April 11|1st John 1: 14 |Who Was Jesus Christ REALLY? The Truth History Doesn't Tell You
1st John 1: 14
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The Jesus Beyond the Stereotypes
Have you ever found yourself wondering who Jesus Christ really was? Beyond the Christmas stories and Easter celebrations, beyond the paintings of a blue-eyed man with perfect hair, beyond what your childhood Sunday School teacher might have told you?
Who was this figure that literally split history into before and after? Was he just a good teacher? A revolutionary? A myth? Or was he something more?
If you've been searching for answers about who Jesus really was – not just the religious version, but the historical and biblical facts – you're in the right place. In this comprehensive exploration, we'll examine both what secular history confirms about Jesus and what the Bible claims about his identity. By the end, you'll have a clearer picture of this extraordinary figure who has influenced billions of lives throughout history.
The Historical Jesus: What Secular Sources Tell Us
Let's start with what we know historically. Despite what some internet forums might suggest, the vast majority of historians – Christian, Jewish, atheist, and everything in between – agree that Jesus of Nazareth was a real person who lived in first-century Palestine.
Picture yourself walking through the dusty streets of a small Roman-occupied town called Nazareth around the year 30 CE. The air smells of cooking fires and animals. People are speaking Aramaic all around you. And somewhere in this humble setting is a Jewish man in his early 30s who's causing quite a stir.
We have multiple independent sources that confirm his existence:
Roman historians like Tacitus and Suetonius mention him in their historical accounts
The Jewish historian Josephus writes about him in his works
Multiple ancient manuscripts from different geographic regions reference him
These aren't Christian sources trying to promote a religion – they're just recording history. What do these sources tell us? That Jesus was a Jewish teacher who gathered followers, was considered a troublemaker by Roman authorities, and was executed by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate's authority.
But here's where it gets interesting. If Jesus was just another failed revolutionary or wandering teacher – and there were many in that time and place – why are we still talking about him 2,000 years later? What made him different?
Beyond Historical Facts: The Biblical Claims About Jesus
The earliest Christian writings we have – letters from Paul that predate even the Gospels – tell us something remarkable: within just a few years of Jesus' death, his followers weren't just remembering him as a good teacher. They were worshipping him as divine.
This is truly extraordinary. Imagine you have a respected teacher that you follow. They die tragically. Within a few years, would you be calling them God? Especially if you're part of a strictly monotheistic religion like Judaism that has spent centuries emphasizing there is only one God?
Something extraordinary must have happened to cause this dramatic shift in understanding.
The Revolutionary Claim: "The Word Became Flesh"
This brings us to one of the most profound passages in the Bible, from the Gospel of John:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." (John 1:1, 14)
Let's sit with this for a moment. John is making an absolutely revolutionary claim here. He's saying that Jesus wasn't just a man who achieved some kind of spiritual enlightenment or who was chosen by God for a special mission. He's saying Jesus was the eternal God himself who took on human flesh and lived among us.
Understanding "The Word" in Historical Context
When John talks about "the Word," he's using a term that both his Jewish and Greek audiences would have recognized:
For Jews, God's "word" was his powerful, creative force – the means by which he created the universe when he said, "Let there be light."
For Greeks, the "logos" (the Greek term translated as "Word") was the divine reason or ordering principle behind the universe.
John boldly claims: that force, that divine principle, became a human being in Jesus Christ.
It's like trying to explain complex ideas to a child. No matter how carefully you choose your words, there's still a gap in understanding. Eventually, you have to get down on the floor and use their toys to show them what you mean. In a much more profound way, that's what John is saying God did through Jesus – God "got down on our level" and communicated in the most direct way possible: by becoming one of us.
The Mystery of Jesus' Dual Nature
This brings us to one of the most beautiful and mysterious aspects of Jesus' identity according to the Bible: he was fully God AND fully human. Not half and half. Not God disguised as a human. Both, completely, at the same time.
Think about what this means: The person who got tired, who felt hunger, who cried at his friend's tomb, who experienced the full range of human emotions – this was God experiencing life as one of us.
Imagine you're the creator of a virtual reality world. You could observe it from the outside, or even manipulate it. But what if you could actually enter it as a character, bound by all its rules and limitations, experiencing everything the other characters experience? That's a pale shadow of what the Bible claims happened in Jesus.
The Purpose Behind the Person: Why Jesus Came
According to the Bible, Jesus didn't come just to teach us or show us what God is like, though he certainly did that. He came on a rescue mission.
Consider the cave rescue in Thailand that captured the world's attention a few years ago. Twelve boys and their coach were trapped deep in a flooded cave system. Sending instructions wasn't enough. Dropping supplies wasn't enough. What those boys needed was someone to come to where they were, someone who could guide them through the dark, dangerous waters to safety.
