Almost everyone has heard or read about Jesus, but who is Jesus? Many Christians have created an image of Jesus being a kind, gentle and peaceful Man, who spoke with a soft gentle voice and was always loving, caring, and forgiving. According to them, He was not judgmental but accepted all behavior of people, e aofia ai le agasala. But does this image of Jesus correspond with what the Bible says about who Jesus is? Who is Jesus Christ according to the Bible?
who is Jesus Christ according to the Bible?
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him (Galuega 10:38)
According to the Bible; the written Word of God, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus is the Living Word, sent by the Father to the earth, to fulfill the redemptive work for humanity. He came to restore (heal) fallen man and reconcile man back to the Father.
Jesus was the reflection of His Father and walked on earth in the Name of God; in the authority of God, with signs and wonders following Him. He represented, preached, and brought the Kingdom of God to the House of Israel and called them to repentance.
Jesus pleased the Father by obeying His words and doing His. He never compromised. He never bowed to people or situations. The only time Jesus bowed, was when Hehung on the cross. (Faitau foi: What does obedience to God mean?).
Jesus was not intimidated by people. He never had the intention of pleasing people and He never allowed people to honor and exalt Him. Jesus always referred the people to His Father, to give Him all the glory and all the honor.
What was the purpose of Jesus’ life on earth?
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased. And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, … … which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God (Luka 3: 21-24, 38)
When we look at the genealogy, we see that Jesus wasn’t the first son of God on earth. Adam was the first son of God. Ae peitai, the first son Adam disobeyed his Father by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree.
Adam sinned and because of his sin, Adam fell from his position and brought the curse of sin and death upon humanity and the earth. (Faitau foi: The battle in the garden).
Jesus obeyed His Father and walked in holiness and righteousness. He loved His Father above all, which was visible in His words and deeds.
Jesus walked after the Spirit and fulfilled the law.
When they crucified Jesus and He hung on the tree; o le satauro, He carried all the sins and iniquities of fallen humanity in His body upon the cross.
Jesus died and entered the kingdom of death (hell, Hades). But the death was not strong enough to keep Him in Hades. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God raised Him from the dead and now Jesus lives for evermore.
Jesus is the Way to the Father and eternal life
Through His obedience, Jesus became the Way for humanity to be delivered from the power of the devil, sin and death, and the sinful nature of the old creation, and be reconciled to God. He gave authority and power to the foafoaga fou, who are born again in Him, to be His witness on earth.
Now let’s look at Jesus’ life, to find out who Jesus is.
The Birth of Jesus Christ in the Bible
It all began with the promise that God gave to Mary through the angel Gabriel. Gabriel told Maria that she would conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son: Iesu. He told her, that He would be great, and that He would be called the Son of the Highest.
The Lord God would give Him the throne of His father David. He would reign over the house of Jacob forever. There would be no end to His Kingdom.
When the Holy Ghost hovered over the virgin Mary, the power of the Highest overshadowed her, and she became pregnant. After 40 weeks, Mary gave birth to a Son Jesus.
Jesus grew up and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him (Luka 2:40)
What happened when Jesus was 12 years old?
When Jesus was twelve years old, He went with His parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the yearly feast of the Passover. When His parents returned home, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple in Jerusalem. His parents thought that He was in the company with them. But when they looked for Him, they couldn’t find Him. O lea, they returned to Jerusalem, to seek Him.
When His parents entered the temple, they found Him, sitting among the doctors (teachers), both hearing them and asking them questions.
All the people, who heard Jesus speak were amazed. When the mother of Jesus asked Him, why He didn’t come with them, He answered, How is it that you sought Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about My Father’s business?
His parents didn’t understand what He was saying and He went down with them (Luka 2: 41-52).
what happened when Jesus was 30 years old?
When Jesus was 30 years old, He was baptized in the Jordan River, by John the Baptist (Luka 3:21-22). When He was baptized and began to pray, the heaven opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, upon Him, and a voice came from heaven and said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.
After Jesus was baptized and full of the Holy Ghost, He returned from the river Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He didn’t eat anything for forty days. For forty days, the devil tempted Him (Luka 4:2-13).
But Jesus resisted the devil and did not fall into his trap. He stayed loyal and obedient to the Word of His Father, because He knew His Father and loved His Father, and feared Him. (Faitau foi: O le a Ou tuuina atu ia te outou oa o le lalolagi).
