Jesus is the Christ

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Samuel Walden

Understanding that Jesus is who He, His disciples, and apostles claimed Him to be—the Son of God, the Son of Man, and God in the flesh—is critical.

The information that follows is a repository of reasoning to help you understand who Jesus is, according to the Christian faith. It is not an exhaustive list but a guide to the key prophecies and accounts of his life.

Prophesies of Jesus

Throughout the Old Testament, various prophecies foretell the coming of a Messiah, his actions, and his eventual resurrection. Here are some examples of these prophecies concerning his birth, death, and resurrection.

The Virgin Birth and Immanuel

These passages describe the Messiah’s unique birth and divine nature.

  • Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (NASB)
  • Isaiah 9:6-7 states, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” (NASB)

Birthplace and Lineage

The prophecies specify where the Messiah would be born and that he would be a descendant of King David.

  • Micah 5:2 reveals the Messiah’s birthplace: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” (NASB)
  • 2 Samuel 7:12-16 establishes the Messiah’s lineage through David: “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever… Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever, your throne shall be established forever.” (NASB)

His Death and Resurrection

These scriptures detail the suffering and sacrifice of the Messiah, as well as his ultimate victory over death.

  • Isaiah 53 describes the suffering servant who would bear the sins of humanity: “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” (NASB) The passage also mentions his burial with the rich and his victory despite his death.
  • Hosea 6:2 predicts his resurrection: “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.” (NASB)

Prophecies Fulfilled

This section explores how key prophecies about Jesus, the Messiah, were fulfilled, particularly concerning his divine nature, birth, and lineage.

The Word Incarnate

The Gospel of John, written by one of Jesus’ disciples, begins by describing Jesus as the divine “Word.”

  • John 1:1-4 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (NASB)

The original Greek term for “Word” is logos, which can mean speech, thought, or principle. This passage establishes that the Word, who is Jesus, is eternal, was with God, and is God. He is the agent of creation, meaning he was not created by God but has always existed.

  • John 1:14 continues this theme: “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NASB)

This verse clarifies that the eternal “Word” took on human form, becoming Jesus. This is how Jesus, a man born of a woman, can also be God’s “begotten Son.” His spirit is eternal, but his physical body was born to his mother, Mary.

The Virgin Birth and Immanuel

The virgin birth of Jesus is a central part of the fulfillment of prophecy.

  • Isaiah 7:14 foretold this event, stating, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” (NASB)
  • The Gospel of Luke recounts the fulfillment of this prophecy, explaining that Mary was divinely impregnated by the Holy Spirit. This intervention allowed Jesus to be both fully human (through his mother) and fully divine (as God’s Son).

The Lineage of David

Prophecies foretold that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David, and Jesus’ genealogy fulfills this in a unique way.

  • 2 Samuel 7:12-16 prophesied that David would have a descendant whose throne would “endure forever,” implying a heavenly kingdom, not a temporary earthly one.
  • Both Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his adoptive earthly father, Joseph, are descendants of King David. This duality is significant:
    • Through Joseph, Jesus has the legal right to the earthly throne of David.
    • Through Mary, Jesus has a biological connection to David, fulfilling the prophecy of a direct descendant.

Birthplace in Bethlehem

The prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem was also fulfilled.

  • Micah 5:2 prophesied, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.” (NASB)
  • The Gospels of Matthew and Luke record this event:
    • Matthew 2:1-2 states, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea… magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?’” (NASB)
    • Luke 2:4-7 explains how Mary and Joseph, who were from Nazareth, traveled to Bethlehem to register for a census because Joseph was “of the house and family of David.” While there, Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Jesus Declares His Divinity

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly identified himself as both the Son of God and God himself. Two significant instances from the book of John illustrate this claim.

  • “Before Abraham was born, I am.” In John 8:58, during a confrontation with the Jews, Jesus makes a profound statement about his eternal existence. By saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,” he is directly referencing the name God gave himself when speaking to Moses in Exodus 3:14: “I AM WHO I AM.” This statement was so controversial to the Jews that they immediately sought to stone him for what they considered blasphemy, as he was claiming to be the same eternal God of Israel.
  • “I and the Father are one.” A second clear declaration of his divinity is found in John 10:30. When pressed by the Jews to state his identity, Jesus responded by describing his relationship with his “sheep” and his Father: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (NASB) This statement leaves no room for ambiguity, as Jesus plainly states his unity and equality with God the Father.

Titles of Jesus

Jesus is referred to by several significant titles that reveal his dual nature as both fully God and fully human.

  • Son of God: This title speaks to his divine nature, highlighting his unique relationship with God the Father. His virgin birth, as prophesied in Isaiah and recorded in the Gospels, is the ultimate testament to him being the “Son of God” through divine intervention.
  • Son of Man: Jesus frequently referred to himself as the “Son of Man,” a title that appears over 80 times in the New Testament. This title emphasizes his humanity, signifying that he experienced all aspects of human life, including temptation, pain, and suffering. It highlights his role as the perfect man who came to fulfill the prophecies of the Messiah.
  • The Christ/Messiah: This title signifies his role as the anointed one, the prophesied savior of Israel and the world. Many aspects of his life and ministry, from his birth to his death and resurrection, were foretold in the Old Testament and perfectly fulfilled in his life.
  • God in the Flesh: Ultimately, the titles and actions of Jesus point to the fact that he is God in human form. His claim to be “I AM” and his statement that “I and the Father are one” are irrefutable declarations of his divine nature, solidifying the belief that he is the prophesied Messiah—the God who came to dwell among us.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org