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WHO IS JESUS? A survey of 3,002 people conducted in 2020 found that 52% of Americans believe Jesus was nothing more than a great teacher. In other words, this 52% deny Jesus is the eternal God. So, who is Jesus? Let's look first at what His enemies thought. To Herod the Great, Jesus was simply a threat to be murdered after he heard from the wise men that the King of the Jews had been born. To the Pharisees, Jesus was a liar, a Samaritan (or mongrel halfbreed), demon-possessed, and a blasphemer (John 8). To unnamed enemies in Matthew 11, Jesus was a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. To the chief priests, elders, and High Priest, Jesus was a blasphemer of God; thus, they put him to death. To Pilate, Jesus was a valuable tool to appease the people by releasing Barabbas to avoid riots. Yet even Pilate washed his hands and stated, 'I am innocent of this man's blood' because he knew Jesus was innocent. But who was Jesus to his friends? To the adulterous Samaritan Woman in John 4, He was a prophet and the Promised Messiah. To some of her fellow Samaritans, He was 'indeed the Savior of the world' (John 4:42). To the penitent thief next to Jesus, He was the One who had 'done nothing wrong' (Luke 23:41). To the Centurion at the cross, He was indeed 'innocent' (Luke 23:47) and indeed 'the Son of God!' (Matt. 27:54). And to Peter, He was 'the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Even demons knew that He was 'the Son of God' (Luke 4:41). So... who is Jesus? I don't need a survey to tell me. I know fully well that He's the One who turns water to wine, heals the sick, drives out demons, cleanses lepers, gives mobility to the lame, raises the dead back to life, calms the storms, gives sight to the blind and speech to the mute, feeds the multitudes, and restores hearing to the deaf. Most importantly, He's the One who promised in John 14:3, 'I will come again and take you to myself!'
