🕊️ Who Was Jesus and How Can We Know?
Insights from Prominent Christian Leaders
📍 Introduction
Few questions are more central to the Christian faith—or to the human search for meaning—than this: Who was Jesus, and how can we really know?
Some say He was a good man, a moral teacher. Others call Him a prophet, a myth, or even a revolutionary. But for over two thousand years, the church has boldly proclaimed something greater: Jesus was the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
In this blog, we’ll explore how some of the most respected Christian leaders and theologians—both past and present—answer this question. We’ll look at what they say, what Scripture teaches, and how you can truly know Jesus for yourself.
📖 1. R.C. Sproul – Jesus Is Fully God and Fully Man
Dr. R.C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier Ministries, taught that understanding who Jesus is depends on understanding the Incarnation—God becoming man. In his classic teaching, Sproul emphasized the two natures of Christ: divine and human, united in one person (the hypostatic union).
“If Jesus is not God, then Christianity is a farce. If He is not man, then He cannot represent us.”
— R.C. Sproul, The Mystery of the Incarnation
Sproul pointed to John 1:1-14 and Colossians 1:15-20 as foundational texts. Jesus is not simply from God—He is God, who became flesh and lived among us.
🖼️ Illustration:
Imagine a bridge spanning a vast canyon. On one side stands sinful humanity; on the other, a holy God. Jesus, being both God and man, becomes that bridge—He alone can connect the two.
🧠 2. N.T. Wright – Jesus Fulfills Israel’s Story
Bishop N.T. Wright, a noted New Testament scholar, approaches Jesus from a historical and theological perspective. In his book Jesus and the Victory of God, he argues that Jesus must be understood within the Jewish story—as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
“If you want to know what God looks like, look at Jesus.”
— N.T. Wright
Wright emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, showing that Jesus redefined the role of Messiah and inaugurated the kingdom of God.
📖 Key Scripture:
Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
❤️ 3. Billy Graham – Jesus Is the Savior of the World
Billy Graham, the great 20th-century evangelist, preached Jesus as the one and only Savior sent by God. His message was simple but powerful:
“Jesus Christ is not just another man. He is God in human flesh. He came to save us from our sins.”
— Billy Graham
Graham anchored his message in John 3:16 and John 14:6, believing that salvation comes only through faith in Christ. He taught that knowing Jesus starts with repentance, faith, and surrender.
🖼️ Illustration:
Think of a courtroom. You’re guilty, and the penalty is death. But Jesus steps in, takes your place, and pays your debt. That’s the Gospel according to Billy Graham.
🧱 4. Tim Keller – Jesus Is the Risen Lord
Tim Keller, a pastor and apologist in New York City, focused on the historical and rational foundation of faith. In The Reason for God, he makes the case that Jesus’ resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian belief.
“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said.”
— Tim Keller
Keller taught that the resurrection is not just a belief—it’s a historical event. Citing 1 Corinthians 15, he explained that if Jesus didn’t rise, our faith is useless. But if He did, everything changes.
📖 Key Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:17 – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
🪙 5. Charles Spurgeon – Jesus Is the Heart of History
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” proclaimed Jesus as the central figure of all human history. Every sermon, no matter the passage, somehow pointed to Christ.
“Christ is the central fact of the world’s history. To Him everything looks forward or backward.”
— Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon drew heavily on Philippians 2:5-11, which describes Jesus’ humility, death on the cross, and exaltation. He believed we know Jesus through faith, repentance, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart.
🖼️ Illustration:
Imagine history as a wheel, and Jesus is the hub. Every spoke—every story, every nation, every soul—finds its center in Him.
🔥 6. John Piper – Jesus Is All-Satisfying
John Piper, a theologian and preacher, frames Jesus as the supreme treasure of the Christian life. For Piper, knowing Jesus is more than intellectual—it’s spiritual satisfaction.
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
— John Piper
In Hebrews 1:3, we’re told that Jesus is the “radiance of the glory of God.” Piper teaches that Christ fulfills every longing and that we know Him by treasuring Him above all else.
📖 Key Scripture:
Psalm 73:25 – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
🛡️ 7. C.S. Lewis – Jesus Must Be Lord
C.S. Lewis, the Oxford professor and author of Mere Christianity, famously argued that Jesus cannot be just a good teacher. His claims force us to decide:
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher… He would either be a lunatic—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.”
— C.S. Lewis
Lewis’ trilemma—Liar, Lunatic, or Lord—continues to challenge seekers today. He believed we know Jesus through reason, imagination, and revelation.
🖼️ Illustration:
You’re at a fork in the road. One sign points to “Good Man.” The other says “Son of God.” You can’t take both. Jesus doesn’t leave room for neutrality.
🕯️ 8. A.W. Tozer – Jesus Is the Light of the Soul
A.W. Tozer emphasized the experiential knowledge of Christ. For Tozer, Scripture is vital, but the true encounter with Jesus comes through worship, prayer, and surrender.
“The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”
— A.W. Tozer
Tozer leaned on Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” He believed that knowing Jesus requires opening the door of our hearts and letting Him in.
📚 9. Alistair Begg – Jesus Is Our Substitute
Scottish-American pastor Alistair Begg often emphasizes the substitutionary atonement—that Jesus died in our place. He reminds believers not to look to themselves, but to the cross.
“The only proper answer at the gates of heaven is: ‘Because Jesus died for me.’”
— Alistair Begg
Begg roots this in Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2:24. He teaches that we know Jesus by understanding what He did for us, not what we do for Him.
🔍 Summary Table
| Leader | Core View of Jesus | How We Know Him |
|---|---|---|
| R.C. Sproul | Fully God and Fully Man | Scripture & Doctrine |
| N.T. Wright | Fulfillment of Israel’s Story | Historical Gospels & Jewish context |
| Billy Graham | Savior of the World | Repentance and Faith |
| Tim Keller | Risen Lord | Evidence for Resurrection |
| Charles Spurgeon | Center of History | Faith and Spirit’s Work |
| John Piper | All-Satisfying Treasure | Worship and Scripture |
| C.S. Lewis | Son of God, Not Just Teacher | Logic and Scripture |
| A.W. Tozer | Light of the Soul | Spiritual Experience & Surrender |
| Alistair Begg | Substitute Sacrifice | Trust in Finished Work of Christ |
🧭 So How Can You Know Jesus?
Knowing about Jesus is one thing. Knowing Him personally—as Lord, Savior, and Friend—is something else entirely.
The Bible says:
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
— John 17:3
Here’s how to begin that journey:
- Read the Gospels – Start with John. See who Jesus really is.
- Pray honestly – Ask God to reveal Christ to your heart.
- Trust the Word – Believe in His death and resurrection for you.
- Join a community – Grow with others who walk with Him.
✝️ Final Thought
Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). That question still demands an answer.
Across centuries and denominations, these Christian leaders have answered with one voice:
Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world—and we can know Him today.
Will you answer Him?
📚 References:
- Sproul, R.C. The Mystery of the Incarnation
- Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God
- Graham, Billy. Peace with God
- Keller, Tim. The Reason for God
- Spurgeon, Charles. Sermons on the Person of Christ
- Piper, John. Desiring God
- Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity
- Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God
- Begg, Alistair. Truth For Life Devotionals
📝 Published by Mountain Veteran Ministries
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