The Core Attributes of Jesus

God With Us Mat 1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Jesus is described in the Bible as fully divine and fully human, embodying attributes such as eternal, omnipotent, holy, loving, and compassionate. Key characteristics include his role as Savior, Shepherd, and Teacher, with specific references highlighting his humility, obedience, and sinlessness, often pointing to his role in redemption and reconciliation.

• His Divine Nature
  • Eternal: "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58).
  • Equal with God/Creator: "The Word was God" (John 1:1-2), and "All things were made through him" (John 1:3).
  • Immutable (Unchanging): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
  • Omnipotent (All-Powerful): "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).

• Character and Personality:
• Love: "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" (Ephesians 5:2).
• Holy and Sinless: "He committed no sin" (1 Peter 2:22), "Holy, innocent, unstained" (Hebrews 7:26).
• Humility/Obedience: "He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death" (Philippians 2:8).
• Compassion: "Moved with compassion" for the crowds (Matthew 9:36, 14:14).

• Roles and Titles:
• Savior: "He will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
• The Way, Truth, and Life: "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
• Good Shepherd: "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Note: Satan is not a shepherd, he is a thief (John 10:10).
• Light of the World: "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness" (John 8:12). "
• Advocate: "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
• Judge: "He is the one...appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead" (Acts 10:42).

Key Scripture Passages regarding His Attributes

• Philippians 2:5-11: Details his humility, incarnation, and exaltation.
• Colossians 1:15-20: Describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God and creator.
• Hebrews 1:1-4: Highlights his divinity and role as the radiance of God's glory.
• John 1:1-18: Establishes his divinity as the Word made flesh.

- Jesus, He's the Savior that Divides People -

Some (like me) say, "Jesus, is their Savior."

Some, won't even utter His name, they call Him: "That Man"

Others say, "He didn't exist."

Still others say, "He was a good teacher."

Wow, for someone reported to have healed lepers with just a touch, calmed the storm with a word, raised the dead and preaching a message of salvation, and that we should love our neighbors "as ourselves," He sure has caused a lot of trouble with His offer of "eternal life."

What did He do that would cause so many to daily use his name (along with God's name,) as a curse-word?

Maybe, it is because of this: Jesus said he was the "Only Way" (to the Father.) John 14:6

Only one way? Not fair! Collapse

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Many people chaff at the idea that when it comes to Heaven, they are told that trusting in Jesus is the "only way." This stance is easily shown to be illogical, by this:

If you developed life threating cancer and there was only one treatment that provided healing, would you really have a problem that there was only "one way," one course of treatment? Of course you wouldn't. You would be glad that there was "a way."

In John 14:6, Jesus said: "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The choice is ours, whether or not to believe Him. He is the only One that taught these things, and did the miracles foretold by the prophets as the validation that He was the "Messiah."

He is the "only way." Choose wisely.

The Heart of the Matter

The real reason that there is rebellion against God and the salvation He offers, is that this rebellion comes from rebellious hearts.

Definitions for heart include: - one's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations - "knew it in his heart" "a man after my own heart" : the central or innermost part : center : the essential or most vital part of something.

The way that mankind's rebellion is displayed, is that we, (even though we are merely specks in God's universe) think that somehow, we know better than God what fair is, or, what right and wrong is, and, we simply chaff at the idea of being "under His thumb."

I view the matter quite a bit differently. I think that being in a loving relationship with the Creator of the Heavens and Earth is a great thing. Actually adopted into His family, according to the scriptures. What better way to get through the struggles of this life, not to mention the awesome hope of our life ahead.

God's Word the Bible, has a lot to say about the condition of a person's heart.The word heart is used 832 times in the scriptures. (click to see)

- The Jewish Prophets Foretold that Jesus was Coming -

The Jewish religious leaders of the first century, knew that their Messiah was coming. The word of His arrival had even been leaked to the wicked King, Herod: Read Matthew 2.

In Genesis 3:15, there is a hint that the Messiah would be "born of a woman." "...and between thy, (Satan's) seed and her seed." This is pretty interesting because normally, it is the man that has "seed" elsewhere in the Scriptures as well as in the culture.

In Isaiah 7:14, As a sign to the Jews, the Messiah was to be born to a virgin.

In Micah 5:2, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

In Daniel 9:21-27, Gave the time of the Messiah's visitation and even that he would be cut off (killed). While this specific prophecy is more clearly seen when looking back, it should have resonated throughout the first century religious authorities, that the time of the Messiah was near.

In Genesis 22:1-14, Abraham as directed by God, acted out a near sacrifice of his only son, Isaac. At some point, Abraham understood that he was acting out a future event by doing this:"Genesis 22:14, And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: (the Lord will provide) as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."

- The things that the Messiah would do and say, were Foretold -

Zechariah 9:9, The prophet said that the Messiah would arrive, riding on a donkey as a king coming in peace..

In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus publicly announced that He was the Messiah. The Prophet Isiah detailed some of the things that the Messiah would do to aid in His identification:

1. Messiah would preach the gospel to the poor. He did, Matthew 5:1-48
2. Messiah would heal the brokenhearted. He did, John 4
3. Messiah would proclaim liberty to the captives. He did, Matthew 6:13
4. Messiah would restore of sight to the blind. He did that, and a lot more, Matthew 15:30-31
5. Messiah would liberate those who are oppressed. He did, Luke 8:26-40

When considering the many supernatural things that Jesus did, these should have provided sufficient proof that He was the Messiah, but, if that wasn't enough, He also, raised the dead (three times): Luke 8:54-56, John 11:38-45, Luke 7:11-17. Controlled the storm: Mark 4:36-41. Walked on the water: Matthew 14:25-27, and cast out s: Matthew 8:28.

