Lesson 3
Who Is Jesus Christ?
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Why is Jesus called God's "firstborn" Son? (1) |
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Why is he called "the Word"? (1) |
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Why did Jesus come to earth as a man? (2-4) |
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Why did he perform miracles? (5) |
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What will Jesus do in the near future? (6) |
1. Jesus lived in heaven as a spirit person before he came to
earth. He was God's first creation, and so he is called the "firstborn"
Son of God. (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) Jesus is the only
Son that God created by himself. Jehovah used the prehuman Jesus
as his "master worker" in creating all other things
in heaven and on earth. (Proverbs 8:22-31; Colossians 1:16, 17)
God also used him as His chief spokesman. That is why Jesus is
called "the Word."—John 1:1-3; Revelation 19:13.
2. God sent His Son to the earth by transferring his life to the
womb of Mary. So Jesus did not have a human father. That is why
he did not inherit any sin or imperfection. God sent Jesus to
earth for three reasons: (1) To teach us the truth about God (John
18:37), (2) to maintain perfect integrity, providing a model for
us to follow (1 Peter 2:21), and (3) to sacrifice his life to
set us free from sin and death. Why was this needed?—Matthew 20:28.
3. By disobeying God's command, the first man, Adam, committed
what the Bible calls "sin." So God sentenced him to
death. (Genesis 3:17-19) He no longer measured up to God's standards,
so he was not perfect anymore. Slowly he grew old and died. Adam
passed on sin to all his children. That is why we also grow old,
get sick, and die. How could mankind be saved?—Romans 3:23; 5:12.
4. Jesus was a perfect human just like Adam. Unlike Adam, though,
Jesus was perfectly obedient to God under even the greatest test.
He could therefore sacrifice his perfect human life to pay for
Adam's sin. This is what the Bible refers to as the "ransom."
Adam's children could thus be released from condemnation to death.
All who put their faith in Jesus can have their sins forgiven
and receive everlasting life.—1 Timothy 2:5, 6; John 3:16; Romans
5:18, 19.
5. When on earth Jesus cured the sick, fed the hungry, and calmed
storms. He even raised the dead. Why did he perform miracles?
(1) He felt pity for people who were suffering, and he wanted
to help them. (2) His miracles proved that he was God's Son. (3)
They showed what he will do for obedient mankind when he rules
as King over the earth.—Matthew 14:14; Mark 2:10-12; John 5:28, 29.
6. Jesus died and was resurrected by God as a spirit creature,
and he returned to heaven. (1 Peter 3:18) Since then, God has
made him a King. Soon Jesus will remove all wickedness and suffering
from this earth.—Psalm 37:9-11; Proverbs 2:21, 22.
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