If someone were to ask you who Jesus is, how would you respond? Is He a prophetic teacher, a healer, a shepherd, or the Son of God? The Word tells us He is all those things; however, it is important we understand the truth of Jesus’ character and not just someone else’s knowledge and understanding. Without a true revelation of who He is, our souls will not receive the transformation needed to be restored back into His image.
Without a true revelation of who He is, our souls will not receive the transformation needed to be restored back into His image.
Have you ever had preconceived notions of someone based on what you thought you knew of them? Sometimes we judge people on outward appearances or by what others have led us to believe. You see this happen when people idolize celebrities and athletes. They make assumptions about those individuals based on information they have gathered or what they see in public. However, without a personal relationship, you don’t know a person’s true character. You don’t know the private side to them, both the good and bad.
Jesus asked the disciples who they thought Him to be. They answered by repeating what others were saying, “Some say you are John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to know who they believed He was. And one, Simon Peter, spoke up and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Therefore, Jesus blessed him and changed his name to Peter (Peter in Greek is Petros, meaning the rock) based on the revelation he had received (Ref Matt 16:14-18 AMP).
Peter had a divine download by the Father to reveal the Son. Because of the truth that Peter had, Jesus said He would build His church upon that revelation, “and the gates of hell would not prevail against it” (Matt 16:19). There are no powers of darkness or demons that can stand against the true illumination when we receive a revelation of Christ. The enemy is terrified of those who learn, understand, and walk out that revelation. The keys of the kingdom were given to Peter because he knew who the Messiah was, not based on what someone had told him, but based on truth he received from God.
The keys of the kingdom were given to Peter because he knew who the Messiah was, not based on what someone had told him, but based on truth he received from God.
Today, there are many misconceptions of who Jesus is among believers. For the most part, the church teaches that Jesus is the Son of God (see Matt 17:5, Mark 1:11). Others reference 1 John 4:8 that says, “For God is love” to justify Jesus as an all-loving man. Some preach that He is light, truth, peace, and Spirit by referring to scriptures in Jn 8:12, Jn 14:6, Isa 9:6, Jn 4:24. While all of these attributes are scripturally true, what does it really mean when we say these things? It’s not enough to have character descriptions; we need the deeper understanding of the nature of Jesus. Without a true personal revelation that changes our mindsets, it just becomes knowledge. There must be an intimate relationship with the Lord to be in unity with Him and the Father.
Many call themselves Christians in name yet don’t understand the function. Christ isn’t the last name of Jesus, it means to be ‘anointed’ (smear with oil). [1] They anointed or consecrated kings and priests with the anointing oil in order for them to take office. [2] When we call ourselves Christians, we are saying we have been anointed or consecrated with the revelation, which is the deeper understanding of Scripture. We’re saying we walk in the same anointing and authority as Christ.
The Jews didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God nor saw Him as the Messiah. There are many today who still see Him as a man or teacher and don’t believe He is God. Jesus was and is the Word made flesh. He is the One who was from the beginning (Ref John 1:1, 14). The early church – who were the disciples of the Apostles – knew and taught that Christ was not only the Son of God but was God.
For if you had understood what has been written by the prophets, you would not have denied that He was God, Son of the only, unbegotten, unutterable God. -Justin Martyr [3]
Christ Jesus [is] our Lord, and God, and Savior, and King, according to the will of the invisible Father. -Irenaeus [4]
For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan, both from the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit. -Ignatius [5]
Jesus is love and He does show mercy. The passion of Christ, to die for our sins and still forgive His abusers, is a beautiful picture of this. The whole Bible is an account of God’s love for His people. God’s love is not our love. The word love in Hebrew is ahab and speaks of God’s love toward man, to Israel, and to righteousness. [6] God’s true love isn’t about emotions but it comes from truth, and that type of love may seem hard but it’s for our good.
God’s true love isn’t about emotions but it comes from truth, and that type of love may seem hard but it’s for our good.
The belief that Jesus is just a humble man who loves us all portrays a false image. It leads people to believe He doesn’t discipline or chastise for wrong-doings. Very clearly we are told that the Lord disciplines those He loves and chastens His sons as found in Hebrews 12:6. Any good parent knows that disobedience must be corrected even though no parent enjoys the process. Parents must use disciplinary action because they love their children, and allowing bad behaviors to continue will not produce a well-behaved child. The same is true of our heavenly Father. If we continue in sin and disobedience, we will never produce the fruits of the Spirit that He is looking for upon His return. He says in His Word, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46 AMP)
“ ‘Love is,’ then, ‘The fulfilling of the Law;’ (Rom 13:10) Like as Christ, that is the presence of the Lord who loves us; and our loving teaching of, and discipline according to Christ.” -Clement [7]
The church loves to quote John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It has led many to believe that Jesus died for everyone as long as they believe in Him. There are many who think no matter what they do or how they act, Jesus will always love them. They typically quote this verse in Romans, “Not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:29). If we go a few verses up, it tells us that this isn’t for everyone. Paul is really speaking to God’s elect, those chosen by God (Ref Rom 8:33). It is speaking of the ones who have a spiritual understanding of the commandments of God and are obediently walking in His divine plan. We cannot be the elect who claim to believe God but live a life contrary to His ways.
“But if through fear and expected reward, moving my lips in order to testify to the Lord that I shall confess the Lord, I am a common man, sounding the Lord’s name, not knowing Him. “For there is people that loveth with the lips; and there is another which gives the body to be burned.” -Clement [8]
The world mocks Christianity and Christ, labeling them as pushovers because there is a false idea that Jesus is only peaceful and loving. He truly has compassion on the lost and broken and He continues to heal many. Many in the church have lost the righteous fear of the Lord. Jesus wasn’t a quiet, wimpy man when He whipped the money changers from His Father’s temple (Ref Jn 2:15). During His time of ministry, Jesus gave many sharp rebukes to the Pharisees and Sadducees because they misunderstood His Father. They couldn’t hear what He was saying; their ears were shut to the mysteries and parables that Jesus spoke (John 8:43-45). Jesus speaks truth and if we truly know Him, we will understand what He is saying. We will recognize His message in His messengers. If we don’t understand His language or the vessels He has chosen to bring the message, then we cannot say we believe Him.
If we don’t understand His language or the vessels He has chosen to bring the message, then we cannot say we believe Him.
We must be searching out the deeper meaning of Scripture and be walking by the Spirit of the Word, see Romans 7:14. The letter or earthly understanding will never produce fruit in us, as life is in the Spirit (Ref Rom 7:5-6). Someone explaining Jesus to us will never bring a transformation to our lives if we never receive a true understanding. The Lord doesn’t want us to settle for someone else’s opinions or thoughts on Him. He wants us to become like Peter and get our own revelation of Him, then the keys of the kingdom will be handed over to us. We will then be able to unlock the heavens of revelation for others and enable them to gain a true understanding of Jesus and the Father to experience His love.
References:
- Thayer Bible dictionary
- Strong’s Bible dictionary
- Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 126. ANF, I:263
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.10.1
- Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians, 18.2
- Brown Driver Briggs Dictionary
- Clement Stromata Bk.4 CH. XVIII Vol 2
- Clement Stromata Bk.4 CH. XVIII Vol 2
- All Scripture references NKJV and AMP versions
Keywords:
Who is Jesus
Jesus
Who is Jesus to you
Is Jesus God
Who is Jesus Christ