QUESTION:
Who is Jesus Christ?
ANSWER:
“JESUS OF NAZARETH is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer and the Son of the Living God!
Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Christian faith and the most influential person in human history. From His miraculous birth to His powerful resurrection, His life was unlike any other. But beyond religious tradition or cultural legacy, the question remains: Who is Jesus Christ? This article seeks to answer that question, not only through the lens of Scripture but also through history, fulfilled prophecy, and the impact of His life on the world. And more importantly, how does the truth about who Jesus is affect your life?
1. Jesus’ Birth and Family Background
Jesus Christ, commonly known as Jesus of Nazareth, was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Micah 5:2) during the time of King Herod. His birth was not ordinary—it was a miraculous virgin birth, fulfilling the ancient prophecy in Isaiah:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
— Isaiah 7:14
Mary, a young Jewish woman, was engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:27). Though she had not known a man, she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). This preserved both the divine nature of Jesus and His connection to the royal Davidic line. Jesus was legally recognized as the son of Joseph, giving Him the rightful claim to the throne of David (Matthew 1:1–16).
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, working with Joseph in the trade of carpentry. This is why He was known in the New Testament as Jesus of Nazareth. He was raised in a devout Jewish household, regularly attending synagogue and observing Jewish feasts and festivals.
Though Jesus was Mary’s firstborn, the Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph later had other children—Jesus’ half-siblings. These were born naturally after Jesus’ virgin birth.
The Gospels name several of His brothers:
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?”
— Mark 6:3
These siblings were biological children of Mary and Joseph, making them half-siblings of Jesus, who was uniquely conceived by the Holy Spirit. During Jesus’ early ministry, His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5), though some later became faithful followers after His resurrection.
2. The Purpose of His Incarnation
The word “incarnation” means “to take on flesh.” It is the theological term for the eternal Son of God becoming man. Unlike human beings, whose lives begin at conception, Jesus was not created—He has always existed, from eternity past, as the divine Word, the second Person of the Trinity. His birth in Bethlehem was not His beginning; rather, it was His entrance into the world in human form.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
— John 1:1,14
The incarnation of Jesus was not just a miraculous event—it was the fulfillment of a divine purpose. He did not merely come to visit humanity; He came to redeem it.
Jesus declared the heart of His mission while reading the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
— Luke 4:18–19
Jesus came to proclaim good news, to heal, to set free, and most of all—to save. He plainly stated:
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10
Jesus is the Lamb of God
But the ultimate purpose of His incarnation—His first Advent—was to offer Himself as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice for sin. This was not merely symbolic; it was essential. According to divine justice, sin demands a price. As Scripture teaches:
“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
— Hebrews 9:22
Without the shedding of innocent blood, there can be no forgiveness. The animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant were temporary shadows pointing to the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish, who would bear the sins of the world.
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
— John 1:29
This is why Jesus came—not just to be a teacher, healer, or miracle worker—but to be our Redeemer. He willingly offered Himself on the cross to take our place, paying the full penalty for sin and satisfying the righteous demands of God’s justice.
By His sacrificial death, forgiveness is made possible, and through His resurrection, eternal life is guaranteed to all who believe.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
— John 14:6
There is no other way to be saved. If Jesus had not incarnated and sacrificed Himself, humanity would remain lost—forever separated from God. His death was not a tragic end but the very purpose of His coming. He is the only mediator between God and man, the only path to reconciliation, and the only Savior who can remove the guilt of sin.
3. His Death and Resurrection
As Jesus’ public ministry grew, so did the opposition against Him, particularly from the religious leaders of His day—the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law. His teachings exposed their hypocrisy, challenged their authority, and called the people to a righteousness of the heart rather than empty religious rituals. Though He did nothing wrong, they viewed Him as a dangerous threat to their religious system and their influence over the people.
Eventually, their hostility reached a boiling point. With the help of Judas Iscariot, one of His own disciples, they conspired to have Him arrested. Jesus was betrayed, arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and brought before Jewish and Roman authorities. After a series of false accusations and manipulated trials, He was sentenced to death by crucifixion under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
But the death of Jesus was not the tragic end of a moral teacher. It was the very purpose of His incarnation. His crucifixion was not an accident of history—it was the fulfillment of prophecy and part of God’s redemptive plan from the beginning.
“He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5
Jesus was crucified during Passover, fulfilling the typology of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12), whose blood protected Israel from judgment in Egypt. Just as the lamb’s blood brought life to those under its covering, Jesus’ blood brought eternal life to all who would believe in Him.
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
— Hebrews 9:22
On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of humanity’s sin, becoming the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. As the Lamb of God, He secured forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation with God. His final words, “It is finished,” declared that the work of salvation was accomplished.
But Jesus did not only foretell His death—He also predicted His resurrection.
When skeptics asked Him for a sign to prove His authority, Jesus replied:
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish,
so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
— Matthew 12:39–40
On another occasion, Jesus said:
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
— John 2:19
His accusers misunderstood, thinking He was referring to the physical temple in Jerusalem. But Jesus was speaking of His body. These were clear prophecies about His death and resurrection, and they were fulfilled exactly as He said.
The Resurrection
On the third day after His brutal crucifixion, something astonishing happened—something that would shake the course of history forever: Jesus rose from the dead.
