Who is Jesus Christ?



If I were to ask you who was Martin Luther King Jr.? Or who was George Washington? You could very easily answer. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and leader in the civil rights movement. George Washington was general of the colonial troops during the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States of America. No one (probably) would dispute whether Reverend King truly was a minister, or whether Washington really was president of the United States. 

Now I ask the question, who was Jesus Christ? This may not be so easily answered. What's more, different people will have different responses, and general agreement may not be reached. In Matthew 16:15 Christ asks His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" The responses vary, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Today, if we were to ask this question I am sure the responses would vary just as much, if not more. Some say that Christ was a good man, perhaps a prophet of God. Others say that He was a carpenter and a teacher, nothing more. Some doubt whether the man named Jesus even lived at all. Still, others claim Him to be the Son of God, the promised Messiah. 

It is no wonder that there has been much dispute over who Jesus Christ was. Reverend King and George Washington did not declare themselves to be the Son of God or the Savior of the world. Jesus, however, boldly declared, "I am the light and the life of the world" (3 Nephi 11:11). He referred to Himself as the "Son of Man" or better understood as the Son of God. He declared Himself to be the long awaited Messiah. 

One cannot be expected to just accept this bold declaration of divinity, without first obtaining a witness for themselves. Prophets and apostles alike have long encouraged us to study the words of Christ, His life, and His teachings. If we want to know who He is, we must learn about what He has done. It has often been said that actions speak louder than words. This is especially true in the case of Christ. He declared Himself to be the Savior, but He left His works as a testament to His divine role. He did miracles, raised the dead, loved the people around Him, and atoned for our sins. On the third day He rose from the dead, something never thought to be possible. 

Jesus has said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." (John 10:37-38). 

If we closely examine the works of the Savior and sincerely pray to know whether He is what He claimed to be, I believe that we can receive our own personal testimony concerning Him. 

When Christ asked His disciples, "But whom say ye that I am?", Peter boldly proclaimed "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). 

I add my own testimony to that of Peter's. I may not know everything about the Savior, but I do know that He is everything He said He was. He is our Savior, redeemer, master, and friend. 

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