What is your picture of Jesus? Who is Jesus? Does Jesus ever offend you?
John the Baptist was in prison for confronting government corruption. He began to hear stories of what claims Jesus was making and what Jesus was doing. Some of those
claims didn’t fit with John’s picture of Jesus,
“When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Him, ‘Are you the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.’ ‘Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.’” Matthew 11:2-6 (NIV)
John the Baptist asked Jesus a very important question: Are You the One? It’s the same question people ask today: How do we know You are who You say You are?
Jesus was not upset by John’s question. In fact, He gives an answer to John and to us. It is where everything starts, because before I can know that–I can’t know anything
else. Are You the One? It all starts there.
What Jesus Said About Himself
Jesus said He is: Savior, Redeemer, Rock, Shelter, the Bread of Life, the Gate, Salvation, and Lord. He said He was the only way to God.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (NIV)
No one? How? Through Me. Every other prophet points the way to God. Jesus doesn’t point the way, He says He is the Way.
“‘I and the Father are one.’ Again His Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?’ ‘We are not stoning You for any good work,’ they replied, ‘but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30-33 (NIV)
I and the Father are one. Is Jesus claiming to be God? He was.
But that is offensive and narrow!
Let’s examine some of what Jesus said about Himself, what Jesus did, and what others said about Him:
What People Said About Jesus
Pontius Pilate said this:
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against Him.’” John 18:38 (NIV)
I find no guilt in Him.
The centurion at the cross in charge of the crucifixion said this:
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely He was the Son of God!’” Matthew 27:54 (NIV)
Look at What Jesus Did
Jesus became well known for His miracles and teaching.
“When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. ‘Where did this Man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given Him? What are these remarkable miracles He is performing?’” Mark 6:2 (NIV)
Miracles—the blind could see, deaf could hear, a man with a shriveled up hand was made whole, multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 1000’s. Also, Jesus walked on water,
calmed a storm, raised the dead. Not even His enemies debated the validity of His miracles, they just wanted to stop Him.
Is Jesus Who He Says He Is?
“Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me?” John 8:46 (NIV)
Jesus was asked if He was guilty of sin. Jesus said: So, if I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe Me? When it comes to the character of Jesus, we have basically 1 of 3
options:
(1) Jesus was a liar, like the rest of us.
(2) Jesus was mentally unbalanced. Like a cult leader. A disturbed person. Jesus could be a liar or a lunatic. Or…
(3) He is Lord of all. And if He is, that changes everything.
If Jesus is who He says He is–then you and I are totally someone different than who we think we are now–we have a new identity. And if He is not who He says He is–He
can’t help us a bit.
Everything starts there. If He is who He says He is, we cannot come to Jesus with conditions. Conditions means coming to Jesus saying: I want to have a relationship with
You as long as You do what I think needs to happen. But that really doesn’t make sense at all. If you come with conditions, you really don’t want to know who He is. You’re
not open.
Who is the real Jesus? Your answer makes all the difference.
