Jesus in His Own Words

There is no comparison to explain the incomparable.

In the animated Disney movie Aladdin, the young man named Aladdin discovers a genie in a bottle but has no idea what to make of this completely other kind of being. Typical in Disney movies, the problem is solved in song. Describing himself with flair, Genie gives a toe-tapping review of the many ways he can help Aladdin, the powers he has, and what he is like. It's up to Genie to reveal himself because as he repeatedly sang to Aladdin, "You ain't never had a friend like me."

If we can say anything about Jesus as we begin this exploration of who He is, we can say with certainty, "We ain't never had a friend like Him." That means we cannot gain an understanding of who He is by comparing Him to someone else. Being incomparable, the responsibility falls to Jesus to make Himself known.

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Matthew 11:27 [Jesus said] "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Jesus does reveal both Himself and His Father. As He does, it becomes increasingly clear that to know Jesus, the Son, invariably leads to a knowledge of God, the Father.

JESUS ACCORDING TO HIMSELF

We might as well begin with the most astounding revelations Jesus makes about Himself because every other claim hinges on the truth of these first declarations. In His own words:

Jesus is the only God-Man

John 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

John 14:9 "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

Jesus is the only King.

Mathew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus is the Only Way

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Jesus is the Only Savior

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Complete this paragraph and you will see the implications of the claims of Jesus.

Jesus came to save humans who are _________________(Luke 19:10). Jesus is the only way to be in a relationship with the ______________________(John 14:6). Jesus is the only universal ___________________________(Matthew 28:18). Jesus is ___________________ (John 10:30).

CONSIDER:

If the claims of Jesus are true, then we are separated from God, and condemned as sinful humans. Knowing Jesus is the one and only way to be reconciled with God.

It is a matter of eternal life and death.

• Which of these claims is easiest for you to accept?
• Which is hardest?
• What new understanding of the importance of knowing the true Jesus have you gained?