The biblical claim is that humanity is trapped – separated from the life and relationship with God we were designed for because of our sin and brokenness. And God didn't just send instructions from heaven. He didn't just drop spiritual supplies. In Jesus, he came himself to where we are, to lead us home.
This is why Christians throughout history have found Jesus so compelling – he's not a distant deity issuing commands from on high. He's the God who knows what it's like to be human, who experienced our joys and sorrows, who knows what it's like to be tempted, to suffer, even to die.
Practical Implications: How This Changes Everything
So what does all this mean for us today? How does understanding who Jesus really was change anything in our lives?
1. God Is Not Distant or Unknowable
If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. When Jesus shows compassion to the outcast, that's God's heart on display. When Jesus stands against hypocrisy and self-righteousness, that's God's character in action. When Jesus stretches out his arms on the cross and says, "Father, forgive them," that's God's love made visible.
2. Your Human Experience Is Understood by God
Your human experience – with all its joys, sorrows, and struggles – is something God understands firsthand. Whatever you're going through, Jesus has experienced human life from the inside. He gets it.
3. The Central Question We Must Answer
The central question we all have to wrestle with isn't just "Was Jesus a good teacher?" or "Do I agree with his moral teachings?" The real question is: "Was he who he claimed to be? Is he worthy of not just my admiration, but my trust and allegiance?"
Take the Next Step in Your Exploration
Here's a practical step you can take today: Read through one of the Gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. But as you read, ask yourself: If what this book is claiming about Jesus is true – that he is God in human form who came to rescue us – how would that change how I see my life, my purpose, my future?
The Most Revolutionary Claim in History
We started by asking who Jesus Christ really was. The historical evidence tells us he was a real person who lived, taught, and died in first-century Palestine. But the biblical testimony goes much further – claiming he was and is the eternal God who became human to reveal himself to us and rescue us.
This is the most revolutionary claim in human history: that the infinite God stepped into his creation, that the eternal broke into time, that the divine became human so that humans could share in divine life.
You might still have questions – that's okay. Faith isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting the one who does. And if Jesus really is who the Bible claims he is, he's worth getting to know.
What's your next step in exploring who Jesus really is? The journey is worth taking, because the most important questions in life deserve thoughtful answers.
If you found this exploration helpful, join us for more content that explores the big questions of faith in ways that are relatable, honest, and hopeful. We believe everyone deserves thoughtful answers to their deepest questions.
God is the Creator and Sustainer of All Things
When we ask who God is, we must start at the beginning—literally. The Bible opens with the powerful declaration, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This isn't just a statement about historical events; it reveals a fundamental aspect of God's identity. He introduces Himself to us first as Creator, the One who spoke everything into existence.
But God isn't merely a cosmic architect who built the universe and stepped away. Colossians 1:17 tells us, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This reveals a profound truth about God's ongoing relationship with His creation. At this very moment, God is actively sustaining every molecule, every heartbeat, every star in the sky. Nothing continues to exist apart from His sustaining power.
The implications of this truth are staggering when we consider the scope of creation. The same God who designed spiral galaxies with their billions of stars also crafted the intricate details of your DNA, your personality, your unique combination of gifts and abilities. This isn't distant, impersonal power—this is intimate artistry on the grandest scale imaginable.
As David wrote in Psalm 139:13, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." The language here is personal, intentional, and loving. God didn't mass-produce humanity; He crafted each person with exquisite attention to detail.
What does this mean for us practically? It means nothing about your life is accidental or meaningless. The Creator of everything knows you by name and has crafted you with purpose. When you feel insignificant or lost in the vastness of existence, remember you're the masterpiece of the universe's Designer.
This truth also reshapes how we see the world around us. Every sunrise, every mountain range, every intricate ecosystem points back to the creative genius of God. Creation isn't just something that happened long ago—it's the ongoing expression of God's character and power, inviting us into wonder and worship of the One who made it all.
God is Holy and Just
The second essential truth we need to understand about God's identity is that He is completely holy. Isaiah 6:3 describes a heavenly scene where angels are constantly calling out, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty." In Scripture, when something is repeated three times, it's emphasizing its absolute, supreme nature. Holiness isn't just one attribute among many—it's the very essence of who God is.
But what does "holy" actually mean? At its core, holiness means God is utterly pure, separate from all evil, and completely perfect in all His ways. 1 John 1:5 tells us, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." There is nothing impure, corrupt, or flawed in God's nature. This holiness is why we instinctively feel unworthy in His presence—because we recognize the vast difference between His perfection and our flaws.
Flowing directly from God's holiness is His justice. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." God's justice isn't arbitrary or unpredictable; it's the consistent expression of His holy character. Because God is holy, He cannot simply overlook sin or pretend it doesn't matter—that would contradict His very nature.
