CHRIST SERIES: Christ, the Visible Image of the Invisible God

How can a man who lived over 2,000 years ago be God who created the universe? Why would an all-powerful God choose to live as a human being?

If you have questions along these lines, I've got news that will hopefully bring you some comfort: You're not alone. The divine status of Jesus Christ is contested by many today, with different groups divided according to their different perspectives. I wonder what your current stance on the matter is.

Now, for the news that will surely bring you some comfort: Jesus told us who He is. The Bible, in specific parts and in its entirety, bear witness to Jesus' claims about who He is. If I happened to be curious about you, I'd ask you directly about your name or hobbies and then hear what you have to say. I wouldn't ask people who have a prejudice against you or never spent time with you, because whatever they say about you just wouldn't be the full picture.

Why, then, do we let society groups or culture tell us who Jesus is when He so directly told us Himself? Whatever these other sources of information tell us just wouldn't be the full picture. There'd be misinterpretations, exaggerations, recycled opinions, and even perhaps blatant falsehoods.

There's not unlimited space in this one post, but we'll attempt to cover the facts about who Jesus is as recorded in the Bible.

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Quick Note: Are you familiar with the Christian term, "Trinity"? It is a word used to describe God. Throughout the Bible, we see God acting in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit. None is above the other or has a separate agenda. Why does God choose to reveal Himself this way? We can't say for sure. What we do know for certain, however, is that this relationship shows us the cycle of love in God. The Bible says, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). God the Father loves God the Son, and that is why Jesus' death on the cross for your sins is such a meaningful and significant occurrence (John 3:16). God the Son loves God the Spirit, and that is why He sent His Spirit to comfort and guide all believers after His physical ascension to heaven. God the Spirit loves God the Father, and that is why He empowers all believers to live for the glory of the Father. God, in His three persons, shows us a perfect example of love and unity.

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Let's explore what each of these three persons of the Trinity said and affirmed about who Jesus, the man who walked this earth many years ago, is.

What God the Father Said

• "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...'" - Genesis 1:26, emphasis added

• "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are My Son... when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, 'Let all God's angels worship Him'. In speaking of the angels He says, 'He makes His angels spirits and His servants flames of fire'. But about the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom... In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment... You remain the same, and Your years will never end'. " - Hebrews 1:5-12

What God the Son (Jesus) Said

• "I and My Father are one" - John 10:30

• "Father, I desire that they also whom You have given Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" - John 17:24

• "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19

How God the Spirit Affirms Who Jesus Is

• "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed'; and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit" - 1 Corinthians 12:3

• "The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in Him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us" - 1 John 3:24

• "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, saying, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them... says the Lord... and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" - Hebrews 10:14-17

What Eyewitnesses of Jesus Said

You might be interested to know that people who saw Jesus before and after His death and resurrection said the following:

• "And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on HIm; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ' This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'. " - Matthew 3:16-17

• "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say I am?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets'. 'But what about you?', He asked, 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God'. Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you Simon of Judah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven'. "

Additional Bible Verse (Cherry on Top)

• "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' " - Galatians 4:6

All of this brings us to the conclusion: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1:15).

You may be wondering why this even matters, or what you should do about it, if you should do anything. Well, if Jesus is really who He says He is, then my take is that it's worth listening to everything He has to say about you and this world we live in. After all, He knows it all - the end from the beginning and the future from the present.

What's your take?

Interested in finding out more about who Jesus is and what He taught? There's an excellent resource here.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me on Instagram or via email. Don't forget to like this post or comment if there's something that resonated with you - or that you disagreed with ;)

P.S: In my novel, Mina's Diary, I share the story of how one 17-year-old comes to know Jesus. If you decide to give it a read, I'm sure you'll be blessed by it. And just by knowing that, so will I :)