"Peace be with you." ~Jesus
Lord Jesus, The Prince of Peace, is one of the most famous and well known individuals in history. Many know Him as a great wise Teacher, Prophet, and a peaceful loving man. While all this is true about Lord Jesus, the even bigger truth about His identity is greater: He's The Son of God.
His accomplishments are vast and astonishing which include: creating the heavens, the earth, the planets, the stars, sun, and moon; instantly healing the sick; taking away blindness from blind people and giving them sight; commanding a storm to stop and the seas to be calm; walking on water; forgiving people like prostitutes, thieves, and corrupt tax collectors of their sins and successfully turning them away from doing prostitution, adultery, stealing, and corruption; silencing and casting scary demons out of people (the demons are terrified of Him because He is God The Son); fulfilled the commandments in God's Law and the prophecies of the Old Testament; and raising people from the dead.
One of His biggest achievements was dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead 3 days later. He is alive today; very active; and always has time to listen, help, comfort, and spend time with us.
"God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." -John 3:17
Lord Jesus's mission is to save people from their sinful nature: hatred, violence, enjoyment in doing wicked things, plotting to do evil, lust to oppress, all sorts of division, addictions, greed, unfaithfulness, hypocrisy, idolatry, immorality, and stuff like this.
Instead of condemning people, Lord Jesus befriends them and spiritually transforms them into new individuals who love Him, love others, and are full of peaceful goodness that comes only through Him. He even adopts them into His family and gives them eternal life free from the sting of eternal death. His desire is for all to come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth.
What is Lord Jesus like as a person?
Answer: From my own personal experience with the King of Kings:
He is very kind and compassionate towards individuals. If you ask Him something or come to Him about a problem/situation, He won't snap at you, tease you, or put you down but He will listen, respond with kindness, and help you out. If you are feeling horrible or downright sad, He won't tell you to suck it up and get over it in a rude fashion, but will listen to you, comfort you, and encourage you. He's the Number 1 "go-to" when you are brokenhearted and down in the dumps. He is so loving it's practically indescribable. I mean...He got whipped, had a crown of thorns placed on his head stabbing into his flesh, He got severely beaten by Roman guards, mocked, ridiculed, insulted, and got killed in one of the most painful ways possible: crucifixion...all that for you and me so that we wouldn't die eternally when we truly believe in Him. Now THAT is love.
He's also extremely merciful and shows grace beyond comprehension. Have you ever had a situation with a friend or family member where you messed up, wronged them, or hurt their feelings? And when you ask them for forgiveness, they don't forgive you or maybe unfriend you entirely? I've been there and those scenarios are happening a dime a dozen everywhere. But with Lord Jesus (this is mind blowing), if you did something wrong and you come and ask Him to forgive you and you truly sorry about it, not only does He forgive you but He chooses to forget the wrong and cancels it out! And then He goes a step further and helps you to not do it again. If you just so happen mess up again, He will forgive you when you sincerely ask and will keep on working with you till you grow to the point where you won't be making the wrong-doing a habit.
This brings us to another fine trait of God The Son: He's not quitter. He doesn't throw in the towel, He just keeps pressing on and always accomplishes what He wants accomplished. He never fails.
He also loves true justice and righteousness and displays it in His actions. He doesn't love or rejoice in wrongdoing, injustice, and unrighteousness. But rather He exposes it and turns the individual away from such behavior. He really doesn't like it when individuals strongly embrace the whole "evil is good and good is evil" mindset (example of this would be thinking works of the flesh like anger, violence, and division are good but think the fruit of the Spirit like kindness, peace, and joy are evil).
Lord Jesus can be stern and bold when necessary. Example of this is when the money changers were charging people for things inside the temple and turning what should be a place of prayer into a con shop. So Lord Jesus firmly came in (with a whip of cords) and kicked them out.
Lord Jesus is patient, gentle, and loves little children. He doesn't like it when they are treated badly or harm comes to them. He welcomes them and all who come to Him with open arms.
If you would like to know even more about Lord Jesus, I encourage you to reach out to Him in prayer. He won't turn you away. And also read the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and Revelation in The Bible.
There are believers that call Lord Jesus 'The Son of God' and there are some who call Him 'God The Son'. Is there a difference or do both titles mean the same?
Answer: There is no difference. Whether you call Lord Jesus 'The Son of God' or you call Him 'God The Son', they both have the exact same meaning: He is God's only begotten Son and He is fully God.
How is Lord Jesus called The Word of God when The Bible is also referred to as the word of God?
