Who is Jesus?
There may be no one in history with more written about than this man. Authors have been busy for almost 2,000 years writing pages and volumes that reflect their thoughts of Jesus Christ.
Like the people who lived 2000 years ago, everybody today seems to have an opinion. He is often called a great teacher, a miracle worker, a martyr. Some say that he was God.
The more I hear from people, the more I see that most people are trying to reinterpret the life of Jesus Christ into a person that they would like to see based on their own wants and needs. Lonely people want a friend. Hurting people want a miracle worker. Liberals like the one who opposed the religious and political establishment. Conservatives like the one who promised to uphold the law. Everybody likes the message of love, although few agree on what it means. The list goes on.
But we have missed the point. We are looking at Jesus as if he was a cosmic force that exists for our own personal needs. He was a real man. He lived. He died. He came to life again.
Even in Jesus’ own day, people were filled with expectations of who he should be and what he should do for them. One thing is for certain: people who came to Jesus with preconceived notions all went away greatly disappointed.
So who is this man? The first four books of the New Testament, known as The Gospels, tell us about the life of Christ Jesus and provide excerpts of his work. The Fourth Gospel, written by John, provides some of the most personal glimpses of Jesus’ life on earth.
John was one of Jesus’ disciples and one of his closest friends. He does not attempt a biography but writes with the point:
John 20:30-31
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John’s point is twofold: (a) believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and (b) have life when you believe.
I have been challenged to write down what I encounter as I study through John’s book over the next several weeks. I will try to use this blog as a means to share the most significant discoveries.
Sapphire Sky 