Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus? This is a question many are asking in our nation. Even Christians want to know more about who Jesus really is. The co-founder of Cross Rhythms, Chris Cole offers some thoughts that we hope will facilitate a light bulb moment in your life.

Every year around this time, I like to do an article that focuses on the Head of the Christian Church, Jesus Christ Himself. The earthly ministry of Jesus started in conflict; from His birth to His death and resurrection. He was no stranger, within His earthly ministry, to genuine hardship and suffering as many of His followers around the world over the centuries and even up to today, experience.

Living in the UK it is not often understood how large the Christian community is globally. The mainstream media are not religiously literate and never cover the stories of the ‘persecuted church’ because it isn’t on their agenda. According to Open Doors UK, “Over 360 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination but they continue to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.”

I am a biased broadcaster working in Christian radio and television, and my bias is obvious. I share the story regarding Jesus and His followers. Mainstream media often proclaims a lack of bias but naturally has the bias of its own secular worldview.

History teaches us that our liberal democratic values have their foundations in Christendom that has worked through our culture for centuries and provided the freedoms we enjoy that other global authoritarian regimes do not. Within these regimes the passion for truth, reality and freedom is valued so highly that people are prepared to suffer greatly for God given rights. We are in a time when these values are being challenged once again on the geopolitical front in Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Perhaps our challenge within Western Civilisation will be the balance needed by every citizen between personal rights and personal responsibilities.

Jesus gave us two commandments.  “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. This isn’t a theoretical or cerebral understanding as much as it is from the spiritual heart of mankind. Christians in the persecuted nations have cultivated a deep and abiding personal relationship with Jesus which has provided them with the personal heart revelation to experience the following:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.” Philippians 4. V 6 – 8

So, who is Jesus? Really?

According to Pew Research Agency, as of 2015 there were just under 2.4 billion Christians around the world, or about one-in-three (31.4%) people worldwide. This makes Christianity the world’s largest religion. The world’s Christian population is expected to grow to 2.9 billion by 2050. Christendom, or structured Christianity in the West, is challenged as it endeavours to adapt to social changes since World War 2, but global Christianity continues to grow. However, there are some encouraging signs of new life in the church in the west especially amongst the younger generation.

According to ancient scripture (the Bible), historic tradition, history itself and the belief of orthodox biblical Christianity through the ages, Jesus Christ is the focus of global Christianity. Christ lives in the heart and experience of those who believe who He is, whose lives are confirmed by the Holy Spirit.

C.S. Lewis wrote that there are only three options of opinion open to us when we consider the claims Jesus makes about himself: madman, liar or Son of God… For Christians, Jesus is the one and only Son of God, He has existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit for all eternity, and He came to Earth as a man 2,000 years ago in the mysterious act we call the incarnation. Quite literally, Heaven invaded Earth.

But who is Jesus to you and me? A couple of hundred years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte had this to say: “I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man… Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires… upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.” Even today more than 350 million Christians live out their faith under severe persecution across the globe.

In 1926 Dr James Francis wrote the following:

“Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself…

“While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

“Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centrepiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.”

The foundation of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ has existed for all time and beyond time. He created us and the world we live in. ‘Gentle Jesus meek and mild’ He may be, but He is also ‘tougher than hell’ and he defeated death, rising again to life to empower men, women and children with grace to carry on where he left off. He enables us to defeat fear with love in the power of His Holy Spirit. He sits now, ‘the lamb Who was slain’ on a throne beside his Father’s in heaven and his Father has given Him charge of everything that He has reclaimed with His own life. He has promised He will one day return to bring His peace and the rule of righteous Love in the world. Prophetic scripture confirms this.

This is who Jesus is, for me, and I believe it’s who the Bible says He is… What about you? When Pontius Pilate stood before Jesus and asked Him “what is truth?” it is ironic that Pilate was standing before Absolute Truth Himself and didn’t realise it.

From all at Cross Rhythms, have a powerful and influential 2023 especially in these challenging times.