Who is Jesus?
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
—Isaiah 9:2-7
Last week I asked, if God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is who He says He is, and if He truly desires relationship with us, how could we place our trust, commitment, delight or hope in anything or anyone else? How could we possibly extend our deep longing to worship to anything or anyone else? As I pondered the questions, I thought it was unfair to presume each reader knows what God’s holy word says about Jesus. So who is He?
We can and should spend the rest of our lives investigating and mining the depths of answers to the question, so while it is far beyond the scope of this writing, let’s look at a few statements. The gospels in the New Testament were written to prove that Jesus came from heaven to earth as the Messiah, the anointed One, to bridge the chasm separating us from God. Through the gospels we see a storm obey Jesus’ command; we see evil spirits recognize His authority, negotiate with Him for leniency and obey His command; and we see His authority and power over physical ailments, mental ailments and death itself. Jesus has all authority over all creation including spiritual and physical realms, He is sovereign, He is God, the Creator of all things who has always been and always will be.
And Jesus tells us in His own words who He is and why He came to earth. He explains that He is the way, the truth and the life. He explains that He is the bread of life, the light of the world, the door, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and the true vine. He explains that He came to save the lost; He came offering life in abundance, and so much more.
Significantly, the New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophecy set forth in the Old Testament. With this in mind, please consider the portion of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy set forth above.
Isaiah paints an image of joyful celebration at the unveiling of Christ Jesus. People who experience the great light rejoice with joy as they exult (see v.3). They celebrate the bounty that is Christ Jesus, like a farmer toiling all year and praying for rain at the right time and praying for the rain to stop at the right time and after the work of the harvest is completed, celebrating and enjoying the sense of satisfaction and momentary rest. We should rejoice in Christ Jesus. He is the light and He delivers that sense of wholeness, peace and rest forever.
Who is Jesus? Isaiah 9:4 describes Him as the One who offers freedom. Jesus has broken the yoke of burden, the bar across our shoulders, the rod of our oppressor. We were each a slave to unhealthy desires, to temptations of empty pleasure, to the nonsensical suggestion that life is better when we are in control, to sin. But Jesus set us free from all that. He welcomes each of us into His realm as brothers and sisters, children of God, new beings enjoying new freedom.
Clarifying Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus says,
“Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36
And Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Who is Jesus? He is the Savior who breaks the yoke, the rod, the bar holding us hostage to sin. He sets us free.
Who is Jesus? Isaiah 9:6 describes Him as the One with all authority. He is sovereign. He has authority over all creation in heaven and on earth. He has authority over Satan, authority over nature, authority over death, authority over everything including everything spiritual, psychological, physical and otherwise. Clarifying Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Who is Jesus? Isaiah 9:6-7 says He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and His reign involves true justice and pure righteousness because He is the holy, pure, divine One. He is God.
If Jesus Christ is who God’s holy word says He is, and if He truly desires relationship with us, how could we place our trust, commitment, delight or hope in anything or anyone else? How could we possibly extend our deep longing to worship to anything or anyone else? May you know in your heart that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. May you know He is truly the light. May you rejoice in Him and follow Him now and always, Amen.