It actually sounds a bit silly, even irreverent, to speak of only ten things we should know about Jesus. There are thousands of things to know about him, perhaps millions. Indeed, when we arrive in the new heaven and new earth we will discover that there is an infinity of truths about our Savior that it will be our joy to see, know, and savor. But for now, today, let’s consider the ten things said about him in Colossians 1:15-20. There Paul writes:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:15-20).
Who Is Jesus Christ?
Ask a Mormon, “Who is Jesus?” and he will tell you that he was the first-born child of Elohim. He was the product of the physical union between the Father-God and the virgin Mary. For a time, God and Mary were actually husband and wife and they had sexual relations, as any married couple would, and conceived Jesus!
Ask a Muslim and he will answer by saying that Jesus is just like Abraham and Moses and Isaiah. He was a prophet of God. But he was not himself God. In fact, he wasn’t even the most important of the prophets. Mohammed, who lived 500 years after Jesus, was God’s greatest prophet. Besides, Jesus didn’t really die on the cross as Christians believe. He was rescued by God and carried to a safe place in the heavens. Since there was no death there was no atonement for sin. Since there was no death there was no resurrection either.
The Jehovah’s Witness would insist that prior to his coming to this earth Jesus was Michael, the archangel! He’s only a creature, the first product of Jehovah God’s creative work. When he was born of the Virgin Mary, he was divested of his spiritual, angelic nature and became wholly and exclusively a man. Jesus isn’t God.
Then there is the theological liberal who believes that because of his exceptional virtue and humility and spiritual sensitivity, God adopted Jesus to be his Son. He endowed him with miraculous powers and through him proclaimed the wonderful message of the Universal Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of Men!
So, who is Jesus Christ? The answer to that question, more than anything else, is what sets apart Christianity from every other religion or philosophy or movement. Christianity is distinctively known for what we believe about Jesus Christ. The answer to this question also provides us with a comprehensive view of the origin, meaning, and ultimate purpose of the entire universe.
(by Sam Storms samstorms.com)
