Who Is Jesus?

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“Who do you say that I am?” — Matthew 16:15

Jesus is the most influential and most misunderstood figure in history. Scripture presents Him not merely as a teacher or prophet, but as the eternal Son of God, Savior of the world, risen Lord, and coming King.

How to Use This Guide

1. Read the key Scripture.
2. Read the commentary.
3. Reflect and pray.

1. Jesus Is the Eternal Son of God

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

John 1:1–3: Jesus did not come into existence at His birth. John deliberately places Jesus before time itself, identifying Him as “the Word” who already was when creation began. By saying the Word was with God, John affirms personal distinction; by saying the Word was God, he affirms full deity. John then states that all things were made through Him, placing Jesus on the Creator side of the Creator–creation divide. If Jesus made everything that exists, He Himself cannot be part of what was made.

Colossians 1:15–17: Paul calls Jesus the image of the invisible God, meaning Jesus makes the unseen God fully known—not as a mere copy, but as God revealed in a way we can see and know. “Firstborn” here speaks of supremacy and inheritance, not that Jesus is created. All things were created through Him and for Him, showing creation exists to serve His glory and purposes. Jesus is also the sustainer of all things; the universe holds together by His ongoing power, not by chance.

Reflection Questions:

- Why does Scripture insist that Jesus is eternal and uncreated?

- How does Jesus’ role as Creator and sustainer shape your trust in His authority?

2. Jesus Became Fully Human

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

John 1:14: When John says the Word “became flesh,” he means Jesus fully entered human existence—body, mind, emotions, and limitations—without ceasing to be God. God chose closeness over distance, presence over separation, and entered our world in order to save it. Jesus reveals God’s glory in a way we can understand, and shows that grace and truth are not merely ideas but embodied in a Person.

Philippians 2:6–8: Jesus’ humility was a willing choice, not a loss of divinity. He did not stop being God; He chose not to cling to His rights. By taking the form of a servant, Jesus reveals the heart of God as self-giving love. His obedience “to the point of death” shows the depth of God’s commitment to redeem sinners through sacrifice.

Reflection Questions:

- Why is Jesus’ full humanity essential to His saving work?

- How does Jesus’ humility redefine what greatness looks like?

3. Jesus Is Without Sin

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

Hebrews 4:15: Jesus experienced real temptation yet never sinned. His obedience was not theoretical; it was tested in the reality of human life. Because He is sinless, He can sympathize with our weakness without sharing in our guilt. This qualifies Jesus to stand before God as our perfect High Priest and representative.

2 Corinthians 5:21: At the heart of the gospel is the great exchange: the sinless one becomes the sin-bearer for us. Jesus did not become sinful, but He took the full weight of sin’s penalty and judgment. In exchange, believers receive righteousness—not earned, but credited through union with Christ.

Reflection Questions:

- Why must Jesus be sinless in order to save sinners?

- How does the “great exchange” reshape how you understand grace and forgiveness?

4. Jesus Reveals the Father

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

John 14:9: Jesus tells Philip that seeing Him is seeing the Father. Jesus is not merely pointing toward God; He is the visible revelation of God’s character and heart. This confronts distorted images of God and anchors our understanding of God in the life, words, and actions of Christ. To know Jesus rightly is to know the Father truly.

Hebrews 1:1–3: God spoke through prophets in the past, but in Jesus He has spoken fully and finally. Jesus is the “exact imprint” of God’s nature—nothing about God is misrepresented in Him. The same Son who upholds all things by His word also made purification for sins, showing divine authority and saving mission in one Person. Revelation and redemption meet in Christ.

Reflection Questions:

- How does Jesus correct common misunderstandings about what God is like?

- What do you learn about the Father by watching Jesus’ character and compassion?

5. Jesus Is the Promised Messiah

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

Isaiah 53:4–6: Isaiah foretells a Messiah who suffers not for His own sins but for the sins of others. The language is clearly substitutionary: He is pierced, crushed, and punished so that we might have peace. This shows salvation was never an accident or Plan B—God promised a Redeemer who would bear guilt and bring healing. Jesus fulfills this prophecy with precision through His atoning death.

