Things about Jesus

Jesus is the single most influential figure in the history of the world.  You cannot find a facet of society or an area of the globe that has not felt the ramifications of His life and death.

What was so different about Jesus?  Why did He inspire such devotion?  How did He develop such monumental influence?  I think a great place to start is by answering the question: Who is Jesus?

This post will explore what type of person Jesus was, who He was to those around Him, and what Jesus meant to world.


Jesus is the Son of God

The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism (Mark 1:9-11) and the Transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:5), the voice of the Father designates Jesus his "beloved Son". Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God", and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence. He asks for faith in "the name of the only Son of God". In the centurion's exclamation before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God", that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title "Son of God" its full meaning.  ~ CCC 444

Jesus being the Son of God changes everything.  His words become promises.  His actions become the will of God.  His sacrifice becomes infinitely more humbling.

It also transforms God's relationship with man.  God sent His only son to die for us.  It's the story of Abraham all over again only this time the son is actually sacrificed.  What kind of love must He have for us to do such a thing?!

Jesus is the Messiah

"The woman said to him, 'I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.' Jesus said to her, 'I am he, the one who is speaking with you.'" ~ John 4:25-26

"Messiah" is the Hebrew word for "Anointed One".  References to "the Messiah" are scattered through out the Old Testament.  The Messiah was the title of the savior that would come to rescue Israel.  Moses and the prophets predicted the coming of the Messiah and the events of His birth, life, and death.

Jesus is the realization of every single one of these predictions and is, thus, the savior of Israel whose coming was foretold through the Old Testament.  The prophesies were fulfilled, the promises kept, and Israel was saved.

In addition, this also means that Jesus is the Christ because "Christ" is the Greek translation of "Messiah".

Jesus is the Bread of Life

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst....'" ~ John 6:35

Just as food sustains the body, Jesus sustains our soul.  We need Him in order to live.  In receiving the Eucharist each Sunday we enter into communion with Him, anticipating eternal life.


Jesus is the Light of the World

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" ~ John 8:12

We humans stumble around blindly when in darkness.  And so it was without Christ, the entire human race was without direction and lost in sin.  Jesus came and brought light to the world.  We can see the truth in Him and follow in His footsteps to live righteously.


Jesus is the Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." ~ John 10:11

There is perhaps no better analogy to describe our relationship with Jesus.  We humans are weak, stupid creatures that will follow anything that moves.  And Jesus, being a good shepherd, patiently guides us and defends us.


Jesus is the Gate to Salvation

"I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." ~ John 10:9

We are beings made of body and soul.  When our mortal bodies die, our souls will remain for eternity in salvation (heaven) or damnation (hell).  Jesus is our entry point for heaven.  Without Him we cannot enter Heaven.  We enter into salvation by following Him.

Jesus is the Vine

"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." ~ John 15:4-5 

My favorite analogy!  I cannot do anything without Jesus.  I can struggle all I want, but if all-powerful God is against me, what can I ever hope to accomplish?  Conversely, if I am working for all-powerful God, who can stop me in any endeavor?


Jesus is the Son of Man

"And he said to him, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'" ~ John 1:51

Jesus was fully human.  He was birthed into the world just like every other human being in history.  At the same time this title also marks Jesus as the savior foretold in Daniel 7:13-14.


Jesus is the Lamb of God

"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God.'" ~ John 1:35-36

Throughout the Old Testament, as per God's covenant with the Jews, animals were sacrificed to God in reconciliation for sins.  God sent Jesus to forge a new and everlasting covenant, where His blood would be shed in reconciliation for our sins.

As a result, the price has already been paid for our sins.  If we accept the gift that Jesus offers and welcome Him into our life we are washed clean.  This means we are freed from slavery to sin and can enter into Heaven with God.


Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me...'" ~ John 14:6

In a world filled with lies and doubt, Jesus is the one true thing.

Jesus is the King of Israel

"Nathanael answered him, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.'" ~ John 1:49-50

Jesus is the ruler of the kingdom of God.  Its an interesting point that both the "king" and the "kingdom" were not what they were expected to be.  The truth ended up being much larger.  The kingdom was not just Israel, but the entire kingdom of God, all creation.  The king was not a lion of a warrior who took vengeance, but a lamb who loved so much He gave His life for us.

Jesus is the Word of God made Flesh

"And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." ~ John 1:14

"In giving us his Son, his only Word (for he possesses no other), he spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word - and he has no more to say. . . because what he spoke before to the prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son [Jesus]. Any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behaviour but also of offending him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty" ~ CCC 65

Jesus...Is

The examples above are just a few selections of the countless things that Jesus was and is to His followers.  He is all things to all people.

However, the last thing I want to leave you with is the most important:

• Jesus is God (John 10:30)
• God is Love. (1 John 4:8)
• Therefor Jesus is Love.

Additional Resources

Father Robert Barron's Word on Fire Series:
Who is Jesus?

Aleteia provides a bunch of video, audio, and documentary resources to answer this question:
Who is Jesus?

The CCC on Jesus
The CCC on Christ
The CCC on the Son of God
The CCC on Our Lord



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