Following Jesus · Study Guide
Week Two
Who Is Jesus—and Why Does He Matter?
Everything about Christianity ultimately depends upon the identity of Jesus Christ.
Everything about Christianity ultimately depends upon the identity of Jesus Christ.
Many people admire Jesus as a teacher, moral example, religious leader, or compassionate reformer. But Jesus made claims about Himself that go far beyond those descriptions.
This week will help us look carefully at who Scripture says Jesus is, why His death and resurrection matter, and why following Jesus begins with recognizing the identity of the One who calls us.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who entered human history, revealed the Father, gave His life for our sins, rose from the dead, and calls us to trust Him as Savior and follow Him as Lord.
Read Before You Begin
If someone asked you, “Who is Jesus?” how would you answer?
Teaching Summary
Jesus Was a Real Person in Human History
Christianity is rooted in history. Jesus lived in a real place during a real period of human history.
He was born into a Jewish family. He grew, worked, ate, traveled, formed friendships, experienced fatigue, felt sorrow, suffered rejection, and died.
— John 1:14
God did not remain distant from the human condition. He entered it.
Jesus Is More Than a Human Teacher
— John 1:1
The New Testament does not describe Jesus as merely an unusually wise man.
Jesus did not begin His existence in Bethlehem. The eternal Son entered human history.
In Jesus Christ, God has made Himself known to us.
Jesus Shows Us What God Is Like
If we want to understand the character of God, we look at Jesus.
We see compassion toward suffering people, patience with struggling disciples, tenderness toward the broken, truth spoken clearly, holiness, justice, mercy, and grace.
Jesus does not merely tell us things about God. He reveals God to us.
Jesus Announced the Kingdom of God
Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God had drawn near.
He healed, forgave, confronted evil, welcomed outsiders, restored broken people, and taught what life under God's reign looks like.
His miracles were signs pointing toward God's kingdom breaking into the world through Him.
Jesus Claimed Extraordinary Authority
Jesus forgave sins, claimed authority over the Sabbath, taught with unusual authority, spoke of judging humanity, and claimed to give eternal life.
These actions forced people to ask:
Who is Jesus?
Jesus Is the Messiah
“Christ” is a title meaning God's Anointed One.
— Matthew 16:16
Jesus does not merely ask what other people believe about Him.
Eventually the question becomes personal.
Jesus Came to Save Us
— Mark 10:45
Jesus did not come only to teach. He came on a rescue mission.
At the cross, Jesus gave His life for sinners. Forgiveness is possible not because sin does not matter, but because Christ dealt with it.
The cross shows both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God's love.
Jesus Rose from the Dead
The gospel is not simply the story of a teacher whose ideas survived Him.
The New Testament proclaims that Jesus Himself rose from the dead.
The resurrection means that sin, death, and the grave did not have the final word.
Jesus is alive.
Jesus Is Savior
We cannot rescue ourselves from sin by accumulating enough good deeds.
Through His death and resurrection Jesus offers forgiveness, reconciliation with God, new life, grace, hope, and eternal life.
Salvation is not something we achieve. It is something we receive.
Jesus Is Lord
It is possible to want Jesus as Savior while resisting Him as Lord.
If Jesus is merely a teacher, we can choose which ideas we like.
If Jesus is Lord, His words carry authority.
How should I live because Jesus is Lord?
Jesus Is the Way to the Father
— John 14:6
Christianity presents Jesus as uniquely able to reconcile humanity to God because He is uniquely who Scripture says He is.
Jesus Invites Us into Relationship with Him
We can know many facts about Jesus without actually knowing Him.
Following Jesus includes relationship. We trust Him, pray, listen through His Word, receive His grace, obey, and learn to walk with Him.
Take Time to Reflect
- Before this study, what words would I have used to describe Jesus?
- Which aspect of Jesus' identity is most meaningful to me right now: His humanity, deity, role as Savior, or lordship?
- Do I tend to think of Jesus primarily as someone who helps me, or as the Lord whom I follow?
- What difference does the resurrection make to my understanding of Jesus?
- Is there any area where I trust Jesus as Savior but resist His authority as Lord?
- How does seeing Jesus as the revelation of God affect the way I think about God's character?
- Do I personally know Jesus, or have I mainly accumulated information about Him?
- How would I answer Jesus today if He asked me, “Who do you say that I am?”
Talk About It Together
- Why do you think so many different opinions about Jesus exist?
- Why is it inadequate to describe Jesus only as a great moral teacher?
- What do the humanity and deity of Jesus each teach us about Him?
- Why is the resurrection essential to Christian faith rather than simply an additional miracle?
- What is the difference between calling Jesus “Savior” and calling Him “Lord”?
- Why can Jesus' claim to be the way to the Father be difficult for people today?
- What aspect of Jesus' character most clearly helps you understand what God is like?
- How might someone's life change if he or she genuinely believed Jesus is who the New Testament says He is?
Matthew 16:13–17
Read Matthew 16:13–17 slowly.
Jesus first asks what other people are saying about Him. Then He turns the question toward His disciples.
What do people say?
Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Christianity eventually becomes personal: Who do you say Jesus is?
Lord Jesus, help me see You as You truly are. Thank You for entering our world, revealing the Father, giving Your life for my sin, and rising from the dead. Forgive me for the ways I have made You smaller than You are. Teach me to trust You as Savior, honor You as Lord, know You more deeply, and follow You faithfully. Amen.
Five Days in Scripture
Who is the Word?
What authority does Jesus claim?
Who do you say Jesus is?
Why did Jesus come?
Why does the resurrection matter?
For each reading, ask:
What does this passage reveal about Jesus?
Why does this matter?
How should I respond?
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Jesus is not merely someone to admire. He is the Savior to trust and the Lord to follow.
The eternal Son entered our world. He revealed the Father. He died for our sins. He rose from the dead. He is alive.
And the One who asks, “Who do you say that I am?” is the same One who says, “Follow Me.”