Who is Jesus and what is his divine purpose?

Introduction

Jesus has been the central figure of faith for countless people across generations, cultures, and historical periods. Through preserved manuscripts, archaeological findings, and the testimonies of the earliest communities, His life, ministry, death, and resurrection have impacted and shaped the course of human history. Biblical texts and external sources align to paint a portrait of a man who is not merely human, but who also possesses a divine nature and a unique, eternal purpose.

Below is a topical entry exploring who Jesus is and what His divine purpose entails, presented in a comprehensive yet conversational manner. Citations from Scripture appear in the Berean Standard Bible translation.

1. Messianic Prophecies and Fulfillments

The identity of Jesus emerges against the backdrop of ancient prophecies. Centuries before His birth, the Hebrew Scriptures foretold the coming of a Messiah—an Anointed One—who would redeem humanity. One example is Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:22–23) records how this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, linking His birth to the ancient promises.

Micah 5:2 also predicts the Messiah’s birthplace: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel.” This too was fulfilled (Matthew 2:1–6), demonstrating that Jesus did not arbitrarily enter the world stage; rather, His arrival fits into a historical and prophetic timeline that many believe can only be orchestrated by an eternal, purposeful God.

2. Divine Identity

One of the defining features of Jesus is His claim of divinity. Several passages underscore this truth. John 1:1 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” A few verses later, John 1:14 states, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” This reveals that Jesus, referred to as the “Word,” pre-existed creation and took on humanity to dwell among people.

Additional affirmations of His divine identity include John 10:30 where Jesus says, “I and the Father are one,” and John 20:28 in which the disciple Thomas addresses Jesus as “My Lord and my God!” This reflects an early Christian recognition that Jesus shares the divine nature and is not merely a teacher or prophet. Various early church documents and writings point to an unbroken tradition that viewed Him in this light. Many external references—such as the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18) acknowledging Jesus' influence—further support His historicity and extraordinary character.

3. Historical Reliability of the Gospels

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) serve as primary accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings. These texts are preserved in a remarkable number of ancient Greek manuscripts, partial and complete. The wealth of manuscripts—more than any other ancient document—adds weight to their historical reliability. Furthermore, the discovery of sites like the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2) and the Pilate Stone (a mid-first-century inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate) corroborates biblical details and the historical framework in which Jesus lived.

Early Christian creeds famously summarized the core beliefs about Jesus, such as the creed recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8. Studies of textual transmission show that these testimonies date back to the earliest periods of Christian history, confirming continuity and consistency about who Jesus is—the Messiah, the divine Son of God, and risen Savior.

4. Teachings and Ministry

Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, emphasizing love, forgiveness, and moral integrity. Parables such as the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) illustrate both human failings and God’s compassion. His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) lays out foundational principles of humility, mercy, and peacemaking. These teachings have profoundly impacted ethical thought and social structures across cultures.

His ministry included acts of healing and miracles, such as restoring sight to the blind (John 9), cleansing lepers (Luke 17:11–19), and raising the dead (John 11). Accounts of Jesus’ miracles appear in multiple Gospel sources and align with a supernatural element that attests to His authority and divine power. External testimony to extraordinary events, preserved through early Christian witnesses and even skeptical accounts, lends credibility to the belief that Jesus’ ministry transcended natural explanation.

5. Sacrificial Death and Resurrection

Biblical records present Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate as a pivotal event (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). Prophetic passages such as Isaiah 53 depict a suffering servant who bears the iniquities of many, pointing forward to the sacrificial aspect of Jesus’ mission. Isaiah 53:5 states, “He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

The resurrection is affirmed through multiple appearances to various individuals and groups. Most notably, 1 Corinthians 15:6 recounts how over five hundred witnessed the risen Christ at once, many of whom were still alive to verify it at the time of writing. Estimations from historical scholars reinforce that the resurrection proclamation rose in the very city (Jerusalem) of the event, amid numerous contemporaries and official documents. This bold claim of resurrection in the same environment that witnessed the crucifixion suggests the adherents believed they had strong reasons and experiences to maintain their message.

6. The Divine Purpose of Jesus

Jesus’ divine purpose unfolds throughout Scripture. In summary, He came to:

• Reveal God to humanity. John 14:9 portrays Jesus saying, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

• Offer redemption. Through His sacrificial death, He redeems those who place faith in Him (Romans 3:24–25).

• Defeat death and sin. His resurrection conquers the power of death and opens the way for eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

• Call disciples to proclaim salvation. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) empowers His followers to “make disciples of all nations.”

Wrapped in these purposes is the deeply personal invitation for individuals to enter a restored relationship with the Creator. Scripture consistently frames His mission as an act of divine love: “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

7. Implications for Humanity

Given this portrait of Jesus’ identity and divine purpose, the implications are profound. If Jesus is indeed the resurrected Son of God, then His words carry eternal significance:

• Redemption. He offers spiritual restoration and freedom from guilt, shame, and separation from the Creator.

• Purpose. Humanity’s ultimate calling is to know God through Christ and worship wholeheartedly, as mandated since creation (Revelation 4:11).

• Ethical Transformation. Jesus’ teachings challenge adherents to practice love, mercy, and compassion in tangible ways.

• Future Hope. Belief in the resurrection implies that death is not final; adherents anticipate a future resurrection and restoration of all creation.

8. Conclusion

From the prophecies pointing to His birth, to the historical corroboration of His life, to the testimonies of His resurrection, Jesus stands as a figure who transcends time and cultural boundaries. Foundational texts and a rich array of manuscript evidence testify to His divine identity and redemptive purpose. Ultimately, He is portrayed as the incarnate Word of God, the fulfillment of Israel’s Messianic hope, and the Savior who redeems believers from sin and death.

His divine purpose encompasses revealing God’s character, offering eternal life, and empowering humanity to live in harmony with the Creator and each other. For those seeking to understand who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish, Scripture illuminates the path to reconciliation and hope, affirming that He is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).