This might sound intimidating at first. A perfectly holy and just God stands in stark contrast to our own imperfection. But understanding God's holiness helps us grasp two vital truths: first, the incredible mercy He shows us despite our failures; and second, the assurance that ultimately, everything wrong in our world will be made right.
When injustice seems to prevail, when evil appears to win, when the innocent suffer while the guilty prosper—we can find comfort in knowing that the God who is perfect justice will ensure all accounts are settled in the end. Nothing escapes His notice, and no wrong will remain unaddressed forever.
God's holiness sets the standard for all that is good and right. It challenges us to pursue purity in our own lives while reminding us of our constant need for His grace and forgiveness. Without understanding God's holiness, we can never fully appreciate the wonder of His love.
God is Love Personified
Perhaps the most transformative truth about God's identity comes in the simple yet profound statement found in 1 John 4:8, which declares, "God is love." Notice it doesn't merely say God loves, but that love is the essence of who He is. Every action, every decision, every interaction God has flows from this core identity.
This isn't the sentimental, emotional concept of love often portrayed in our culture. This is love in its purest, most powerful form—love that always acts for the highest good of the beloved, regardless of cost. And the ultimate demonstration of this love came through Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Think about this—the holy, just God we just discussed found a way to satisfy both His justice and His love through Christ's sacrifice. Sin could not go unpunished because God is holy, but we could not bear that punishment and live. So God Himself, in the person of Jesus, took the punishment we deserved.
This isn't a distant, theoretical kind of love. Jesus described God as "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36)—an intimate term similar to "Daddy" in our language. Romans 8:15 tells us we can use this same term, approaching God with the trust and closeness of a beloved child.
What does this mean practically? Even in your darkest moments—when you fail, when you doubt, when life falls apart—God's love for you remains unwavering. Nothing you do can make Him love you more, and nothing you do can make Him love you less. His love isn't based on your performance but on His character.
This love transforms how we view our struggles. We're not facing them alone or being punished by a vengeful deity. We're walking through them with a loving Father who promises to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
God's love also serves as our model for how we should love others. As 1 John 4:19 reminds us, "We love because he first loved us." His perfect love becomes both our source and our standard.
God is Ever-Present and Personal
Finally, we need to understand that God is not distant or inaccessible. He isn't confined to church buildings or religious ceremonies. Psalm 139:7-10 beautifully illustrates God's omnipresence: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
This passage tells us something profound—there is nowhere in the universe where God is not fully present. But beyond simply being everywhere, God desires personal relationship with each of us. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The Holy Spirit is described as our Helper, Comforter, and Counselor (John 14:26), sent to guide us through life's journey.
God is not a concept to be studied but a Person to be known. He speaks to us through His Word, through prayer, through circumstances, and through other believers. He knows your name, your thoughts, your fears, and your dreams—and He invites you into genuine relationship with Him.
This means you can talk to God anywhere, anytime, about anything. Prayer isn't a formal religious exercise but an ongoing conversation with Someone who is always listening. You don't need special words or rituals to get His attention—He's already giving you His full attention.
When life feels overwhelming or God seems silent, remember His promise in Hebrews 13:5: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." The God of the universe has committed Himself to be present with you in every moment, whether you feel it or not.
This presence changes everything about how we navigate life. We're never truly alone. We're never without guidance. We're never facing our challenges without the resources of heaven available to us. The ever-present God walks beside us through every valley and celebrates with us on every mountaintop.
Knowing God Transforms Everything
So who is God? He is the all-powerful Creator who designed and sustains everything in existence. He is perfectly holy and just, the standard of all that is good and right. He is love personified, demonstrated most clearly through Christ's sacrifice. And He is ever-present and personal, desiring relationship with you right now.
These four truths barely scratch the surface of God's infinite nature, but they provide a foundation for understanding the One who created you, loves you, and invites you into relationship with Him. And understanding who God truly is changes everything about how we experience life.
When we grasp that we're created with purpose by the Master Designer, we find meaning even in our ordinary moments. When we recognize God's holiness, we're motivated to pursue purity while being deeply grateful for His grace. When we experience His love, we find security that transcends our circumstances. And when we live in awareness of His presence, we never face any challenge alone.
The journey of knowing God is lifelong. No article, book, or sermon can fully capture His magnificence. But as you continue seeking Him through prayer, Scripture, and community with other believers, these foundational truths will come alive in increasingly personal ways.
I encourage you to take some time today to reflect on which aspect of God's character resonates most with you in your current season. Perhaps journal about it, talk with a trusted friend, or simply sit quietly and allow these truths to sink from your head into your heart.
The God who created galaxies knows your name. The God who is perfect holiness offers you grace. The God who is love itself pursues you relentlessly. And the God who fills the universe promises to never leave your side.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