Answer: This question actually comes up a lot and can cause quite a bit of confusion especially among young followers of The Way. The answer is actually more simple than you would think. The Bible is referred to as the word of God in the sense that God Himself, The Holy Spirit, is the Author of it. While the multiple books of The Bible had different writers like Moses, the prophets, and the disciples, The Holy Spirit is The One who gave them the words to write down while letting them use their own writing style. So the words in The Bible are literally God breathed, as it is written in 2 Timothy 3:16. Now Lord Jesus, however, is the literal Word of God. He is The Word became flesh and when He speaks...it just is. It happens exactly as He says it because He is God.
Now who exactly is God?
Answer: The Lord God is Three Persons in One: God The Father, God The Son (Lord Jesus), and God The Spirit (The Holy Spirit). The Lord God is the Creator of all things and is the only true God. Besides Him, there is no god.
Where in The Bible does it say that Lord Jesus is God?
Answer: While there are multiple spots in the Bible that go into detail that Lord Jesus is God, here are 3 key examples from the good book that reveal this:
1. John 1:1. John 1:14
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. " -John 1:1
"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." -John 1:14
One of Lord Jesus's kingly titles is The Word of God which we see is also recorded in Revelation chapter 19:
"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." -Revelation 19:11-13
This verse from Revelation in addition to the two verses from John clearly illustrate that The Word of God is God and that Lord Jesus being The Word of God declares that He is in fact God. These verses are some of the clearest in the Bible that confirm Lord Jesus's deity.
2. John 8:58
“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, i am!”
Right here Lord Jesus reveals to the Jews who He really is. The name 'I am" is one of God's most famous and well known names especially among the Jewish people. When God calls Himself "I am" it means He just is and that there is no other like Him. He's affirming the fact that He alone is God and that there are no others besides Him. In today's age, some followers of the Way refer to God as The Great "I am".
The first recorded time in history when God called Himself "I am" is when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush:
"But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
God replied to Moses, “i am who i am. Say this to the people of Israel: i am has sent me to you.”-Exodus 3:13-14
So when Lord Jesus tells the people that He is "I am", He is letting them know the truth that He is God.
3. Revelation 1:17. 22:13
“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last." ~Lord Jesus, Rev. 1:17
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” -Lord Jesus, Rev. 22:13
In all honesty, the entire book of Revelation is a ginormous example that Lord Jesus is God. These two quotes however are very crucial in the fact that God said the exact same line "I am the first and the last" many years ago which is recorded in Isaiah:
"This is what the lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the lord of Heaven’s Armies:“I am the First and the Last; there is no other God." -Isaiah 44:6
"Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last." -Isaiah 48:12
When Lord Jesus says that line in Revelation, He's making it extremely clear of His deity. A follower of the Way can peacefully be assured without any shadow of doubt that the One they follow, Lord Jesus, is The Great "I am".
If I did something wrong and I confessed it to Lord Jesus, would He forgive me or condemn me?
Answer: He would 100% forgive you and He takes a step further by blotting out the wrong you did and choose not to remember it. He won't condemn you, tease you, call you names, put you down, or cast you out. You ask Him for forgiveness and He forgives you and welcomes you with open loving arms.
"So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” -Lord Jesus, Mark 2:10
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." -1 John 1:9
"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” -Hebrews 8:12
Can you lose your salvation in Lord Jesus?
Answer: Absolutely not. Once you embrace Lord Jesus and follow Him, you are His forever and He won't let you go. He's not a deadbeat. In fact, recorded in the book of John, Lord Jesus talks about this very thing and He makes it very clear that no one can snatch His true followers out of His hands or God The Father's hands. Here is His direct quote:
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”~ Lord Jesus, The Son of God, John 10:27-30
When Lord Jesus says that no one can pluck His followers out of His hand, He means it. To further cement this fact, the Lord God even gives believers The Holy Spirit who acts also as the seal and guarantee for those who are His. As a warning though, there are many false teachers out there claiming to be Christians who try to convince others that Lord Jesus will abandon them and that they will lose their salvation. These false teachers however are not of the Way and do not follow Lord Jesus and His teachings. It's best to always go straight to the source and trust the facts. In this case, Lord Jesus is the source since He is the One who gives salvation and He says that when you truly follow Him, you are His forever.
What are the 7 'I AM' statements spoken by Lord Jesus? And where in the Bible is each one located?
Answer: The 7 'I AM' statements that Lord Jesus said long ago are recorded in the book of John, which is one of the 4 Gospels. The following are the 7 'I AM' statements:
- I AM the Bread of Life. (John 6:35)
- I AM the Light of the World. (John 8:12)
- I AM the Door (Gate) of the sheep. (John 10:7, 10:9)
- I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 10:14)
- I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
- I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6)
- I AM The True Vine (John 15:1)
Lord Jesus has the famous title King of Kings, but where in the Bible does it mention this?
Answer: It's mentioned in:
1. 1 Timothy 6:13-15
"And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. For,At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords."
