Lesson 15 Who Is Jesus?
[Image:] Jesus walking through a field of grain.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
Jesus is one of the most famous people in history. Yet, other than his name, many people do not know much about him, and many have different ideas about who Jesus really is. What does the Bible say about him?
1. Who is Jesus?
Jesus is a powerful spirit who lives in heaven. He was created by Jehovah God before everything else. For that reason, he is called “the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
[Quotation] Colossians 1:15: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; [End Quotation]
The Bible refers to Jesus as God’s “only-begotten Son” because Jesus alone was directly created by Jehovah.
[Quotation] John 3:16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. [End Quotation]
Jesus worked closely with his Father, Jehovah, helping Him to create all other things. (Read Proverbs 8:30)
[Read scripture] Proverbs 8:30: Then I was beside him as a master worker. I was the one he was especially fond of day by day; I rejoiced before him all the time; [End of Read scripture]
Jesus continues to enjoy a close relationship with Jehovah. He loyally serves as God’s spokesman, “the Word,” delivering His messages and instructions.
[Quotation] John 1:14: So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth. [End Quotation]
2. Why did Jesus come to earth?
About 2,000 years ago, Jehovah miraculously used his holy spirit to transfer Jesus’ life from heaven to the womb of a young virgin woman named Mary. In this way, Jesus was born as a human. (Read Luke 1:34 and 35)
[Read scripture] Luke 1:34 and 35: But Mary said to the angel: “How is this to be, since I am not having sexual relations with a man?” In answer the angel said to her: “Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. And for that reason the one who is born will be called holy, God’s Son. [End of Read scripture]
Jesus came to earth to be the promised Messiah, or Christ, and to save humankind. * All the Bible’s prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in him, enabling people to identify Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[Quotation] Matthew 16:16: Simon Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [End Quotation]
[Footnote] * Lessons 26 and 27 will consider why humankind needs to be saved and how Jesus saves us. [End of footnote]
3. Where is Jesus now?
After Jesus’ life as a human ended, he was resurrected as a spirit and he returned to heaven. There, “God exalted him to a superior position.” (Philippians 2:9)
[Quotation] Philippians 2:9: For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, [End Quotation]
Now, Jesus has a position of great authority, second only to Jehovah himself.
Dig Deeper
Find out more about who Jesus really is and why learning about him is so important.
4. Jesus is not Almighty God
The Bible teaches that although Jesus is a powerful spirit creature in heaven, he is subject to his God and Father, Jehovah. Why can we say that? Play the video Is Jesus Christ God? (3:22) to see what the Bible teaches about Jesus’ position in relation to the almighty God.
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added independently to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[Is Jesus Christ God?]
[As Jesus is teaching in front of a large crowd, a lame man makes his way to Jesus on crutches. Jesus holds his hand out toward the man]
Presenter: Many people regard Jesus as the most influential person in history. But is he Almighty God himself?
[The man reaches toward Jesus]
Or was he simply a good man?
[The crowd gasp in disbelief]
Many people personally met Jesus, and some of their accounts are found in the Bible, revealing who Jesus really is.
[Text: The angel Gabriel. 2 B.C.E]
For instance, an angel spoke to Jesus’ mother about her unborn son and said: “This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.”
[Text Luke 1:32. Jehovah God 29 C.E]
When Jesus was being baptized, God’s own voice confirmed Jesus’ identity: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”
[Text Matthew 3:17. Text: Peter. Circa 32 C.E]
What did his followers believe? When Jesus asked who they thought he was, Peter responded: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[Text: Matthew 16:1. Text: Chief Priests. 33 C.E]
What did Jesus’ enemies say? Those wanting to kill him explained why: “According to the law he ought to die, because he made himself God’s son.”
[Text: John 19:7. Text: Jesus. 33 C.E]
What did Jesus himself say about his identity and relationship to God? He told his followers: “The Father is greater than I am.”
[Text: John 14:28. Text: Resurrected Jesus. 33 C.E]
Even after his death and resurrection, Jesus said this about his future: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.”
[Text: John 20:17]
The Biblical record makes it clear that Jesus is a distinct person, separate from God Almighty. In fact, the Bible teaches that although Jesus is a powerful spirit creature in heaven, he is still subject to his God and Father. Still, God has given a special assignment to his Son: to bring everlasting life and happiness to all humankind, just as God originally purposed. What else does the Bible say about Jesus? Did Jesus really perform miracles? Why did Jesus die? Will Jesus return? To learn more, search for these topics at JW.org. Or fill out the online request for one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to visit at a time and place convenient for you.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2020 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
The following scriptures help us to understand the relationship between Jehovah and Jesus. Read each scripture, and then discuss the questions that follow.
Read Luke 1:30 through 32.
[Read scripture] Luke 1:30 through 32: So the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And look! you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, [End of Read scripture]
How did the angel describe the relationship between Jesus and Jehovah God, “the Most High”?
Read Matthew 3:16 and 17.
[Read scripture] Matthew 3:16 and 17: After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him. Look! Also, a voice from the heavens said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.” [End of Read scripture]
At Jesus’ baptism, what did the voice from heaven say?
Whose voice do you think that was?
Read John 14:28.
[Read scripture] John 14:28: You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am. [End of Read scripture]
Who is older and has more authority? A father or a son?
What did Jesus mean when he called Jehovah his Father?
Read John 12:49.
[Read scripture] John 12:49: For I have not spoken of my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. [End of Read scripture]
Does Jesus think that he and his Father are the same person? What do you think?
