Who is Jesus?

What do you believe about Jesus? That is the most important question you’ll ever have to answer.

Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) i. What do you believe about the identity of Jesus Christ? Who is He? Is Jesus a mythical character or a historical figure? Is He a created being or is He the Creator? Is he a teacher of truth or the author of truth? Is He a way to Heaven or the only way to Heaven? 

Of course, the only way we can know who Jesus is is by looking at the Bible, His revealed Word. Otherwise, we have a pretend Jesus who can be anything our imagination wants Him to be. According to the Bible, the second half of the above statements is the true one. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, who died for our sins, and was raised bodily from the dead. 

In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul shows us quite a bit about who Jesus is: 

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 

Once, you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

Paul’s words clearly teach that not only did Jesus create all things, but He holds all things together. 

Jesus is God in the flesh.

The word Paul uses for image means the exact representation of God. If you want to know who and what God is like, look at Jesus. Jesus expressed this exact thought in John 14:9, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”  

It is only in Jesus that we see God’s compassion, forgiveness, patience, and grace. Also, the word firstborn means “of utmost importance.” In the Old Testament, King Solomon is called the firstborn of David, but he wasn’t David’s first child. He was the most important child because he became the king. Jesus is called the firstborn of creation because He is the most important figure in creation. 

Verse 16 teaches that Jesus was the one by whom all things are created. The creation account in Genesis says, “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image.’” God the Father was speaking to God the Son. Jesus was the creative Word of God. Thus, the New Testament teaches “By Him all things were created.” That’s why when Jesus became flesh, He frequently demonstrated power over His creation. He cast out demons, and they obeyed Him because He created them. He cursed a fig tree, and it withered because He made it. The universe was not created primarily for you or for me; it was created for God. When we come to understand that principle, it transforms our attitude. The whole world doesn’t revolve around me. I am here not for me; I am here to glorify God. 

Not only did Jesus create all things, but according to Paul, He is also the sustainer of all things. Look again at verse 17: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Christ is the glue that holds all things together. 

Jesus is the Head of the Church.

His Lordship becomes important in this area. The church is Christ’s body, and He is the head of that body. In verse 18, Paul says, “He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” The term head here means source. Jesus is all things to the church. The church belongs to Him, not us. 

The second reason Jesus is the head is that He purchased the church with His own blood. Acts 20:28 says, “You be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.” 

Thirdly, Jesus is the head of the church because He rose from the dead, proving His superiority. Jesus is of utmost importance because He rose permanently, never to die again.  

Jesus is the Savior of the World.

Jesus did not just come to save the world; He came to be our personal Savior. Look at verses 21-22:  

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 

Paul says we were once alienated. As sinners, we may be sincere, religious, spiritual, and even in some sense moral, but we are still at war with God. God is perfect and holy and cannot lower His standards to be with sin. God must be consistent and maintain His own Holy law. The writer Warren Wiersbe says, “By nature, man is separated from God by his deeds; he is alienated from God.” Despite our actions and condition, God took the initiative and steps necessary for reconciliation. It was only in His sacrificial death that we have been reconciled. Again, verse 20 said, “Making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” Through Christ, we are transformed and transition from lost to saved. 

Jesus is Lord of All!

Look again at verse 18: “He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy” [italics added]. In everything Jesus is to have the supremacy. Unfortunately, I don’t always allow Him supremacy in my life. Often, I take first place. Do you struggle with this also? Does your family, job, or even church come first, or does Jesus Christ reign supreme in your life? It has been said that if Jesus is not Lord of all, then He cannot be Lord at all. I think that is true. We can’t have it both ways. 

Finally, examine again the middle of verse 23. Paul says, “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Paul states clearly that he is just the servant of Jesus Christ and that He is Lord of his life. When we come to Jesus Christ, we must say, “Lord, here’s my intellectual pride. Here are all my status symbols. Here’s all the rebellious spirit in my heart. I lay it on the altar for you. You are my Lord. Not my will anymore, but yours be done.” 

Who is Jesus? Lord of all! May our lives truly bring honor and glory to Him.