Who Is Jesus?

This question is one of the most challenging and yet most important questions that can occur to anyone. Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15).

The answer to this question depends on the understanding and recognition of the responder about the multi-dimensional personality of Jesus Christ. To understand Christ and his character, many thick books have been written, and each author or interpreter, using the Bible, has written their own perspective or views about him. Regarding who Jesus is, John writes in his gospel:

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).

First, let's briefly understand the definition of personality. Scholars have presented various definitions for personality, and there is not much consensus in their definitions because understanding humans is not that easy. But we choose the most comprehensive definition of personality and write it here:

Personality: Specific and distinct patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that characterize an individual's style in interacting with their social and material environment. Personality is made up of genetics and the environment. A person is born with specific genetic traits, and henceforth, their dealings will be with their surrounding environment (1).

Personality means a set of perceptions, emotions, mentalities, motivations, and actions of an individual in interaction with various environmental conditions (2).

Jesus has many names and titles. The name "Jesus" means "Savior." We usually add the title "Christ" to his name. The word "Christ" is derived from the Hebrew word "Mashiach". "Christ" or "Mashiach" means "anointed" or "one whom God has appointed for service" (3).

In Hebrew, Jesus is called "Yeshua" and in ancient Greek, "Iésous". In most Western and European countries, especially English-speaking ones, he's named Jesus Christ, signifying "عیسی مسیح" in Dari-Persian.

Jesus has many other names and titles. The title "Messiah" also refers to someone or a promised king whom the Jews had been waiting for several hundred years ago to appear and lead them to political and military victory over the Roman Empire. They did not believe or expect that the promised Messiah would be the Son of God and come as a human and then die on the cross.

Prophet Isaiah wrote about the promised Messiah that he is someone who takes upon himself the sins and sorrows of humans (Isaiah 53:1-12); he wrote that the Messiah would even be called the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jewish men at the time of Jesus Christ had only one name, which in some cases, their father's name was mentioned after their name, or the name of the city or place of birth was added after their name. So, Jesus is also called "Jesus of Nazareth." Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem and spent some years of his childhood in Egypt and then grew up in the city of Nazareth.

In the city of Nazareth, Jesus' neighbors called him a carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:3), "the carpenter's son" (Matthew 13:55), "Joseph's son" (Luke 4:22), and Philip, later one of Jesus' disciples, called him "Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45).

When the reader reads the Holy Scriptures for the first time, undoubtedly, he encounters names and attributes that are difficult to understand and digest, but with a little contemplation and search, he will understand the meanings and the purpose of God's Word well. The Holy Scriptures mention these names and titles for Jesus Christ:

1. Jesus, the Promised Messiah.
2. Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Savior.
3. Jesus, the Priest.
4. Jesus, the Prophet.
5. Jesus, the King.
6. Jesus, the Heir.
7. Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man.
8. Jesus, the Word.
9. Jesus, the Light of the World.
10. Jesus, the Healer.
11. Jesus, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.
12. Jesus, Resurrection and Life.
13. Jesus, the Lord.
14. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
15. Jesus, the Bread of Life, the True Bread.

All of these names and titles are taken from the divine and human personality of Jesus Christ. In other words, these names and titles are indicative of the exalted divine and human personhood of Jesus Christ. In the next volume, we will address other qualities mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

Different peoples and religions offer various interpretations of Jesus Christ. Some view him as a wise teacher, others as a prophet or philosopher, and some as divine. Who do you see Jesus Christ as?

*This subject continues in future volumes*