Who Is Jesus? E-Book

Greg Gilbert

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

A famed historian once noted that, regardless of what you think of him personally, Jesus Christ stands as the central figure in the history of Western civilization. A man violently rejected by some and passionately worshipped by others, Jesus remains as polarizing as ever. But most people still know very little about who he really was, why he was really here, or what he really claimed. Intended as a succinct introduction to Jesus's life, words, and enduring significance, Who Is Jesus?? offers non-Christians and new Christians alike a compelling portrait of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this book encourages readers to carefully consider the history-shaping life and extraordinary teachings of the greatest man who ever lived.

Leseprobe

Who Is

Jesus?

Greg Gilbert

Who Is Jesus?

Copyright © 2015 by Gregory D. Gilbert

Published by Crossway1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Matthew Wahl

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4350-0ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4353-1 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4351-7Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4352-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gilbert, Greg, 1977–

Who is Jesus? / Greg Gilbert.

    1 online resource. — (9Marks books)

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-4351-7 (pdf) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4352-4 (mobi) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4353-1 (epub) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4350-0 (tp)

1. Jesus Christ—Person and offices. I. Title.

BT203

232—dc23                                            2014036216

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To Justin, Jack, and Juliet

Contents

Foreword

by Trip Lee

1 What Do You Think?

2 An Extraordinary Man, and Then Some

3 King of Israel, King of Kings

4 The Great “I

AM

” . . .

5 . . . Is One of Us

6 The Triumph of the Last Adam

7 Lamb of God, Sacrifice for Man

8 Resurrected and Reigning Lord

A Final Word: Who Do You Say He Is?

About the Series

Foreword

Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else? I remember being at a party with my best friend in high school. We had just arrived when we saw our friend Nicole standing in the corner having a good time. We had spent time with Nicole and her pregnant friend the day before, so we decided to walk over and greet them. My best friend said hey to Nicole, rubbed her friend’s belly with a kind smile, and thoughtfully asked, “How’s the baby?” The only problem was that this was a different friend. And she wasn’t in the least bit pregnant. Man, was I glad I didn’t speak up first.

It can be embarrassing and humorous to make mistakes about other people’s identities. You risk looking dumb and offending others, so it’s best to be sure before you speak up.

The book you hold in your hands is about recognizing someone else’s identity, but the stakes are much higher. When we talk about Jesus, we’re in a totally different category than recognizing old friends or acquaintances. When we’re mistaken about Jesus’s identity, it’s more than embarrassing—it’s tragic.

This is why Greg Gilbert states from the outset that the title of this book, Who Is Jesus?, is the most important question we’ll ever ask. That may sound ridiculous to seekers, skeptics, and maybe even some Christians, but if you keep reading, you will see why it’s such a vital question. Sure, we’re not going to run into the Prince of Peace on the street or at a party, so it’s not about putting a name with a face. It’s about responding to him with the honor and trust that he deserves.

For example, Greg writes, “Once you begin to understand that Jesus is in fact God, and that he is in a unique and exclusive relationship with God the Father, you also begin to understand that if you want to know the God who created you, then you need to know Jesus. There’s just no other way.”

If Jesus was just another guy, then knowing him makes no difference. But if Jesus is the Son of God and the only Savior of the world, then knowing him makes all the difference.

Too often we’ve mistaken Jesus for just another man. Or just another good teacher. Or just another prophet. But none of those descriptions is enough. So in this important little book, Greg helps us to think rightly about who Jesus actually is.

I love Who Is Jesus? because it’s engaging. I actually enjoyed reading it. It’s simple enough for anybody to read, and it addresses real questions. I also love this book because it’s filled with Scripture. Greg isn’t trying to conjure up new ways to look at Jesus. He’s interested only in the actual historical truth. Who is this Jesus and why does he matter? Rather than listen to historians who never saw him, Greg focuses on the testimony of reliable eyewitnesses who met him. He focuses on God’s Word. This makes for an authoritative, potentially life-changing book.

Jesus made some radical claims, and he’s the most talked about person in all of history. Who did he claim to be? And is that who he really is? I can think of no better small book to help you answer those questions. I think you’ll be as blessed by it as I was.

Trip Lee

Rapper; Pastor; author,

Rise: Get Up and Live in

God’s Great Glory

1

What Do You Think?

Who do you think Jesus is?

Maybe you’ve never really given it much thought. In a way, that’s entirely understandable. After all, we’re talking about a man who was born in the first century into an obscure Jewish carpenter’s family. He never held any political office, never ruled any nation, never commanded any armies. He never even met a Roman emperor. Instead, for three-and-a-half years this man Jesus simply taught people about ethics and spirituality, he read and explained the Jewish Scriptures to Jewish people, and if the eyewitness accounts of his life are to be believed at all, he also did some pretty out-of-the-ordinary things. But then again, Jesus also ran bitterly afoul of the authorities of his day, and not long after he started his public ministry, he wound up being executed on a cross by one of Rome’s many provincial governors—a kind of imperial middle manager for the people who had the real power.

On top of that, all this happened some two thousand years ago. So why are we still talking about him? Why is this man Jesus so . . . inescapable?

Give Jesus a Chance