Therefore it is important for you, to get to know Him and to know His will. O lena la, you will be able to resist the devil. The only way to get to know the Father and His will is through His Word.
After the temptation in the wilderness, He returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. Mai lena taimi, we read about Jesus’ teachings and the signs and wonders that followed Him.
He preached and brought the Kingdom of God to the people and spoke and taught with authority.
“You serpents, you generations of vipers!”
Jesus spoke with authority and did not walk away from the Pharisees and Sadducees. Instead, He confronted them with their religious hypocritical walk and words, which they spoke and taught the people, but didn’t keep themselves.
Jesus wasn’t afraid to expose what was in their hearts and to speak about their thoughts. He knew who they really were and how they walked. He exposed all the things, which were hidden from the eyes of the natural man.
Jesus called them a generation of vipers, serpents, hypocrites, graves that appear not, sons of the devil, and blind leaders. (Mataio 15:7-14; 23:24,33, Luka 11:37-54; 12:56).
We can compare the position of the Pharisees and Sadducees (lawyers, teachers), with the theologians and priests in this time.
The scribes knew the law of Moses. They lived pious lives before the eyes of people and spoke devotional words. The people admired them, which also happens today. (Faitau foi: ‘The similarities between the leaders of God’s people then and now‘).
Ae peitai, Jesus was spiritual and not carnal. Therefore He was not moved by what He saw in the natural realm. He knew their hearts and their spiritual status. He discerned what was in them and He wasn’t intimidated by them, nor feared them, but confronted them.
Jesus did the will of His Father. He did the things, which He had seen His Father do and didn’t hold back.
“Get thee behind Me, satan”
When Jesus spoke about His sufferings and Peter wanted to prevent it from happening, He said to Peter, Get thee behind Me, satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men (Mataio 16:23).
Peter spoke from his emotion (his flesh) and was not focused on the things of the Kingdom of God.
While Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:17, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.
Imagine, that your fellow Christian brother or sister calls you satan. How would you react?
“Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise“
And let’s not forget what happened in the temple, when the Passover was at hand. When He found those, who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting in the temple (Ioane 2:13-18).
Jesus made a scourge of small cords and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen. He poured out the changers’ money and overthrew the tables; and said to those, who sold the doves, Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.
What about that? The salesmen and money changers were in the Temple to sell animals to the people in the temple. So that they could sacrifice these animals to God.
The sacrificial animals were for God. Maybe they did this for years and this was a normal thing to do.
But Jesus knew the will of His Father. He knew the purpose of the temple. That’s why He drove them out and wasn’t afraid to tell them the reason why He drove them out.
Imagine this happening in churches, where they sell books, CDs, DVDs, and other ‘Christian’ merchandise or food and beverages.
What would happen if you went to a church and took everything out of the bookshelves and threw it on the floor, or threw it outside on the street? Imagine you going to a restaurant in church, overthrowing the tables and chairs, and throwing away all the prepared food in the trash bins. What do you think would happen? I think that security or some Christians will immediately grab you, stop you, and throw you out of the church (Faitau foi: Pe ua avea le ekalesia ma lua o tagata gaoi?).
Jesus is a righteous Man of authority and compassion
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me (Ioane 5:30)
For the Father loves the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth (Ioane 5:19-20)
Was Jesus a wishy-washy? Did He tolerate and approve all behavior, including the sins of people? Absolutely not! Who was Jesus really? Jesus is a loving Man and full of compassion. But He is also a righteous Man, who walked in holiness, amiotonu, and authority on this earth. During His life, He obeyed all the words and commandments of His Father and did His will.
Jesus loved His Father above all. He knew His Father thoroughly, because He spent a lot of time with His Father. He was constantly in union with the Father, by speaking His words and doing His works.
Iesu walked in love; the righteous love of His Father, because He kept His commandments. He walked in holiness and authority upon this earth, doing the will of His Father. He wasn’t a partaker of sin nor a promoter of sin, but He exposed sin, by confronting the people with their sin, and He called them to repentance.
During His life on earth, the devil and the people tempted and persecuted Him, but He never sinned. Jesus stayed obedient to His Father, unto death.
‘Ia fai ma masima o le lalolagi’
