The Person of Christ
Open Your Bible
Exodus 3:1-15, Isaiah 45:18-19, John 8:31-38
BY Guest Writer
Text: Exodus 3:1-15, Isaiah 45:18-19, John 8:31-38
This is part of a 10-day series on the person of Christ in the 2016 Lent study. This introduction to the series is written by our friend, a local pastor, Russ Ramsey.
Who is Jesus Christ? God’s whole redemptive plan—along with our understanding of Easter’s significance—rests on the person of Christ.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, people answered this question in a variety of ways. Some said He was demon-possessed (John 10:20). Some thought He was a narcissist with delusions of grandeur (John 6:42). Others thought He was the prophet Elijah come back from his celestial chariot ride (Matthew 16:14.)
When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
We all need to answer this question. Who do we say Jesus is?
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, said we really only have three options: Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. He either intentionally made claims about Himself He knew were false, He was delusional, or He really was the Christ.
The Gospel writers answer this question. They present Jesus as a man who is very human. He experiences human feelings like hunger (Mark 11:12), grief (John 11:35), anxiety (Mark 14:34), and the need for solitude (Luke 5:16).
The humanity of Jesus, after all, is what qualifies Him to be a suitable substitute for us.
But the Gospel writers also present Jesus as fully divine. John includes eight “I Am” sayings from Jesus: occasions where Jesus uses the divine name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush to describe Himself (Exodus 3). Who is this divine Word made flesh who dwells among us (John 1:14)? John lets Jesus answer for Himself.
The “I Am” sayings focus specifically on Jesus’ relationship to this world as our Savior.
He is the Bread of Life who satisfies our nagging hunger for contentment (John 6:22-59). He is the Light of the World who frees us from walking in darkness (John 8:12-20). He is the Good Shepherd who keeps us from getting lost (John 10:11-31), and He is the Door through which God’s sheep enter into the safety of His refuge (John 10:1-10). He is the Resurrection and the Life so that, even though we die, yet shall we live (John 11:25). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life so that we might, through Him, have access to God (John 14:6). He is the True Vine so that, when we are grafted into Him, His life flows continually to us as God Himself prunes and trains us to bear fruit (John 15:1). And He is eternal in His authority—at work in a Covenant of redemption that predates Abraham (John 8:31-59).
In this section of our study during Lent, we will unpack these “I Am” sayings from Jesus and consider together who He claimed to be as He made His way to the Cross for our salvation.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Russ Ramsey is one of the local pastors who serves She Reads Truth & He Reads Truth by providing theological oversight and pastoral counsel. Russ is the author of Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative and Behold the King of Glory: A Narrative of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He writes and pastors in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife Lisa have four amazing kids.
64 thoughts on "The Person of Christ"
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After an athiest upbringing, I’m just now beginning to learn about Christianity and who Jesus really is. Who God really is. She Reads Truth has been SO helpful to me! I feel like everything is beginning to make sense. This study has opened my eyes in so many ways. <3
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That’s wonderful to hear, Penelope!
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oh this plan is one of the best yet. i really feel and can look back and see all i have learnt from the Holy Spirit as he prepares me for Easter. So excited to dive into the person of Jesus!!!!
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I say that Jesus is:
My Savior, the one who saved me and SAVES me from my fleshly, worldly ways.
The One who loves me the most, despite my flaws.
My Father, who has taken off my blindfold and has pointed my vision towards others rather than myself.
My God of second chances, because I mess up all too often and His mercy towards me is great.
My motivation to serve, love, give, and BE better, every day.
The King of my heart, for nothing or no one else can make me feel the way the Holy Spirit makes me feel.
That, and much more, is who Jesus is to me. -
I had tears in my eyes reading this devo. Thank you SRT team!
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All that I am is because of who He is – the GREAT I AM.
1 Corinthians 15:10a -
I love those “I Am” statements, pointing to his divinity! I would disagree with the statement : “The humanity of Jesus, after all, is what qualifies Him to be a suitable substitute for us.” I don’t think his humanity is at all what qualifies him. Because, otherwise, anyone could be a suitable substitute. His perfection, that he was 100% God as well, was, I believe what qualified him. The one quality no one else had. And without being God, he never could have taken our sin upon himself.
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But it was the fact that yes he was 100% God and perfect but he did lower himself and took on the form of a human to step in our place as a sacralise so it does have some meaning that in that sense him being a human made him out subsitute
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I agree…he took our place as a substitute and had to be man to do so. I just think the sentence is a bit off point. It wasn’t humanity that ‘qualified’ him, but his Godship. How else could he have taken on the weight of sin? I think the writer had right intentions, I just think the sentence may have come out wrong. :) Esp. when making such a huge and bolded statement about Jesus’ sacrifice, I think it’s important to be supremely clear, because who knows who is reading the devotions. Someone may come from a background of thinking Jesus was just a man, and, that could be a rather misleading statement. :) Not saying this to argue…just to hopefully clarify!
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i thought it was well said. if jesus was only God he couldn’t have carried our sin. in our age we do well do remember his divinity but we forget his humanity. if he hadn’t lowered himself as a man he would not be like us and therefore qualified to bear our sin. thankful for his huge sacrifice! blessings :)
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What spoke to me the most today was the first of the ‘I Am’ statements- ” He is the bread of life that satisfies our nagging hunger for contentment.” I make the mistake so often of trying to fill my life with everything except Jesus, thinking that it will fill me up. Doing this always leaves me exhausted and discouraged. And I see this all around me too. People are so hungry for something to fill them up. How beautiful is it that Jesus is the only one who can truly and completely fill this void.
Thank you SRT for a great study! <3-
It is like you took the words out of my mouth! I had to do a double take because my name is Elizabeth too. :) Nothing will fill us except Jesus. Fill us, Lord. Give us our portion. In your name, Amen!
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