Who is Jesus?
Matt Brown- March 10th, 2026
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus famously asked his followers the question, “Who do you say I am?” And this question is just as relevant for us today. Who do you say (or think) Jesus is? Your answer to this question has the power to change your entire life and the way you view humanity. No other person in history has had more influence, caused more debate, or revolutionized the world as much as Jesus of Nazareth—or, as you may more readily recognize him, Jesus Christ.
The word Christ, however, is not Jesus’ last name, but a title—much like President or King. For the Jewish people, the label “Christ” was synonymous with Messiah, Savior, and King. The Christ was expected to conquer all of God’s enemies as the chosen one sent from God to liberate His people. It turned out the liberation God had in mind was very different from what many people in Jesus’ day expected; they were living under the oppression of the Roman Empire (more on this later).
The Historical Jesus
But what do we know about Jesus from a historical perspective?
Many may question whether Jesus was a real historical person or simply someone who grew into a mythological legend over time. However, we possess both reliable religious and secular sources that leave little room for doubting that Jesus was a real man who lived in real time and in a real place. We know he was well known, highly influential, and was crucified on a Roman cross.
The New Testament, penned by eyewitness followers of Jesus, is considered one of the most reliable collections of documents we have from ancient literature. It contains explicit claims about who Jesus is, what he taught, what he did, and what difference that makes for our lives and eternity.
We also have secular sources that affirm the biblical record. Tacitus, a Roman historian, recorded:
“Christus… suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate.” — Annals 15.44
This is clearly a reference to crucifixion, as it was the extreme penalty of the day, and it affirms the biblical details about Pontius Pilate being involved.
Josephus, a Jewish historian, also mentioned Jesus with remarkable detail. In The Testimonium Flavianum (Antiquities 18.3.3), his writing has traditionally been translated as follows:
“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man… He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of people who accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many Greeks. He was the Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross… those who had loved him did not cease… and the tribe of Christians, named after him, has not disappeared to this day.”
This affirms that Jesus taught truth, performed miracles, had followers from different ethnicities and backgrounds, and was crucified under Pilate.
All of this historical data gives us strong evidence and reason to believe that Jesus was a real historical person.
The Claims of Jesus
But Jesus also made some radical statements about himself that are worth pondering and wrestling with.
In John’s Gospel account, Jesus is recorded as making seven “I AM” statements that attest to his true identity and purpose for coming into the world.
Jesus said:
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”(John 6:35)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12)
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”(John 10:9)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”(John 10:11)
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”(John 11:25)
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”(John 15:5)
Go back and re-read those scriptures. They are words that must be contemplated because they are filled with identity claims and powerful implications for those who embrace them as truth.
Jesus satisfies the human soul, illuminates the path of life, saves us, dies for us, gives eternal life, is the way to God the Father, and supplies all we need to live a fruitful life in ways that truly matter. These are huge claims that must be carefully weighed.
But perhaps the most astonishing claim Jesus made was equality with God.
God had revealed himself in the Old Testament to Moses through a burning bush and declared himself to be “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
Later, while debating with the religious leaders of his day, Jesus said:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Abraham was the patriarch of the Jewish people—the one God called by name, blessed, and promised to make into a great nation. God commissioned him to follow Him into the unknown, to a place God promised to give him.
So when Jesus said, “before Abraham was, I am,” he was claiming superiority over Abraham and even invoking the divine name revealed to Moses. In doing so, he was claiming equality with God.
And this is exactly what Christians believe: that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, who came to take away the sin of the world.
Jesus was not merely a great teacher or a model moral human to emulate. He is the divine God-man who came to rescue humanity from our enslavement to sin.
But remember what was said about the expectations people had for the Christ? Jesus did not come to liberate his followers from the temporary oppressive rule of a pagan empire. Instead, Jesus came to liberate the human heart from enslavement to sin and the fear of death.
And the way he accomplished this was through promises that were proven through his own life, death, and resurrection from the grave.
During his life, Jesus claimed authority over humanity and eternity. He willingly entered into our human plight, struggling and suffering like the rest of us, so that we would know his loving care, his sympathetic heart, and his power to overcome the brokenness and evil of this world.
Jesus lived a life of moral perfection before God, a life none of us could ever live.
Jesus died a sacrificial death on a Roman cross for our sin, a death we deserved to die.
Jesus rose from the dead three days later, after being verified as dead and buried in a tomb.
Jesus promised that one day, all evil will be judged and put to an end and all of his followers will be with Him forever in paradise without the presence of death or decay of any kind.
So who is Jesus?
He is the one and only Son of God and Savior of the world, who lived, died, and rose again to reconcile us to God. He alone has the power to liberate us from our slavery to sin, forgive us and grant us godly purpose, and replace our fear of death with the sure hope of eternal life.
And just as Jesus asked his early followers, “Who do you say I am?”
So I ask you, reader:
Who do you say Jesus is?
If you would like to talk about this question in person, we here at Skyline Church in Denver would love to invite you into the conversation. We have groups that discuss this very question in an open and non-judgmental way. We also have pastors and other leaders available to sit down and discuss it with you further. If you are interested in this, please let us know here!