Who Was That Jesus Anyway? 

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ …Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
Matthew 16:13, 16 (NIV UK)

When I was younger, I loved running home from school and turning on the TV to watch the Lone Ranger round up the bad guys. At the end of every show, as the Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding off into the sunset, one of the townsfolk would ask: “Who was that masked man anyway?”

Throughout the years, people have asked that same question about Jesus. Many continue searching for the “historical Jesus”, even while distrusting one of the only historical sources we have, the biblical witness. I’d rather take Christ at his word and the words of those whom he personally entrusted to be his spokesmen and the accounts of eyewitnesses reported by them. Let’s take a look at just a few of the many ways Jesus indicated just who he was:
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

From the very beginning, it’s clear that Jesus knew who he was. When Mary and Joseph found him in the Temple, he told them he was in his “Father’s house,” indicating awareness of his divine sonship. And later when John baptised him in the river, the heaven’s opened up and the voice of God was heard saying: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Of course there is much, much more that Jesus said and did to fill out and confirm his unique mission and identity. The Jesus of the biblical witness, by all reliable accounts, is truly the Son of God, the one and only Messiah who came to this world through the miracle of the incarnation. He came to bring us back into communion with our Heavenly Father. And we can trust in him faithfully to continue that work of reconciliation in us, through us and in the world

Prayer
Holy Father, we never cease to marvel at the way you have executed your plan concerning the sons of men and women. To have sent your Son to live and die as one of us is truly humbling and awe inspiring. May we never lose that wonder, Mighty Father. And this we pray in His name.
Amen

Study by Joseph Tkach

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About the Author:
Joseph Tkach is the President of Grace Communion International (the Denominational name of The Worldwide Church of God UK), and resides in California, USA.  Today is the beginning of S.E.P., a two-week summer activity camp that takes place on the bank of Loch Lomond, Scotland.  It is sponsored and run by the Worldwide Church of God UK, a part of Grace Communion International.  The camp is Christian in ethos but accepts campers from all denominations and faiths, or from none. For more information about S.E.P. visit http://www.sepuk.org

You are welcome to attend one of our local Church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland.  For details of your nearest local congregation, check on our website, www.wcg.org.uk under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.

Contact:
Email:  admin@daybyday.org.uk