Who is He?

[J3D]

‘Who do people say I am? ’ This was the question that Jesus Christ asked his disciples.

He was crucified, rose up on the third day and the same question is still being asked today. Who do you say He is? In this day and age the list of names is endless.

There are three cases (amongst many others) below when this same question was raised (while Jesus was on earth) and Jesus’ confirmation to them:

CASE 1:
The whole passage of John 4 recounts the detail of Jesus and the Samaritan woman event.

21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." 25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

CASE 2:
Matthew 3 gives the account of Jesus’ baptism:

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

In John 1:

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[e][f]who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

…and from John 5:

31"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
33"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39You diligently study[c] the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

CASE 3:
Matthew 16 shares the dialogue between Jesus and Peter…

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[d] will not overcome it.[e] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[f] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[g] loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

In Acts 1, the resurrected Jesus commissions His disciples to take the gospel all around the world (not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles).

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Well, I call Him Jesus Christ, the first born from the dead, the resurrected Savior, the second Adam, the Way, the truth, the Life, the only begotten Son of God.

Who do you say He is?

[Onyiiboy]

We can give multiple answers for your question, but when we do answer it, will you finally answer ours?

[J3D]

Originally Posted by Onyiiboy

We can give multiple answers for your question, but when we do answer it, will you finally answer ours?

Who are the 'we'? And, which question(s) are 'we' referring to? If it is possible for you, kindly reside within the confines of this discussion - atleast, for this thread. Now, let's go back to the question....

[KAG]

Originally Posted by J3D

‘Who do people say I am? ’ This was the question that Jesus Christ asked his disciples.

They replied, "You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the ontological foundation of the context of our very selfhood revealed."
And Jesus replied, "What?"

Well, I call Him Jesus Christ, the first born from the dead, the resurrected Savior, the second Adam, the Way, the truth, the Life, the only begotten Son of God.

Who do you say He is?

A man who lived two thousand years ago. A myth was built around him, and many have deified him/his character, but many missed the point of several of the words attributed to him - it is likely that many, if not all, weren't said by him, but that's not terribly important.

Who do I say he was? An interesting, perhaps erudite man who lived and died about two thousand years ago.

[eby187]

By the way Kag, I love ur signature...the quote by Rich Mullins.

I have so many answers to J3D's questions but as Onyi said, will he be willing to answer the questions I throw back at him?

[J3D]

Ok eby! I see you are the Onyiboy's cohort he referred to. Now, if you still choose to, you could return to the discussion.

[Onyiiboy]

Originally Posted by J3D

Ok eby! I see you are the Onyiboy's cohort he referred to. Now, if you still choose to, you could return to the discussion.

How is it a discussion if the rest of us are the only ones that ever answer the questions?

[Wendydoks]

i have a religious thread to open soon....

[Onyiiboy]

Who did Jesus say he was?

1. He called himself the "Son of Adam" (incorrectly translated as the son of Man) numerous times

2. He said that he was the living embodiment of "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25) as well as "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6)

3. He called himself a special prophet from God (Matthew 13:53-56)

4. He said that he was the Good Shepherd (John 10:14)


Who did Jesus say that he was not?

1. He said that he was NOT the father in the flesh (John 5:19) and (Mark 10:18)

2. He said that he, the man, was not the only son of God (Matthew 5:9) and (John 10:34)

[eby187]

Jesus christ was a man, just like you and me, the difference is that he, just like the budhha, Muhammed and many other men of God, attained enligtenment. Jesus Christ came to teach humans the universal consciousness, the consciousness that makes it pathetic and unwise to hurt your fellow human being, cos when you hurt me you hurt yourself...since we are all one. That's why Jesus said, I and the father are one. Indeed, we are all one with Jesus and the father...and the trees and the grass...and birds...only when we realize this and dwell in this consciousness, that true love for God and all of God's creation follows.

Jesus said, if you do these to the least of my bros, you do it unto me (Jesus) and unto you and unto ONyi and unto Kag...etc.

If you insist on verses, lemme know. Will pull em out. I hope my reply is simple enuff.

[eby187]

I can't personally describe all Jesus was all abt. in a nutshell...but one important aspect of his message we cannot forget and yet many of us have either forgotten or disregarded is that the kingdom of God is within you. God is in you...God is in all of us. God is in the murderer...the murderer just doesn't know it, that's why he kills because he lives in the illusion that he is separate from God and from his fellow human beings. Look within you to find him and stop looking at your bible or koran or pastor Jim or the church to tell you everything there is to know abt. the God inside of you that wants to have a pers. rel. with you. Those aforementioned thigns are stepping stones and they can be extremely helpful...but seek...seek...seek...go on a personal journey and you will find him.

[J3D]

All extensive, but outlying perspectives!

I think one statement that appeals to the earnest, inquisitive mind is a passage under CASE 3:

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven....

From the passage above, it seems to me that every true acknowledgment of the person of Jesus Christ is always brought about by the conscious elucidation from the Father. Would it not be suffice to say that without the the help of the Spirit of God (from the Father) it is impossible to recognize the true identity of Jesus?

[Onyiiboy]

Originally Posted by J3D

All extensive, but outlying perspectives!

I think one statement that appeals to the earnest, inquisitive mind is a passage under CASE 3:

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven....

From the passage above, it seems to me that every true acknowledgment of the person of Jesus Christ is always brought about by the conscious elucidation from the Father. Would it not be suffice to say that without the the help of the Spirit of God (from the Father) it is impossible to recognize the true identity of Jesus?

The verse was very correct. The Christ is the Son of the Living God, but what you are failing to realize is that the Christ and Jesus are two different things.

[eby187]

Originally Posted by J3D

All extensive, but outlying perspectives!

I think one statement that appeals to the earnest, inquisitive mind is a passage under CASE 3:

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven....

From the passage above, it seems to me that every true acknowledgment of the person of Jesus Christ is always brought about by the conscious elucidation from the Father. Would it not be suffice to say that without the the help of the Spirit of God (from the Father) it is impossible to recognize the true identity of Jesus?

God also has a feminine aspect. The mother divine, who provides for all her children.

[J3D]

Originally Posted by Onyiiboy

The verse was very correct. The Christ is the Son of the Living God, but what you are failing to realize is that the Christ and Jesus are two different things.

First name: Jesus
Last name: Christ

Christ means the Messiah, the Anointed One. Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One. He is Son of the living God manifested in the flesh to seek and to save (Matt 1:21). He is (not was) the Savior because He still saves today. The 2 verses (that you admit to as correct) do nothing else but confirm that truth.

Eby, Jesus conquered death...do you know what that means? He is who He declared to be! Not exactly the attribute of a regular person like us and the rest of the religious leaders you mentioned is it?

Check this out...

54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"

58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.