Who is He?

The crucial question of all time –‘Who is this man?’ 

This question was asked about Jesus of Nazareth 2000 years ago. It remains the pivotal question today and I wonder what you would say!

I was delighted recently by the wording of a statement of faith:

‘We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles and atoning death.’

We as Bible readers must check the compass of scripture to see if it is true. Keep reading to see my very brief Bible referencing of these statements.

What impressed me initially was the full title given – Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the writers identified the man as ‘Jesus’ (Mark 1.9), or Jesus of Nazareth ( Acts 3.6). When the disciples spoke to Him they called Him ‘Lord, Master or Teacher’ Never did they address him as Jesus! When the apostles preached about Him, they usually referred to Him as Christ (Messiah) or Lord Jesus, or Jesus Christ. As they wrote of Him, so often they would use the meaningful title – ‘Lord Jesus Christ’.

Why? – because He is the Lord from heaven (John 6.41,42). He is indeed the perfect man Jesus (John 8.29 1 Peter 2.22) He is the Christ, (Mark 14.61,62) the Messiah who had been promised in the Old Testament scriptures.(Luke 22.37). He it was, who was anointed to be the Saviour of the lost. (Acts 10.38-43).

How incomplete it is to refer to Him only as Jesus! It is our privilege and duty to give Him His true honour and full title – Lord Jesus Christ.

Was He really God manifest in the flesh? 
I encourage you to search deep on this matter. For now I will scan a few relevant scriptures. The Angel Gabriel insisted to Mary that the baby to be born was the Son of the Highest, the Son of God (Luke 1.32). Notice, not a child of God as that would imply a beginning. Prior to His being born as a child of Mary, He existed in the form of God, with God from eternity (Philippians 2, John 1).  At His birth, the angelic message to the shepherds was – “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.11) – The same Lord that the Israelites worshipped in the Old Testament era.

It was the Lord Jesus who Himself said “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14.9).

Many years later, ‘when the dust had settled’, the Apostle Paul wrote “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3.16).

The Apostle John, who had known the man Jesus so intimately, wrote with emphasis that Christ did come in the flesh and that He was the Son of God. He concludes his letter with these words –“....Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5.20)

Thomas put it so well – “My Lord and my God!” (John 20.28)

What a thrill it is to discover that the man who was and is rejected by the many, is our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. The God who perhaps seemed so distant is indeed knowable in the person of His Son.

If perhaps you don’t know Him, take time out today to seek Him. He is not far from everyone of us.

John McKee