Who Is Jesus Christ?
Many people have heard his name, but few have read about him for themselves. This is a short introduction to Jesus Christ from the Gospels: his words, his works, his cross and his resurrection.
When you really want to get to know someone, it isn't enough to hear what other people say about them. You sit with them, listen to what they say and see how they treat others. The four Gospels were written for exactly this: so that we can sit with Jesus, hear him and see him. We don't ask you to believe what we say about him. Instead, we invite you to read what the Gospels say, at your own pace, and to bring whatever questions are in your heart.
What he said
People were amazed at his teaching, because he did not speak like someone passing on another person's opinion, but as one who had authority (see Mark 1:22). One of his warmest sayings is his invitation to the weary:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
And he did not present himself merely as a teacher pointing the way. When Thomas, one of his disciples, asked him how they could know the way, he pointed to himself: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)
What he did
Jesus went about teaching and healing the sick, and drawing near to those whom others kept away from. He touched a man with leprosy whom people avoided, ate with those who were looked down on, and welcomed children (see Mark 1:40-41; 2:15-17; 10:13-16). And when a storm blew up against his disciples on the sea while he was asleep with them in the boat, they woke him in fear: “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)
His works were not a show of power, but signs that reveal who he is and point to God's mercy. One of the most remarkable things he did was to forgive sins, an authority that belongs to God alone (see Mark 2:5-12).
Why he came
One day two of his disciples asked to sit at his right and his left in his glory, and the others were angry. So Jesus gathered them together and spoke to them about true greatness, and then said words that reveal the heart of his mission:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
He came to serve, and he came to give his life as a ransom. The cross was not a sudden accident in his story; it was the road he walked knowingly, for our sake.
The cross and the resurrection
Jesus was crucified and died for our sins, and he was buried (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). At dawn on the third day, some of the women who had followed him went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, and two men in dazzling clothes stood by them:
“And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee...’”
Jesus had already told them that he would be handed over and crucified, and on the third day rise again (see Luke 24:7).
Before that, when his friend Lazarus died, his sister Martha went out to meet him, and he spoke to her words that only the one who holds life in his hands could say: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…’” (John 11:25)
The resurrection is at the heart of the Christian faith. Through it God declared that Jesus' words are true, and that death is not the end for those who believe in him.
So who is he?
John's Gospel sums up the answer at its very start: in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God (see John 1:1). Then it says:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
This is Christ as the Gospel presents him: the Word who was with God and was God became truly human and lived among us, to make God known to us, to save us, and to bring us back to him. We know this answer raises many questions, and they are fair questions. Take them with you as you read the Gospels for yourself.
What does this mean for me today?
It means that the question “Who is Jesus?” is not just a question of knowledge. If Jesus is who he said he is, then he is inviting you to come to him. Coming to him means trusting him, turning from your sins in repentance, and receiving his forgiveness as a free gift, not a reward you have earned. You do not need to understand everything today; you can begin by reading about him for yourself.
Prayer
God, I want to know who Jesus Christ really is. As I read about him, open my heart and my mind, and show me the truth. Amen.
Next Step
Read the Gospel of Mark, the shortest of the four Gospels: one chapter a day, and you will finish it in sixteen days. Choose a time and place for reading that suit you, and in each chapter notice what Jesus said and what he did.
If your reading raises questions, we welcome them. You can write to us through the contact page using a pseudonym; we do not ask for your real name or your city. A small team from the church reads your message and replies from God's Word when they can, and the reply may take some time. Before you write, read the “Your Safety First” page.
Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).