Who Is Jesus?

This is a question my friend David has asked me more than a few times.  Who is Jesus?  Most christians would, as I did, rattle off a few automatic answers.  Jesus is the Son of God, the risen savior, Gods ordained child and a part of the holy trinity.  All of this is true, but who did the people of Jesus' day say that he was?  We know that that the Jewish religious leaders of that time were at odds with Jesus because of his teachings.  We can look at this two ways, who the people thought Jesus was and who the disciples who walked with him daily thought he was.

And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of llittle faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped him, saying,  "truly you are the son of God."
Matthew 14: 31-33  NKJV

Here comes that inevitable answer, it's easy to claim someones greatness in the face of a miracle being performed.  Sure, if I fell off of a cliff and someone jumped off and saved us both from death I'd sure be convinced of their greatness!  But there must be something more to this equation.  If Jesus had not performed one miracle in the presence of those who surrounded him, his stature as the son of God would remain, so the miracles he peformed do not define him.  It's silly to think that  the people Jesus walked with every day only believed in him due to the miracles he performed among them.  The Jews of Jesus' day knew the scriptures (The Jewish Tanakh) so they knew of Gods promise to send a savior to Gods chosen people.  However, they may have been blindsided by thinking that Gods messiah would come to deliver them from the opressive Roman government that ruled over them at the time.  A mighty military leader, such as king David, to run the hated Romans out of Isreal.  They never thought that Gods plan was for the redemption of all mankind, not just Isreal.
We have the advantage of having history and the word of God to guide us as to who Jesus really is.  Yes, there are those today who, like people in Jesus' time, deny that he is the risen Son of God.  For me, one of the verses that solidifies Jesus' place in my life comes from the book of Luke.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  "He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in  Galilee, "saying, 'The son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' "  And they remembered his words.
Luke 24: 2-8 NKJV

Jesus had just been crucified, and these women had been witness to it.  Now, they were being told that he was alive!  Yet another scripture that jumps out at me comes from Galations..

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20 NKJV

The author, the apostle Paul, had never met Jesus until his encounter on the road to Damascus.  In fact, Saul had been one of the leading persecutors of the  new church.  After Sauls encounter with Jesus on that Damascus road, he preached the news of the risen Christ.  A intervention of sorts.  Imagine one of the most vocal critics of Jesus suddenly proclaiming his holiness.  Something happened there.
So, in answer to that ages old question, who is Jesus?  Jesus IS the risen Son of God.  Jesus is Gods perfect sacrafice to redeem all of mankind.  When he was nailed to that cross and died, he bore my sins with him.  Jesus is ALIVE and in me even today!  I strive to strengthen my relationship with him, just as I would any dear friend :)

~Scott~