Today there are many who think that Jesus was just a philosopher or a guru. Some think that He to came champion social justice. When you see Jesus, what do you think? Was He only a man of great ethics? Was He a fake and a liar? Was He insane? Or, was He who he claimed to be The Divine Son of God?
Jesus' own words made it very clear about who He was and why He came. And He backed up his proclamations by the miracles He performed. These miracles proved that He has authority over all of nature. He has authority over the spiritual realm (angels & demons). He has authority over sickness and death. And He has the authority to forgive sins.
Some people think that Jesus was in search of truth.
But Jesus said: I am the truth.
Jesus' Proclamations about himself:
The way, the truth
and the life
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
The Way - He is the only way to God the Father. The only way to Heaven.
The Truth - There is no lie nor deception in Him. His word is true and trustworthy.
He did not search for truth from any man nor did He need to. He was and is the truth.
All truth and knowledge come from HIm.
The Life - He is eternal and only through Him do we receive eternal life.
Jesus
THE Light of the world
Jesus said: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12
In this context Jesus is referring to spiritual things:
Light - Purity, Holiness, Goodness, Righteousness, Truth, Salvation
Darkness - Satan and his influence, Evil, Sin, Lies, Deception
Jesus The Bread of Life
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35
This is spiritual bread. Bread from Heaven. God's providence and the gift of eternal life.
Jesus The Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15
He is the caretaker of believers. He gives up His life for them - The Cross.
He is the eternal Son of God the Father.
His sheep (true believers) know Him and follow Him.
Believers are in an intimate relationship with Jesus as He is with God the Father.
Why Jesus Came
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost by His death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead .
Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies.
John 11:17-44
Not only did He resurrect Himself from physical death in the grave, He has the power to resurrect believers from physical death into eternal spiritual life when they die.
The Miracles of Jesus
Authority over Sickness and demons
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 1: 32-34
Authority to forgive sins and heal the crippled.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2: 5-12
Authority over creation.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:35-39
He is not bound by nature.
he walked on water.
And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded...
Mark 6:47-51
He has authority over death and the grave.
Raising lazarus from the dead.
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:38-44
Who is Jesus?
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
John 21:25
Historical Tomb of Lazarus
Bethany, Israel
Lazarus, raised from the dead by Jesus Christ.