In João 1.1-4 and 14 we read about Him: "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 was not any thing made that was made. Life was in him and the life was the light of men... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father."
Jesus in each book of the Old Testament
In Genesis, He is called the "seed of the woman".
In Exodus, He is the Passover lamb.
In Leviticus, He is presented as high priest.
In Numbers, He is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
In Deuteronomy, Moses speaks of Him as being a prophet.
In Joshua, He is the leader of our salvation.
In Judges, He appears as our judge and lawgiver.
In Ruth, He is our redeemer.
In 1 and 2 Samuel we see Jesus as our true prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles, He is our Sovereign Lord.
In Ezra, He appears as the man who restores the fallen walls of our human existence.
In Nehemiah, we see the Lord as our strength.
In Esther, He is our Mordecai.
In Job, He is called our eternally living Savior.
In the Psalms, He is our good shepherd.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, He shines as our wisdom.
In Song of Songs, He is the bridegroom who loves us.
In Isaiah, He is called the "Prince of peace".
In Jeremiah, He appears as the "Branch of righteousness".
In Lamentations, He is our prophet who weeps.
In Ezekiel, He is presented to us as the wonderful man "with four faces".
In Daniel, He is the fourth man in the fiery furnace.
In Hosea, He appears as the faithful husband, who is married to an unfaithful woman (Israel).
In Joel, He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
In Amos we see Jesus as the one who carries our burdens.
In Obadiah, He is mighty to save.
In Jonah, He stands before us as the great missionary to the Gentiles.
In Micah, He is God incarnate (Mic 5.1).
In Nahum, He is mentioned as the judge chosen by God.
In Habakkuk, He is God's evangelist who cries out: "O Lord, revive your work in the years" (Hab 3.2).
In Zephaniah, He manifests himself as our Savior.
In Haggai, He is the restorer of God's lost inheritance.
In Zechariah, He is presented as the open fountain of the house of David that cleanses sins and impurities.
In Malachi, He shows himself as the "sun of righteousness" with "salvation in its wings" (Mal 4.2).
WHO IS JESUS
Jesus of Nazareth transformed the world. There has never been and never will be anyone like Him. He is the subject of more books, plays, poems, films, and expressions of worship than any other man in the history of humanity. He divided human history into B.C. and A.D. – "before and after Christ".
Reading His words carefully – comparing them with those of Muhammad, Buddha, and Hindu writings, or any other religious leader – is to be amazed at their power and singularity. Those who heard Him asked in surprise: "Where did he get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" (Mt 13.54). Observing what He did is to be intuitively convinced of the basic claims of Christian faith.
All the good that Christianity has done to the world is the result of Jesus' influence. But who was this man? The Hebrew Scriptures predicted centuries in advance the coming of a divine Messiah for all humanity, and Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies.
Therefore, it is essential that you Know Jesus! See what the Bible says about Him:
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1.15)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus (Colossians 1.19)
Jesus is before all things. In him all things hold together (Colossians 1.17).
In Jesus dwells bodily all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2.9)
No one has ever seen God; the one and only Son [Jesus], who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known (João 1.18)
Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word... (Hebrews 1.3)
In Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (Colossians 2.3).
The Word [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him (João 1.10)
The mystery hidden for long ages and generations; but now it has been revealed... that is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1.26,27)
Jesus became our righteousness from God – our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1.30)
Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone who comes into the world (João 1.9)
God the Father appointed the Son, Jesus, heir of all things, through whom also he made the universe (Hebrews 1.2)
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant... (Hebrews 12.24)
Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith... (Hebrews 12.2)
In Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1.14)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2.5)
Jesus said: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me (João 14.6)
In Song of Songs 5.16 we read: "...he is altogether lovely". This cannot be said of anyone except Jesus Christ. Any other greatness is corrupted by littleness, any other wisdom is destroyed by foolishness, any other goodness comes stained by imperfection. Jesus Christ is the only one of whom it can be said that in Him everything is lovely and beautiful.
His beauty resides in His perfect humanity. He identified with us in all things, except our sin and our evil nature. He had to grow physically – like us – but He also grew in grace. He worked, wept, prayed and loved. In all things He was tempted as we are – but remained without sin.
As the Son of God, He enters into our life in the twentieth century in a manner as simple and natural as if He had lived on our street. He is one of us in all things. He enters a life full of sin just as a clean and transparent river pours its waters into a still lake. The river does not fear contamination, it is he who cleanses the lake with his strength.
Christ also possesses perfect compassion. Let us think only of the "flock without a shepherd" or of the grieving widow of Nain. Have you ever seen Jesus seeking out people who "deserved" His compassion? It is simply written of Him that: "...he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Mt 14.14b). What glory resides in his mercy! In those days it meant contamination to approach the poor lepers, but contact with Jesus' hand healed and purified them.
The perfect humility of Jesus Christ is extremely lovely. He, the only one who could have chosen how he wished to be born, entered this life like one among many. He said: "...among you I am like one who serves" (Lc 22.27b), and it is written that He "poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him" (Jo 13.5). And it is also written that He "when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate" (1 Pe 2.23).
Jesus Christ also possesses perfect gentleness. How tender He is, but also faithful, selfless and devoted. When He spoke to the silent woman, desperate, after her accusers were withdrawing one by one, all His lovely gentleness showed itself.
Even at the hour of His death, He heard the cry of faith in despair. In ancient times, when victors returned from wars, they brought their most important prisoners as trophies of victory. For Jesus Christ it was enough to arrive in heaven bringing with him the soul of a thief.
Finally, let us look at His perfect inner balance. We could still say much about His dignity, His masculinity, about His courage. In Him are united traits of a perfect character and form a wonderful balance. His gentleness is never too delicate, his courage is never brutal.
Is He not altogether desirable? Do you want to accept Him as your personal Savior and likewise discover His glory? He himself said: "I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will have eternal life" (Jo 6.47).
(Dr. C. I. Scofield - http://www.ajesus.com.br)
Previously published in Chamada da Meia-Noite magazine, August 1998.