Who is Jesus?

Jesus is as popular today as He ever was.
 
On television, animated hits such as The Simpsons and South Park mention and portray Him frequently.
 
In fashion, "Jesus is my Homeboy" shirts have been worn by the likes of Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, and Madonna.
 
In Hollywood, whenever Jesus is involved in the plot of a new movie, blockbusters happen.  Movies portray Him in an entire spectrum of ways, from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ to Will Ferrell's Talladega Nights (where the main character prays to 8-pound, 6-ounce, newborn infant Jesus).
 
In the world of sports, it is difficult to imagine a championship won in any arena where someone didn't point up to heaven or thank the "Big Guy Upstairs."
 
In popular music, everyone from rapper Kanye West to Green Day to American Idol winner Carrie Underwood sing about Jesus. 
 
So the question remains, who is Jesus? 
 
This might actually be the most important question you could ever ask yourself.
Who do I say Jesus is?
 
The Bible paints a clear picture of who Jesus was and is today.
 
We see at the beginning of the Gospel of John that Jesus is, and has always been, God. He even created the world alongside God the Father (John 1:3).  Jesus is not the same as God the Father, but a distinct member of the Trinity alongside of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
 
Because of the problem of sin (Genesis 3), God the Father chose to send His Son, Jesus, to reconcile the world back to Himself (Col. 1:22). 
 
So Jesus, who helped create the entire world and everything in it, left the splendor of heaven to somehow "put on flesh," become a man, and reconcile a fallen, sinful world back to Himself. 
 
The Son of God, Jesus, was 100% man.  Throughout Jesus' life he was tired, hungry, anxious, thirsty, happy, and even angry. 
 
The Son of God, Jesus, was 100% God.  Throughout Jesus' life he never disrespected His parents, He never looked at a woman lustfully, and He never acted pridefully.  Jesus loved everyone with whom he came in contact with the full love of God. Everything He did with His life was to bring glory to God alone. He was sinless.
 
At the age of 30, Jesus started His earthly ministry. He traveled the surrounding areas performing miraculous healings and supernatural feats. He taught people about God in a way that was revolutionary. He spoke with unprecedented authority and He even forgave people of their sins.
 
At the age of 33, Jesus had finally given the religious authority of the day all that they could take.  They plotted to kill Jesus. He was betrayed by His own and was given a Roman execution called a crucifixion. The only perfect man to ever live died a humiliating, brutal death on a cross between two thieves.
 
Although it seemed the story of Jesus and His influence was over, being God, Jesus knew that the story had just begun.  Being sinless, He took the entire sin of the world upon Himself to pay the price that we could never pay (2 Cor. 5:21). This was God's plan from the very beginning; to show His love for the world through the substitute of His Son. Anyone who believes and trusts that what Jesus did on the cross was for them and their sin is a Christian. 
 
Then on the third day after Jesus' death, something unheard of happened. The tomb was empty.  God had raised Jesus from the dead (Gal.1:1).  He walked, talked, and even ate with his followers.  He also appeared to over 500 other witnesses (1 Cor. 15:6).  Through His miraculous bodily resurrection, God had proven that Jesus was who He said He was.  Jesus was truly God.
 
The resurrected Jesus spent 40 days on earth; eating, teaching, and loving the people around Him until He ascended back into heaven.
 
Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven and is forever interceding on our behalf  because of our sinful nature (Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1).
 
Jesus promises to one day return to earth and wipe out evil once and for all.  He promises to give His followers an existence where there is no sin, no pain, no tears, and no death.  Jesus will make all things new (Revelation 21:1-5).
 
Jesus was the sinless God-Man--a substitute for the world's sin. Jesus died, was risen, and will come again.
 
Who do you say Jesus is?