Knowing that Jesus had predicted His resurrection, the Jewish leaders pleaded with Pilate to secure the tomb. So the Roman authorities sealed the entrance and stationed elite guards to prevent any attempt by His disciples to steal the body (Matthew 27:62–66). These were trained soldiers—armed, alert, and under strict orders.
But no army could stop what Heaven had ordained.
At dawn, a violent earthquake struck. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the massive stone, and sat on it. The guards—terrified—shook with fear and became like dead men (Matthew 28:2–4). When the women arrived at the tomb, it was empty. Not because someone had taken Jesus’ body, but because Jesus had risen, just as He said.
Soon after, Jesus began appearing—not in dreams or spiritual visions, but in bodily form. He walked, talked, and even ate with His disciples. He appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to the disciples behind locked doors, and later to over 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6). Eyewitnesses touched Him, heard Him speak, and witnessed His undeniable, glorified presence.
“And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
— Romans 1:4
The resurrection is not only the cornerstone of the Christian faith, it is the proof of all that Jesus claimed. It confirms the truth of His teachings, authenticates His identity, and declares His victory over sin and death.
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:14
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ sealed all His claims as true and undeniable. He declared that He is the Messiah and the Son of the Living God—and He proved it by rising from the dead.
See also: What is The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
4. Did Jesus Actually Walk on Earth?
Before we proceed to our conclusion, let us ask a vital question: Are we actually talking about a real person?
This question strikes at the very core of faith and history. Did Jesus of Nazareth truly exist, or was He merely a myth invented by early Christians? While some skeptics argue that the biblical accounts were fabricated or exaggerated, there is compelling historical evidence—both from Scripture and external sources—that Jesus was indeed a real historical figure who lived in the first century.
Remarkably, some of the most compelling non-biblical sources come from writers who had no allegiance to Christianity—and in some cases were openly hostile toward it. Their writings help validate the biblical narrative, not because they agree with Christian doctrine, but precisely because they didn’t—making their testimony all the more credible.
Tacitus, a Roman historian writing around A.D. 116, referred to “Christus” in Annals (Book 15, Chapter 44), noting that He was executed by Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Tacitus called Christianity a “pernicious superstition,” yet his writing affirms the historical crucifixion of Jesus.
Josephus, a respected first-century Jewish historian, mentioned Jesus in Antiquities of the Jews (Book 18). He described Him as “a wise man,” noted His crucifixion under Pilate, and even referenced the belief in His resurrection. While some parts of the passage may have been altered by later Christian scribes, most scholars agree that the core references to Jesus are authentic.
Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, wrote to Emperor Trajan around A.D. 112, explaining how Christians gathered early in the morning to worship Christ “as to a god.” This confirms that Jesus was not only real but was worshiped as divine by His early followers.
The Babylonian Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism compiled centuries after Jesus’ time, makes brief but hostile references to “Yeshu,” describing His execution on the eve of Passover and attributing His miracles to sorcery. Even though these writings oppose Christian theology, they acknowledge His existence, His miracles, and His death.
These independent, non-Christian sources—written by Roman officials, Jewish historians, and rabbinic scholars—confirm key facts: Jesus lived in Judea during the first century, had a significant following, performed deeds that astonished people, and was crucified under Roman authority.
The full historical evidence for the life of Jesus—known as the historicity of Jesus—is extensive and compelling. We will explore it more thoroughly in this article, “Jesus in History: Did He truly exist?”
In the end, the question is not whether Jesus existed, but what we believe about who He is.
Final Thoughts
JESUS OF NAZARETH is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer, and the Son of the Living God!
Everything you’ve read—His miraculous birth, sinless life, prophetic fulfillment, powerful ministry, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection—points to one undeniable truth: Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be.
The Apostle John declared:
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” – John 20:31
This is not just historical information. It’s not just theological data. It’s a personal invitation from the Living God. Jesus, our resurrected Redeemer, is alive today and is awaiting His second coming—when He will be revealed in full glory as King of kings and Lord of lords.
But while we wait for that day, He is still calling hearts to come to Him. He is still knocking.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Revelation 3:20
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” – John 1:12
Jesus didn’t come to start a religion—He came to restore your relationship with God. The same Jesus who walked the dusty roads of Galilee, healed the broken, fed the multitudes, forgave sinners, and conquered death is inviting you now.
If you have not yet had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, this moment is for you. Today can be the day you open your heart to Him and receive the free gift of salvation.
Prayer of Acceptance
If you want to surrender your life to Jesus and receive Him as your Lord and Savior, pray this with sincerity:
“Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of the Living God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again from the dead. I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your mercy. I open my heart and invite You to come in. Be my Lord, my Savior, and my Redeemer. Wash me clean, forgive my sins, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Today, I surrender my life to You. Thank You for loving me and saving me. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
See also: “What is the Prayer of Acceptance?”
Welcome to New Life With Jesus!
If you just prayed that prayer with faith, congratulations! You are now a child of God, forgiven, redeemed, and born again. You have crossed from death to life, from darkness to light, and from guilt to grace.
The journey of following Jesus begins today. Seek Him through His Word, connect with other believers, and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Please read: “I Just Accepted Jesus Christ. What Should I Do Next?”
