JESUS: Who do you say He is? Part 2 “Jesus the Person”

(Inspired by the book JESUS: Who Do You Say He Is?)

This series is asking an important question that so many avoid searching for a truthful answer for in their lives: “Who do you say He is?”

In this post, we are talking about Jesus the Person. Yes, He was and is real.

Story time.

Greg was speeding down the road, obviously in a hurry. One driver flipped on his lights and siren and pulled behind Greg. Greg rolled down his window and impatiently waited. The officer politely asked for his license and registration.

Greg replied, “Officer, there must be a mistake here. I don’t have time for this; I’m in a hurry.”

“You don’t understand,” said Greg. “I pay my taxes, which is your salary. I’m a very important person.”

The officer replied, “Sir, every person I have pulled over believes they’re important.”

Greg said, “No, officer. I really am. I am the keynote speaker for a conference that I am about to be late for.”

“What might this conference be about, sir?”

Greg replied, “It’s a conference on humility.”

“Well, you're in luck, sir,” said the officer. “This is your chance to practice before your speech.”

Greg wasn’t who he thought he was. The officer wasn’t who Greg thought he was. Names matter. Identity matters. But the person behind the name matters the most.

And that’s why we’re talking about Jesus—the Person behind the name.

Jesus was a real human being. He got tired and hungry. He walked dusty and dirty roads. He laughed and cried. He had friends who loved Him and enemies who sought to end Him. He had parents, meaning a mom and day—and I bet He heard things from His mom like, “Jesus, shut the door. Were you born in a stable?” To which He probably replied, “Why yes, Mom, I was.”

History has shown that Jesus was real. Archaeology has uncovered evidence proving His existence. Ancient writings coincide with history and fact, all confirming His existence on this earth. Even non‑Christian sources confirm His existence. There is no doubt that Jesus was a real person. But here’s the part some people refuse to believe: Jesus wasn’t just a real person; He was a real person who also claimed to be God.

Jesus is not a mere myth. He is not a metaphor. He is not a symbol of ignorant faith. He is a person. And being a person, you can know Him personally.

Why does this matter?

If Jesus were not and is not a real person, then you couldn’t get to know Him because relationships require people. If Jesus isn’t a real person, then He couldn’t have died for our sins, and one of the pillars of Christianity would collapse.

Can you have a personal relationship with a philosophy? A mythical figure? A concept? A metaphor?

No.

Jesus walked this earth among us so that we could walk with Him. Jesus lived on this earth as one of us so that He could fulfill the covenant and save all of us. Jesus became human and experienced all that humans experience so that humanity could know God, have hope in God, find peace in God, and know they are loved by God.

Let’s end with something I read a long while ago.

A barista was asked how they could remember dozens, if not hundreds, of drink orders every day.

Their answer was simple: They don’t remember the drinks. They remember the people. And by knowing the person, the drink makes sense.

Get it?

If you know the Person of Jesus, then everything else about Him begins to make sense.

It all starts with the Person of Jesus.