Some who consider themselves to be Christians are not really sure just what they believe about Jesus. To follow Jesus is a serious undertaking. To decide to be His disciple requires that one know about Him (John 6:44–45). Every person needs to know at least four things about Jesus.
Jesus made us—He is Creator. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1–3).
John 1:14 identifies “the Word” as Jesus, “the only begotten of the Father.” Colossians 1:16–17 declares that by Jesus all things were created, “and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” No amount of evolutionary teaching can change the truth that God’s Son created all things.
Jesus died and rose again for us—He is Savior. Jesus did not come just to make the world a better place or simply raise the standard of mankind’s morals. He came to save people from sin and the horrible punishment of hell. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
(1 Timothy 1:15). “The Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Thanks be to God “that Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), and “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Just as Jesus predicted, after He was buried “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).
What does His resurrection have to do with us? He “was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25). Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Mark 16:19).
He has authority over us—He is King. Jesus has all authority. After the resurrection, Jesus told His apostles, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18–20). He is the head of His church (Ephesians 1:22–23), so in all things the church is to be in subjection to Him (Ephesians 5:24). To put it another way, Jesus is King over His kingdom, which is simply another designation for His church (Colossians 1:13).
He will determine our destiny—He is Judge. Jesus said, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Paul added, “We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10) because “He was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). What a thought: the One who created us, died for us, arose for us, and rules over us, will one day judge us!
A wise man wrote “in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). We might add, “with all your understanding, understand Jesus.” —Roger D. Campbell
