Who Really is Jesus?

Richard Hollerman

As I may have told you in the past, presently I am involved in a special project of looking at the various religions of the world. By this, we refer to such groups as Islam (the Muslims), the Hindus, the Buddhists, as well as the Catholics and the many others that we may come across in our daily life.

Therefore, we have examined these various groups over the years. These religions and denominations are important to many people in the world. As we have stated before, there are about eight (8) billions of people in the world and probably seven billion of these are religious or “Theists” in one way or another. Of the various groups I’ve mentioned above, all of them worship various false gods but then we come to Catholicism. This is one religion that we have looked at before and some religionists may not call this one a “world religion” but a “Christian” one.

In another way of looking at this, this religion of Catholicism does believe in various “deities” other than the God of the Bible. They “esteem” (they prefer not to use the term “worship” but “revere” instead) various entities, such as the so-called Virgin Mary (who is no longer a “virgin” since she had at least seven or as many as ten or twelve children—cf. Matthew 13:55-56). There were also the various “saints” (Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Bartholomew, etc.), various angels (Catholicism also called them “saints”), and others. Thus, we must categorize them as believers in not only God (whether the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) but various other ones.

For now, let’s ask the pertinent question, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is Jesus? Various names or terms come to mind. These are not all “names” in the strictest way of speaking (or writing) for we are expanding this to including various “offices” or “works”or “positions.”

Again, we must ask, Who is Jesus?

1. Jesus is called the “Christ” (which means “Anointed One” from the Hebrew). He was “anointed” with “the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10:38).
2. He is also called “Lord” or Ruler (Kurios), the One who owns us and the One who rules over us and the universe (Matthew 28:18-20).
3. He is further called “the Son of God” (John 3:16). Although Jesus was not “begotten” or “born” like other people, He was called the “Son” since He was close to the Father, carried out His will, and was “sent” by God the Father..
4. He was also called “Son of Man” (Luke 5:34). Remember that Jesus was both Son of God and Son of man. He was both deity and humanity, both together.
5. Jesus was also called “God” (John 1:1-4, 28: 20:28) for we must also remember that He created the world (Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3-13) and was one with the Father (John 10:30).
6. Our Lord was also called “Savior” for He was sent to “save” the world (1 Timothy 1:15-17; Acts 4:12).
7. Jesus was the “Judge” for He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 10:42)—including you and me.
8. Further, of course, He was or is the Redeemer and Reconciler whether we use these as “names” or not (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:22).

We need to keep these terms in mind as we seek to glorify Jesus in all ways. He fills these positions and will always present His truth in a way that is honorable, just, right, and good. He is God and the Son of God; He is Lord and Savior. And He is much, much more.