What is the True Identity of Jesus?
Jesus’ true identity stands at the very heart of Christianity. For two millennia, theologians, historians, and spiritual seekers have wrestled with who Jesus truly is. Was he merely a moral teacher, a prophet, or something far greater? The answer to this question is not only foundational for Christian doctrine but also shapes the very nature of Christian faith and practice. This article will explore the biblical testimony regarding Jesus’ identity, drawing from both Old and New Testament scriptures, and will consider the implications of these claims for understanding the person and work of Jesus.
Jesus in the Context of Jewish Expectation
To understand Jesus’ identity, it is essential to situate him within the context of Jewish expectation. The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are replete with prophecies and types that point forward to a coming Messiah–one who would deliver Israel and establish God’s kingdom. The prophet Isaiah, for example, speaks of a child to be born who will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy anticipates not merely a human leader, but one who bears divine titles.
Similarly, the prophet Daniel envisions “one like a son of man” who is given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples worship him, and his dominion is everlasting (Daniel 7:13-14). These expectations set the stage for the New Testament’s presentation of Jesus.
Jesus’ Self-Understanding and Claims
The Gospels present Jesus as fulfilling these messianic hopes, but also as transcending them. Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man more than eighty times in the Gospels, a clear allusion to Daniel’s vision. Not only is this a claim to messianic status, but to divine authority. In Mark 2:10, Jesus declares, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” This power belongs to God alone, as the scribes rightly recognize (Mark 2:7). By claiming this authority, Jesus implicitly identifies himself with God.
Jesus also makes explicit claims to divinity. In John 8:58, he states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” This statement echoes the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The Jewish audience understood the significance of this claim, as evidenced by their attempt to stone him for blasphemy (John 8:59).
Furthermore, in John 10:30, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.” The context makes clear that this is not a statement of mere unity of purpose, but of shared essence, as the Jews again prepare to stone him, saying, “because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:33).
The Testimony of the Apostles
The apostles, those who walked with Jesus and witnessed his resurrection, consistently affirm his divine identity. The opening verses of John’s Gospel are among the most profound statements of Jesus’ nature: “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). Here, John identifies Jesus (the Word) as both distinct from God the Father and yet fully God, who took on human nature.
The apostle Paul likewise affirms Jesus’ divinity and preexistence. In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul writes, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Paul’s language is unambiguous: Jesus is the agent of creation, the sustainer of the universe, and the visible manifestation of the invisible God.
In Philippians 2:6-7, Paul describes Jesus as “being in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” This passage, known as the “Christ Hymn,” affirms both Jesus’ preexistent divinity and his incarnation.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy
The New Testament writers repeatedly present Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew’s Gospel, in particular, is structured around the fulfillment of specific prophecies. For example, Matthew 1:22-23 cites Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are all portrayed as the realization of God’s redemptive plan foretold in the Scriptures.
Jesus himself affirms this in Luke 24:27, where, after his resurrection, he explains to the disciples “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” The entire biblical narrative, from Genesis to Malachi, finds its climax and fulfillment in the person of Jesus.
The Humanity of Jesus
While the New Testament unequivocally affirms Jesus’ divinity, it is equally insistent on his true humanity. Jesus was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), fatigue (John 4:6), sorrow (John 11:35), and even death (Mark 15:37). The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus “had to be made like his brothers in every respect” (Hebrews 2:17), so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest.
This dual affirmation–that Jesus is fully God and fully man–is at the heart of orthodox Christian belief. The Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) would later articulate this as the doctrine of the hypostatic union: Jesus is one person in two natures, divine and human, without confusion, change, division, or separation.
Jesus as Savior and Lord
The identity of Jesus is not a matter of abstract theology; it has profound implications for salvation. The New Testament proclaims that only one who is both God and man could accomplish the work of redemption. As Paul writes, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus’ sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection provide the only means by which sinners can be reconciled to God.
Peter’s confession in Matthew 16:16–“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”–captures the essence of Christian faith. To acknowledge Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of God is to recognize him as the promised deliverer and the unique, eternal Son who shares the Father’s nature.
The Worship of Jesus
The early Christians, who were devout monotheists, worshiped Jesus as God. Thomas, upon seeing the risen Jesus, exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). The book of Revelation depicts Jesus as the Lamb who is worshiped alongside God the Father: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).
This worship is not idolatrous, for Jesus is not a mere creature; he is the eternal Son, worthy of the same honor as the Father (John 5:23).
Conclusion
What is the true identity of Jesus? According to the testimony of Scripture, Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the rightful object of worship. He is the one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19), and through whom God has accomplished the redemption of humanity. To know Jesus is to know God himself, for as Jesus declared, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). This is the Jesus whom the apostles proclaimed, whom the church has worshiped through the ages, and whom every person is invited to trust and follow.