Ya, that's what the "Gospel accounts" say but, why should I believe them?

The Disciples after the Crucifixion, from Cowards to Lion-hearts -

Would you die for a lie if you knew it was a lie?

Because of the eyewitnesses

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The Gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are eyewitness testimonies on Jesus' life and words and actions. They differ somewhat like you would expect for different witnesses, describing the same event they they all observed. In addition, there are some really "human like" failure and foibles, that were included in the narratives, which would have not probably made the cut if the story was contrived, items like:

• That Jesus' family at one point thought He was mentally deficient, Mark 3:21.
• The verse about the disciples auguring about which of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom to come, Mark 9:33-34.
• The failure of Peter when he denied Christ three times: Mark 14:66-72
• Considering how valueless a womans testimony was in the first century, nevertheless, Mary Magdalene's testimony was used, John 20:1-2.
• Continuing the same narrative, the fact that the Disciple John, outran Peter and got to the empty tomb first, John 20:3-8.

From Fearful to Fearless!

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It's pretty amazing how that when Jesus was arrested, an arrest that would lead to His crucifixion, His disciples were scattered like quail, Matthew 26:55-57. And, Mark 14:48-50.

Even though Jesus had made it clear that he would be killed and after three days rise again, Mark 8:31-32. But, it seems that none of His disciples believed it. After Jesus was killed, they were devastated.

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HOWEVER, after the disciples saw the risen Messiah, a change took place. A description from the book: Evidence that Demands a Verdict, relates well the changes in the disciples.

"On the day of the crucifixion they were filled with sadness; on the first day of the week with gladness. At the crucifixion they were hopeless; on the first day of the week, their hearts glowed with certainty and hope. When the message of the resurrection first came, they were incredulous and hard to be convinced, but once they became assured, they never doubted again. What could account for the astonishing change in these men in so short a time?"

"The mere removal of the body from the grave could never have transformed their spirits, and characters. Three days are not enough for a legend to spring up which would so effect them. Time is needed for a process of legendary growth. It is a psychological fact that demands a full explanation."

"Think of the character of the witnesses, men and women who gave the world the highest ethical teaching it has ever known, and who even on the testimony of their enemies, lived it out in their lives. Think of the psychological absurdity of picturing a little band of defeated cowards cowering in an upper room one day, and a few days later, they were transformed into a company that no persecution could silence, and them attempting to attribute this dramatic change to nothing more convincing than a miserable fabrication they were trying to foist upon the world. That simply wouldn't make sense."

Dying for a lie... hmmmm, would you?

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While there are many throughout history who have ignorantly died "for a lie" there are probably very few who died for a lie that they knew was a lie. Those that would die for a known lie would probably be considered to be those who were mentally ill. The fact of the matter is that after the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel of Christ spread like wildfire; driven by the eyewitnesses that seen and interacted with the resurrected Savior.

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While reliable sources of how the apostles of Jesus died have for the most part have not come to light, accepted traditions tell the following:

1. Peter and Paul, martyred in Rome.
2. Andrew, crucified in Greece.
3. Thomas, Speared in far east India.
4. Philip, martyred in Asia Minor.
5. Matthew, stabbed in Ethiopia.
6. Bartholomew, martyred in Southern Arabia.
7. Simon, martyred in Persia.
8. Matthias, burned at the stake in Syria.
9. John, exiled on the island of Patmos, died of natural death.
10. Mark, dragged through the streets of Alexandria until dead.
11. Luke, died in Greece, cause unknown.

They died away from their "homes" while spreading the Gospel of Christ, something they couldn't help spread in spite of the fact that such a message did not bring them fame or fortune, it only brought them persecution and death. But, along with that, they had from Jesus, the promise of eternal life (John 6:66-68).

The Prophet, Isaiah, lived and wrote 800 years before Christ and prior to 1947, the oldest existing copy of Isaiah's writings were pages dated to the 10th century A.D.

But, this all changed in 1947, when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. One of the oldest scrolls found was the Great Scroll of Isaiah carbon-dated to 125 BCE.

Nowadays, you can go on-line and examine the document for yourself.

Click on the Scroll and check it out.

The Mission of the Messiah
Was foretold by God's Prophet: Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus Birth

Isaiah 25:13-53:12 - "Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He startle many nations. ​​Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, ​and what they had not heard they shall consider. Who has believed our report? ​​And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, ​and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; ​​He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. ​​Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, ​​He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

And they made His grave with the wicked,. For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; ​​He has put Him to grief. ​​When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.

On this page, I have listed several of the high-points about Jesus, the One thought by millions, to be the Messiah. He came at a time before any "modern conveniences" and His ministry only lasted three years and was contained in a circle; no more than 100 miles from Nazareth. He never achieved high office, or fortune yet, His gospel message of salvation and brotherly love, has spread to the ends of the earth. Perhaps this is the day and time that you will open your heart and enter into a saving relationship with Jesus.