History is unmistakable--as surely as Aristotle, Julius Caesar, and Hitler lived--Jesus Christ lived. Unlike the Greek who is remembered for his logic, the Roman for his empire, or even the German for his insanity, Jesus is remembered for His death on a cruel cross. As interesting as historical information is, it is inadequate. It can tell us that Jesus lived and died. It can tell us what others thought about Him. But without information from God, we cannot know the true identity of Jesus. This truth is powerfully illustrated by an event that occurred in the life of Jesus.

One day Jesus asked His friends, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matthew 16:13). The disciples gave a variety of answers: "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (vs. 14). All those answers were wrong. In the 2,000 years since, many people are still confused over the identity of Jesus. As we will see in this article, such confusion is unnecessary.

Jesus then asked a more pointed question: "But, who do you say that I am?" Peter boldly replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (vss. 15-16). What did that mean? In those days, the title "Christ" meant you were anointed by God, and being called the "son of" something or someone meant that you had the same nature of that thing or person. For instance, because Joses was such an encouragement to others, the apostles called him Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4:36). Thus, when Peter said Jesus was the "Son of God" he was saying that Jesus had the very same nature as God. That was a powerful statement!

What led Peter to make that confession? Jesus tells us. He said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is heaven" (vs. 17). Peter's view of Jesus was based upon information provided by God, rather than upon the uncertain ideas of people. If we will accept the evidence found in God's Word, we will be able to echo with confidence Peter's confession that Jesus is the anointed Son of God. That evidence is seen in the prophecies He fulfilled, the miracles He performed, and the truth of His resurrection from the dead.

Proof from Prophecy

Unlike most people who have their biographies written after they are dead, much of Jesus' life was reported hundreds of years before He was born. Over three hundred prophecies relating to the Lord were made in the Old Testament. This number is astounding in itself. From Genesis to Malachi, the story of Jesus is foretold in minute detail. Not only are the major facets of His life predicted, but seemingly trivial things (such as that men would gamble for His clothing--Psalm 22:18) are also foretold. His family lineage and birthplace were predicted (compare Genesis 21:12; Galatians 3:16; Matthew 1:1; 2:1; Micah 5:2). He died and was raised--exactly as had been predicted hundreds of years before (Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:8-11). By the word of prophecy He was even called Jehovah--the special name reserved only for God (see Isaiah 40:3).

If Jesus were not the Son of God, how can we account for the fact that He fulfilled such prophecies? The idea that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies by mere coincidence is impossible. The chance of anybody fulfilling all the Old Testament prophecies is almost impossible to calculate. Can we really believe that Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies by chance? Peter Stoner and Robert Newman have shown the absurdity of such an idea. They selected eight specific prophecies (Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 63:7; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; 11:12; 11:13; 13:6; Malachi 3:1) and calculated a low estimate for the probability of one man fulfilling each of them. They then asked: "One man in how many men, the world over, will fulfill all eight prophecies?" The answer: "1 in 10¹⁷." To show the enormity of this figure, Stoner and Newman suggested this analogy:

"Suppose we take 10¹⁷ silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that it is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote using their own wisdom." [Science Speaks by Peter W. Stoner and Robert C. Newman (Chicago: Moody, 1971), pp 106-107]

Proof from Miracles

In addition, it is important to note that Jesus backed up His claims by working miracles. Although God empowered other people to perform miracles, Jesus' miracles were different. Their works confirmed that they were servants of God; Jesus' works proved He is one with God (John 10:37-38). The Gospel of John records several of Jesus miracles. John tells us why: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31).

While imprisoned, John the Baptist sent some of his followers to Jesus to ask, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3). Notice how Jesus responded: "Go tell John...the blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached unto them" (Matthew 11:4-5). Over seven hundred years earlier, the prophet Isaiah predicted that those very things would be done by the Messiah (see Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1). Jesus wasn't merely saying "Look at all the good things I am doing," He was saying, "Look, I am doing exactly what the Coming One is supposed to do!"

Although not eager to admit it, Jesus' critics were often brought face-to-face with the truth that no one could do what He did unless God was with Him (John 3:2). One example of this is seen in John 9. Jesus gave sight to a man who had been born blind. Some of Jesus' enemies tried to deny that a miracle had occurred, but they couldn't do it. Then they tried to draw attention away from the miracle by attacking Jesus' character. They said to the man whom Jesus healed: "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner" (John 9:24). This plan didn't work either. Notice how the man answered them:

"Why this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God hears not sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears Him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing" (John 9:30-33).

His Birth and Resurrection

Two of the most intriguing facts about Jesus are His manner of birth and His resurrection from the dead. Matthew and Luke both report that Jesus was born to a mother who was a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). According to the laws of biology, this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible. Matthew tells us that this special birth was the fulfillment of a more than 700-year-old prophecy by Isaiah: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

Does it matter that Jesus was born in this way? Absolutely! Had Jesus been born of two human parents, He would have been merely human. Had He not been born of a human mother, He would not have been human. But, because He was born of a virgin, He may be described correctly as "God in the flesh." This qualifies Him to act as Mediator between God and humankind--since He was both (1 Timothy 2:5).

Just as He promised, Jesus came forth from the tomb three days after His brutal crucifixion (Matthew 12:40; 16:21). His resurrection was witnessed by many different types of people: the soldiers who guarded His tomb; the women who came early in the morning to anoint Him with spices; eleven apostles; and, more than 500 other witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). Seeing the living, breathing Jesus again was concrete proof of His divine nature. Little wonder, then, that when Thomas saw Jesus after His resurrection he exclaimed: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

Far from being just a famous person from ancient history, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Belief in this fact is not based upon human opinion and wishful thinking, but rests solidly upon the bedrock of the inspired Word of God. He not only fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, but also showed His divine nature by performing many miracles. Jesus Christ was certainly a man--but no ordinary man. He was God in the flesh!

Was Jesus Raised from the Dead?