Luke 24:27: After His resurrection, Jesus explains that all Scripture ultimately points to Him. The Old Testament is not a separate story from Christ; it anticipates and prepares for Him. This reshapes how we read the Bible: Jesus is not added onto Scripture—He is the center of it. To read the Bible faithfully is to see how it leads to Christ.

Reflection Questions:

- Why was a suffering Messiah necessary for real salvation?

- How does Jesus being the center of Scripture change how you read the whole Bible?

6. Jesus Is the Only Savior

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

John 14:6: Jesus’ claim is exclusive and deeply personal: He does not merely show the way—He is the way. Truth and life are not abstract principles but are found in relationship with Him. If Jesus is God incarnate and the sin-bearer, then no alternative path can reconcile sinners to God. His exclusivity is not harshness; it is the reality of a single sufficient Savior.

Acts 4:12: Peter declares that salvation is found in no one else, even under pressure and persecution. The early church did not treat Jesus as one option among many, but as the only name that saves. This is not arrogance; it is confidence in God’s provision. Christ alone bridges the gap between holy God and sinful humanity.

Reflection Questions:

- Why is it loving—not narrow—to proclaim Jesus as the only Savior?

- How should this truth shape your witness with humility and courage?

7. Jesus Died for Our Sins

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

Romans 5:8: The cross demonstrates God’s love in action: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Salvation is not a reward for improvement; it is mercy for the undeserving. At the cross, God’s justice against sin and God’s compassion toward sinners meet. The love of God is most clearly seen in the sacrifice of Jesus.

1 Peter 2:24: Jesus bore our sins in His body, emphasizing substitution and completeness. His wounds bring healing—not primarily physical prosperity, but spiritual restoration and reconciliation to God. The cross not only forgives sin; it breaks sin’s dominion and calls believers into new life. Grace trains us to live differently because we belong to Christ.

Reflection Questions:

- What does the cross reveal about God’s holiness and love at the same time?

- How should Christ’s sacrifice shape the way you live and repent today?

8. Jesus Rose from the Dead

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

1 Corinthians 15:3–8: Paul anchors the resurrection in history and eyewitness testimony. Christianity is not built on inspiring ideas but on a real event in time. If Christ is not raised, the gospel collapses; but because He is raised, His identity and saving work are confirmed. The resurrection proves Jesus’ victory over sin and validates His claims.

Romans 6:9: Jesus’ resurrection is permanent: death no longer has dominion over Him. This means believers united to Christ share in His victory. Resurrection is not only future hope; it is present power for a new way of living. We fight sin from a position of life, not fear.

Reflection Questions:

- Why is the resurrection essential to the truth and power of the gospel?

- How does resurrection hope change your daily fears, habits, and priorities?

9. Jesus Is Lord and King

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

Philippians 2:9–11: Jesus’ exaltation follows His humiliation: the path to glory went through obedience and the cross. God gives Him the highest name—Lord—affirming His universal authority. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess; lordship is not optional, it is reality. The call now is to bow willingly in faith rather than later by compulsion.

Revelation 19:16: Jesus is portrayed as the victorious King—King of kings and Lord of lords. History is moving toward Christ’s reign, not toward chaos. This gives believers confidence that evil will be judged and justice will be complete. Christ’s kingship strengthens faithfulness in a world that feels unstable.

Reflection Questions:

- What does it practically mean to call Jesus “Lord” in your everyday decisions?

- Where do you need to surrender control to Christ’s kingship?

10. Jesus Is Coming Again

Key Scriptures & Commentary:

Acts 1:11: The angels promise that Jesus will return in the same way He ascended—bodily and visibly. Christianity looks forward, not just backward. The return of Christ means God will complete what He began: restoring, judging, and making all things new. Believers live with confidence that history has a destination.

Titus 2:13: Paul calls Christ’s return the “blessed hope,” shaping how believers endure and pursue holiness. Hope is not escapism; it is fuel for faithfulness. Living in expectation of Jesus’ return produces perseverance, sobriety, and joyful courage. Christ will be seen as glorious by those who belong to Him.

Reflection Questions:

- How does the promise of Jesus’ return reshape your priorities right now?

- What would change if you truly lived today in light of Christ’s coming?

Final Summary

Jesus is not merely a historical figure or moral example. He is God in the flesh, the promised Messiah, the only Savior, the risen Lord, and the coming King. Scripture calls for more than admiration—it calls for faith, obedience, and worship.