Get To Know Jesus
Who is Jesus?
There has been no person in the last 2,000 years who has captured the attention of the world like Jesus Christ.
In the midst of all this attention, there is a wide variety of opinions about who Jesus is.
Different versions of “Jesus” show up in pop culture all of the time. Sometimes, He's portrayed as a bully who teaches people to hate others who disagree with Him. Sometimes He's portrayed as a pacifist who came with an anti-war message. Sometimes, He's weaponized for political gain.
There are many misconceptions about who Jesus is. So let’s go to the source – what did Jesus actually say about Himself?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes 7 incredible “I Am Statements” to help us understand the reality of who He is. Check them out below!
The Bread of Life
Just after Jesus fed over 5,000 people in the wilderness with just two fish and five loaves of bread, He says that He is the bread of life, telling us that He is essential for life. Not physical life, but eternal life. It is one thing to have our physical needs met, but another thing all together to have our spiritual needs met.
📖 John 6:35
The Light
When Jesus talks about walking in darkness, He doesn't mean physical darkness, but spiritual darkness. In the book of Ephesians, we learn that apart from Jesus our works are darkness, and that we aren't just in darkness, but that we are darkness because we do not know God. The light that Jesus offers is knowing God and having a relationship with Him.
📖 John 8:12
The Gate
By referring to himself as the gate, Jesus stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven by any other means than Himself. Often people will argue that Jesus is only one of many ways to heaven, but that isn't what Jesus taught about Himself.
📖 John 10:7-9
The Good Shepherd
By calling Himself the good shepherd, Jesus demonstrates His great love and care for us.
He is the One who willingly protects His flock even to the point of death.
But we have to ask - why did Jesus have to lay down His life?
📖 John 10:11
The Resurrection and Life
There is no resurrection to new life apart from Christ. There is no eternal life apart from Christ, only eternal death. Jesus does more than give life; He is life. Death has no power over Him.
📖 John 11:25-26
The Way, Truth, and Life
The way: Jesus distinguished Himself as the only way” to heaven.
The truth: Jesus emphasized Himself as the only truth.
The life: Jesus claimed to be the only source of all life.
📖 John 14:6
The Vine
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is joined in vital union with the vine, only those who are joined to Christ and receive their power from Him produce fruit in the Christian life.
We depend on Jesus for everything, including our life and reconciliation with God through Him.
📖 John 15:5-6
Jesus had to lay down His life because we’re sinful. And our sin separates us from God.
Sin is our choosing our own way over obedience to God. It is rebellion against the Holy Creator of the Universe. All the evil in the world—broken homes, adultery, lying, stealing, pornography, human trafficking, greed, jealously, selfishness—is the result of sin and leads to death.
Whenever we sin, God says that justice must be done. Sin can’t be swept under the rug because God is a good judge. Consequently, we all deserve to pay for our sin.
In the death of Jesus, we are forgiven of all our sins, and in the resurrection of Jesus, we have the promise of new life.
Motivated by love, God sent Jesus, who was fully God and became fully man, to the world. He lived a perfect life and never sinned. Jesus voluntarily died on the cross to pay for your sins - taking the punishment you deserved. In His death, the justice and love of God was fully expressed. Jesus, an innocent man, died for you. Then he was resurrected from the grave 3 days later, defeating sin and death!
Salvation is available for you!
1. Repent of your sin
Acknowledge that your sin separates you from God and turn from your sinful ways.
2. Reject your own righteousness as a means of salvation.
Reject the myths about being made right with God by your own efforts and embrace God’s grace through faith. You can’t save yourself.
3. Believe in Jesus and declare Him as your Lord and Savior.
“If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” - Romans 10:9-10
What happens when you believe?
- Your sins are forgiven. - Colossians 2:14-15
- You become a child of God. - John 1:12-13
- You are at peace with God. - Romans 5:1
- You receive the Holy Spirit. - Ephesians 1:13-14
- You pass from death to life. - John 5:24
- You have the hope of heaven. - Colossians 1:4-5
Ready To Follow Him?
If you’re compelled by this story and you’re ready to follow Jesus, let us know below so we can celebrate with you!
