“Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

            Sometimes it seems like everyone is pursuing a different image of Jesus; distorted and disfigured by tradition, culture, or education. Representing a very poor and empty image of the true Jesus. This world has so many counterfeit versions Jesus. The world has made Jesus into a completely different person than the One depicted in the Word of God. But for those of us who still stand and have not been swept up into the propaganda of a world that denies its own Maker, the question becomes: Who is Jesus really?

We need to search the Word and discover the true character and identify of Jesus… Jesus is:

My Portion, My Maker, My Husband (Isaiah 54:5), My Well-beloved (Song of Solomon 1:13), My Savior (2 Peter 3:18), My Hope (1 Timothy 1:1), My Brother (Mark 3:35), My Helper (Hebrews 13:6), My Physician (Jeremiah 8:22), My Healer (Luke 9:11), My Refiner (Malachi 3:3), My Purifier (Malachi 3:3), My Lord, Master (John 13:13), My Servant (Luke 12:37), My Example (John 13:15), My Teacher (John 3:2), My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1), My Keeper (John 17:12), My Feeder (Ezekiel 34:23), My Leader (Isaiah 40:11), My Restorer (Psalm 23:3), My Resting-place (Jeremiah 50:6), My Meat (John 6:55), My Drink (John 6:55), My Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), My Peace (Ephesians 2:14), My Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30), My Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30), My Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30), My Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30), My All in All (Colossians 3:11)

             This post by the music artist, Jaeson Ma, captures everything I want to express about who Jesus really is:

“Jesus Christ is not just a good man. Jesus Christ is not just a teacher. Jesus is not just a prophet. Jesus Christ is God and God is love. God revealed His love for humanity, in the life, death and resurrection of a man named Jesus. He walked and talked with us. He slept and ate with us. He laughed and cried with us. He gave Himself for us. He was tempted in every way just like us, but He never fell to temptation. He was tempted by Satan, He was given the whole world, but He denied it, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life He never tried it. He never lied, He never cheated, He was perfect till His work was completed. Don’t tell me He was just a good man, don’t tell me He was just another preacher, Jesus said, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” In other words, if you have seen Jesus you have seen God, that’s why they crucified Him, cause He declared Himself the Savior, the Lord of all Lords, King of all Kings, Prince of peace, not the prince of the earth, that’s Satan, Jesus came to give a new birth, His love overcame hate when, He died on the cross so we could be forgiven, you can be born again, if you believe in, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not die but have ever lasting life, Jesus save my life.

It’s impossible for Jesus to be only a good man or a teacher, He was not just a prophet or a preacher. Jesus declared Himself the Messiah, He called Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Him. Do you know Him? Jesus came to forgive sinners. I am the first and I’m the worst. I’m the chief of all sinners, but we are all under a curse. But Jesus, came to give us a new birth. He washed me clean, when I was dirty, He forgave my sins, when I should have been done in, I should have went to hell but He took my place. Thank You for Your love and grace. You see, your sin and my sin separate us from a Holy God, all our mistakes and mishaps have made us all imperfect. But God’s holy love for us is perfect. We don’t deserve it. For the wages of sin is death, but the perfect gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Jesus was not white, He was Jewish, He was not religious, He pursued us and loved us, while we hated Him, Christ died for us & saved us when, God sent Him to purchase our penalty, payable on death, He loved me to His last breath. Father forgive them for they know not what they do, I love them because I, Jesus am You. God is love.

God is love. There is no question around it. But how did God express it? The fullness of God’s glory was revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.
If you have seen Jesus. You have seen God.
If you have studied Jesus. You have studied God.
Truth and grace. Trust and faith.
How do you know that God loves you? Look at the cross.
The cross was the greatest demonstration of God’s love.
It was the ultimate sacrifice. God killed His son so He could save us.
Who would be willing to kill His own son to save another?
Would you sacrifice the one you loved for those who don’t love you?
Only if it was you, God sacrificed Himself to save everyone else, what kind of love is this?
This is the love of God. While we were still sinners, Christ dies for us.
The love of God is unexplainable. Uncontainable. It isn’t fair.
It doesn’t make sense. But that is God’s love, it’s crazy.
When you experience God’s crazy love, it’s no longer theory, it’s more real than life itself.
Jesus is the definition of love.
He loved us before we first loved Him. He loves us even when we don’t love Him.
The love of Christ is unconditional. Human love is conditional.
Yet Jesus was 100% God and 100% human. He was sinless, when we were sin full.
He was full of love, because He is love, when we were devoid of love, because we didn’t know love. Jesus Christ is love. This is the love you have always been looking for, it is the love of Jesus Christ. Don’t think twice, Jesus is not just a man, Jesus is God, He was nailed on a cross for our sins. Because Jesus would rather die, so that we could live. Christ died, so we could live.
Christ died so we could be forgiven and we could forgive.
Suffered under Pontus Pilate, nailed to a cross, buried in a tomb, resurrected on the third day.
And this is what I have to say.
He’s either a liar, a lunatic or Lord, but don’t demean Him by calling Him something He is not, Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord, He didn’t come to bring peace, He came to bring a sword. Make your decision."

He who believes in His heart and confesses with His mouth Jesus Christ is Lord shall be saved.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)