Jesus is a real-life person who lived on this Earth many, many years ago. Before anyone says “but there is no archaeological evidence for that” let’s remember that Plato and Socrates also left no tangible evidence of their existence, other than eye witness reports and testimonies. Jesus, although leaving no tangible archaeological evidence, eye witness reports and testimonies of men like Josephus convince us of His existence.
Moreover, in many religions and belief systems, Jesus is acknowledged. They confirm His existence and find His teachings to be profound and helpful. However, to Christians, Jesus is more than just a historical figure or a good teacher. Jesus is much more than that.
Jesus is Messiah
The single, most important thing that makes us Christians is our belief in Jesus as Christ. The word “Christ” means Messiah. But, this belief is not the only thing, since certain characteristics must follow to prove what we say we believe. Nevertheless, believing in Jesus as the savior of mankind and following His way is what qualifies us as Christians.
The books of the prophets have in one way or another signaled Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Mic. 5; Zech. 6&12; Dan. 9; Mal. 3; Hos. 11). These three things make up His three-fold revelation as Messiah. Prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah being born by a virgin (Isa. 7:14). Hundreds of years later, a woman called Mary becomes overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and gives birth to the Man named Jesus. It was necessary that Jesus be born this way to–among many other reasons–show that He is the Son of God.
Prophet Isaiah spoke about Jesus’ life. Many people focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus and ignore the fact that He lived. When people talk about Jesus as if all that there is to Him is His death and resurrection, they miss some vital points. If that was all there was to Him, He could have appeared on earth as a fully grown man and died on the cross maybe two days later. But everything about Jesus from His birth to His life and even the way He eventually died was prophetic. He came to seek and save what was lost (Lk. 19:10). Through His lifestyle alone, many believed. People heard His sermons and said naa, there’s something different about this guy. He doesn’t speak like the prophets. He speaks like one with authority.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:28-29 NIV
Jesus’ life on earth produced one of the best teachings ever; the sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5). His life on earth gives believers a template to follow. That’s why we can look up to Him. He has given us something to look at. When you study and emulate the lifestyle of Jesus, there are some things you wouldn’t even need to pray for. There are some things it saves you from.
His life made Him “qualified” to be our High Priest. Jesus lived on earth and experienced the things we experience; loss, anger, shame, betrayal, happiness, despair, tiredness, hunger, satisfaction, temptation, friendship, and fame. He experienced these things and all of this makes Him better qualified to stand as our high priest because we have a high priest that understands us.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15-16 BSB
Moreover, Jesus lived to fulfill prophecy by bearing witness to the truth. “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 NIV
Next, Jesus died. This is possibly the most important day in Christianity; the day Jesus replaced you and I on that cross. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). That principle from the word has not changed since the day it was penned down. Only blood atones for sin. This principle as well, is evergreen. You see, when Jesus died on that cross, He took the wages you and I ought to have received for our sins and shed His blood on the way to and on the cross so that our sins would be atoned for. Jesus died so that we may live. He shed His blood so that we may be justified. Isaiah made these prophecies long before Jesus was born. Before and after Jesus, no one else has come close to fulfilling this prophecy in the letter. The sacrifice desired by God is spotless and pure and this was exactly what Jesus was. He was tried in all ways but did not sin. The lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world is Jesus. (1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Jhn. 1:29)
Jesus resurrected. The day Jesus died was such a sad day in Christendom. It should have been a happy day. I mean, our sins had just been atoned for, why are we sad? But everyone who was a follower of Jesus was sad because it really was a sad thing to see an innocent man die such a shameful and painful death. This sadness would have continued but for one event; Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus is no longer dead. He is alive. On the third day, as the prophets said and as Jesus predicted, He rose again to life (Matt. 28:5-6). The day Jesus was resurrected is the most iconic and glorious day in Christendom. It really sealed the deal. Not only were our sins washed away, we were given an assurance of eternal life, of something more beyond what is now. Paul said if Jesus had not risen from the dead, then we would have been the most miserable of all people (1 Cor. 15:12-19). But because He did rise, we are assured that our present sufferings are incomparable to the glory which is about to be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).
In the language of my country’s people, to be Messiah no pass like this. These three occurrences solidify the Messiahship of Jesus. Salvation is the height of all the great things Jesus has done for us. Through this salvation, we have gained access to so many other things, like the presence of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If there was nothing to be saved from, Jesus wouldn’t have come to save us.
If you’re yet to be saved, you should get saved today. All it takes is your faith that Jesus is the Messiah. With your heart, you must believe and with your mouth, you must confess that He is Lord. I promise you, it is the best decision you can ever make in your life. There is great joy in salvation.
P.S.: this is not the only thing to be said about Jesus. I realized that writing on the topic of Him as Messiah will probably be a month-long series, so I had to shorten this one. The other things will be mentioned in a sequel(s) to this post. If you, however, will like to know more, read some of our past blog posts here and read your Bible lol.
For further study: https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/old-testament-prophecies/
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