within the framework of Judaism.

Jesus didn’t hide from the rest of the world. He made excursions into lands that were not Jewish and talked to the people there. He was often amazed by their faith and said that some would sit at the table with him.

A Roman soldier came in deep humility and requested that Jesus heal his servant. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Matthew 8:5-13 (NASB).

A Phoenician woman came to Jesus in deep humility and requested he cast an impure spirit from her daughter. Jesus said to her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” –  Mark 7:24-30 (NIV)

Jesus said, “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 8:11 (NASB)

The Kingdom of Heaven is here now and forever. It’s a spiritual kingdom of those who live the way Jesus showed us to live, that is to love others as he showed us.

Rules of conduct

Fundamental rules of conduct were in place in the Laws of Noah and then the Ten Commandments. Most societies of the time had similar fundamental rules, and these are in the hearts of people. We know when we so something that hurts others.

The rule of love was the capstone of these rules. If you act out of love toward others then you can’t break one of these fundamental rules.

If laws were going to be made to cover everything then the list would be endless. Love is the meaning of the law. Judaism is a religion richly steeped in tradition from their history. It included 613 laws and on top of that the Traditions of the Fathers. It is a way of life that is not placed on all people. “The Law” was not given to non-Jews.

Jesus said the law and the prophets were until John the Baptist. The new covenant (agreement and requirement) is love.

Takeaway

Jesus is of God. By that I mean that his conduct and message exemplify God. He lived and died in a very corporeal sense, but his essence transcends the corporeal. He could be accurately thought of as a manifestation of God, a son of God, the presence of God in human form, a message of love from God, an incarnation of God, or any other way you want to put that is associated with God.

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The standard of belief and conduct for Christianity is love. God is love. We’re asked to be like God.

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Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

– Dorian