2. Revelation 17:14
"Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
3. Revelation 19:16
"On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Where in the Bible does it say that Lord Jesus is the Prince of Peace?
Answer: Lord Jesus's title as "Prince of Peace" is revealed in the prophecy of The Messiah located in the book of Isaiah:
"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
How old was Lord Jesus when He began His ministry?
Answer: 30 years of age. This is recorded in the book of Luke:
"Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli." -Luke 3:23
Who were Lord Jesus's original 12 disciples?
Answer: Here are the original 12:
1. Peter (sometimes called Cephas or Simon)
2. Andrew
3. James (son of Zebedee)
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James (son of Alphaeus)
10. Lebbaeus (also known as Judas, Jude, or Thaddeus)
11. Simon ( a Canaanite and he is also called Zelotes)
12. Judas Iscariot
After Judas Iscariot's betrayal and shortly after Lord Jesus ascended to The Father, the disciples asked the Lord for help to choose who should replace Judas Iscariot. Matthias was chosen.
Regarding Jesus's followers, were they always called "Christians"?Answer: No. The original title for Lord Jesus's followers were "followers of The Way" or "nazarenes". The term 'christian' was coined in later on. Sadly in today's age, the title of "christian" is flaunted around very loosely and in a lot of cases has become the primary title for members of radical cults or followers of an AntiChrist. Because of this, there are some believers who prefer being called by the authentic original title 'followers of the Way'.
Where in the Old Testament is the prophecy that Lord Jesus would be born in Bethlehem?
Answer: Micah 5:2
"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf."
Where in the Old Testament is the prophecy that Lord Jesus would come in riding on a donkey?
Answer: Zechariah 9:9
"Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."
Where in the Old Testament is the prophecy that Lord Jesus would be hated on, tortured, and crucified?
Answer: The most well known spots in the Old Testament that feature this prophecy are:
1. Isaiah 53
"Who has believed our message? To whom has the lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels."
2. Psalm 22. This is probably the most detailed and in depth description of what was to happen:
"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced. But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the lord? Then let the lord save him! If the lord loves him so much, let the lord rescue him!” Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. O lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done."
Lord Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and because He died on the cross for us, we have life eternal by believing in Him. For full details check out Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in The Bible.
Where in the Old Testament is the prophecy that Lord Jesus would rise from the dead?
Answer: The prophecy that The Messiah, Lord Jesus, would rise from the dead is written in Psalm 16:
"I know the lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever." -Psalm 16:8-11
For awhile, many thought that Psalm 16 was referring to King David since he was the one that The Holy Spirit had write this Psalm down. The Holy Spirit, speaking through the apostle Peter, revealed to everyone that Psalm 16 was not about King David but was referring to The Messiah rising from the dead. Here's that portion from apostle Peter's sermon:
"King David said this about him:
‘I see that the lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today." ~Peter, Acts 2:25-33
Lord Jesus, being The Messiah, fulfilled the Psalm 16 prophecy by rising from the dead in 3 Days and putting death to shame. If you want the full detailed telling of Lord Jesus's Resurrection, check out the final chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in The Bible.
How many days was Lord Jesus on the earth after He rose from the dead but before He ascended?
Answer: 40 Days. This is recorded in chapter 1 of the book of Acts:
"until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." -Acts 1:2-3
How many brethren did Lord Jesus appear to after He rose from the dead?
Answer: He was first seen by Mary Magdeline which is recorded in John 20:14-17. He was then seen by the disciples and over 500 brethren as it is written:
"He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles." -1 Corinthians 15:5-7
Was Lord Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for our sins temporary?
Answer: Nope. The Bible makes it very clear that His sacrifice on the cross for our sins was for all time:
"For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand." -Hebrews 10:4-12
So yes, when Lord Jesus, The Prince of Peace, died on the cross for our sins it was forever.
How can I have a friendship with Lord Jesus (The Great I AM)?
Answer: Extremely simple and the cool thing is He really WANTS to be your friend. All you have to do is pray to the Lord God and:
1. Confess all Your sins and wrong-doings to Him and walk away from such a lifestyle. This part can be hard but just be honest with Him without any worry. He is very understanding and will by no means tear you down, tease you, or ridicule you.
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." -1 John 1:9
2. Declare to Him that you believe that Jesus is Lord, that He is The Son of God, and that God raised Him from the dead in 3 days:
"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." -Romans 10:9
"All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God." -1 John 4:15
It's that simple. And the great thing is you can talk to Lord Jesus anytime and anywhere. He is truly faithful and will never leave you nor forsake you. As a guarantee, He even gives you The Holy Spirit (God The Spirit), who is very humble, faithful, kind, wise, will always teach you about The Bible, and stir up in you the good things that are righteous to God. Your friendship with The Great I am will only grow stronger.
***Verses from NLT***