[Image:] Jesus and John the Baptist standing in water and listening to a voice from heaven immediately after Jesus’ baptism.
5. Jesus proved to be the Messiah
The Bible contains many prophecies that would help people to identify the Messiah, God’s chosen one to save humankind. Play the video Jesus Fulfills Prophecy (3:03) for a brief introduction to some of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled when he came to earth.
[Click for Transcript]|[Jesus Fulfils Prophecy]
[Text: Gerrit Lösch. Governing Body]
Gerrit: Let’s consider some outstanding prophecies about Jesus and their fulfilment. One was that he would be born of the tribe of Judah from the family of David the son of Jesse. More than 700 years before Jesus was born, Micah foretold in chapter 5 that he would be born in Bethlehem. The prophecy speaks of “Bethlehem Ephrathah.” Why is the designation “Ephrathah” important? Because there existed another Bethlehem in the territory of Zebulun. It has been identified with Beit Lahm about 7 miles, or 11 kilometres, west-northwest of Nazareth. Again, the prophecy was extremely specific. And amazingly, Isaiah prophesied he would be born of a virgin.
[Background pictures appear]
What human would ever think of such a thing?
[Mary holds baby Jesus]
Daniel chapter 9 foretold that the Messiah would arrive 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem. This proved to be true in the year 29 of our Common Era when Jesus was baptized.
[John and Jesus in the Jordan]
Zechariah chapter 11 foretold that the Messiah would be betrayed for “30 pieces of silver.” Chapter 12 says that his body would be pierced.
[Jesus hangs on the stake]
It was foretold that the Messiah would die a sacrificial death for our sins and be buried in the tomb of a rich man.
[Disciples prepare his body]
Furthermore, prophecy proclaimed that he would be in the grave for parts of three days and then be resurrected.
[He ascends to heaven in a cloud]
What about the argument that Jesus deliberately arranged matters so that the events in his life would fit all these prophecies? What do you think? Could Jesus have arranged to be born of the tribe of Judah in the town of David’s birth in Bethlehem? His mother, Mary, lived in Nazareth. Could he tell her while in the womb, ‘Please take me to Bethlehem because the Scriptures say I must be born there’? Obviously, the very start of his life on earth was beyond his control. Furthermore, could Jesus have arranged for the priests to pay Judas the 30 pieces of silver to betray him? Could he have arranged that his enemies spit in his face? that the Roman authorities sentence him to be nailed to a stake? that the soldiers cast lots for his garments? or that while piercing his side with a spear, they not follow the custom of breaking any of his bones? Could the prophecies just mentioned have been fulfilled by mere chance?
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Read these Bible prophecies, and then discuss the questions that follow:
Read Micah 5:2 to learn where the Messiah was to be born. *[Footnote] * See Endnote 2 for a prophecy that foretold exactly when Jesus would appear on earth. [End of footnote]
[Read scripture] Micah 5:2: And you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, The one too little to be among the thousands of Judah, From you will come out for me the one to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from ancient times, from the days of long ago. [End of Read scripture]
Did Jesus’ birth fulfill this prophecy?
[Quotation] Matthew 2:1: After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look! astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, [End Quotation]
Read Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10 to see details that were prophesied about the Messiah’s death.
[Read scripture] Psalm 34:20: He is guarding all his bones; Not one of them has been broken. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Zechariah 12:10: “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and supplication, and they will look to the one whom they pierced, and they will wail over him as they would wail over an only son; and they will grieve bitterly over him as they would grieve over a firstborn son. [End of Read scripture]
Were these prophecies fulfilled?
[Quotation] John 19:33 through 37: But on coming to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers jabbed his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And the one who has seen it has given this witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that what he says is true, so that you also may believe. In fact, these things took place for the scripture to be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be broken.” And again, a different scripture says: “They will look to the one whom they pierced.” [End Quotation]
Do you think Jesus could have influenced the fulfillment of any of these prophecies?
What does this prove to you about Jesus?
6. We benefit from learning about Jesus
The Bible stresses the importance of learning about Jesus and his role. Read John 14:6 and 17:3, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] John 14:6: Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] John 17:3: This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. [End of Read scripture]
Why is it vital to learn about Jesus?
[Image:] Jesus teaching a group of men, women, and children. Caption: Jesus opened the way to become God’s friend. He taught the truth about Jehovah, and through him, we can gain everlasting life
[Box]
Some People Say: “Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in Jesus.” How would you reply? [End of box]
Summary
Jesus is a powerful spirit. He is God’s Son and the Messiah.
Review
Why is Jesus called “the firstborn of all creation”?
Before coming to earth, what did Jesus do?
How do we know that Jesus is the Messiah?
Goal
Watch the drama ‘For a Certainty God Made Him Lord and Christ’ Part I or read Luke chapters 2 and 3 to learn more about Jesus’ life on earth. Set Other Goals
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Explore
Learn more about Jesus’ role as the Messiah. “Do Messianic Prophecies Prove That Jesus Was the Messiah?” (Web article)
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Find out if the Bible teaches that God literally fathered Jesus in the same way that humans produce children. “Why Is Jesus Called the Son of God?” (Web article)
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Consider why the Trinity is not a Bible teaching. “Is Jesus God?” (The Watchtower, April 1, 2009)
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Read how a woman’s life changed after she investigated what the Bible says about Jesus. “A Jewish Woman Explains Why She Reexamined Her Faith” (Awake!, May 2013)
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