135. Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus? No name has sparked more controversy, devotion, or division throughout human history. Some dismiss him as merely a good teacher or prophet, while others worship him as Lord and Savior. But beyond opinions, what does the evidence actually reveal?

Our journey through this question takes us beyond scripture to examine compelling historical records from non-Christian sources. Roman historians Tacitus and Pliny the Younger, along with Jewish historian Josephus, all document Jesus and the early Christian movement—providing powerful external validation for biblical accounts. Archaeological discoveries like the Pilate Stone and eyewitness testimonies recorded in the New Testament further establish Jesus as a real historical figure whose impact transformed the world.

Yet the evidence goes deeper. Hundreds of years before Jesus's birth, Old Testament prophets foresaw specific details about the coming Messiah—his virgin birth in Bethlehem, his suffering, and his mission to reconcile humanity with God. The mathematical probability of one person fulfilling even a handful of these prophecies is astronomically small, yet Jesus fulfilled them all. This convergence of historical, archaeological, and prophetic evidence presents us with a profound question: if Jesus truly is who he claimed to be, how should we respond?

The answer to "Who is Jesus?" isn't just theological—it's deeply personal. We can reject him, ignore him, or follow him as Lord. As you reflect on this Coffee Talk conversation, consider what your response will be to the one whom scripture declares is "the way, the truth, and the life." Join our growing community on Instagram or Facebook @TheRadiantMission or find the video version on YouTube by searching Rebecca Toomey. Your engagement helps these faith conversations reach more seekers and believers alike—subscribe, review, and become a supporter today!

Chapters

• 0:33 Coffee Talk Introduction
• 1:40 Historical Evidence for Jesus
• 4:59 Fulfilled Prophecies
• 7:29 Sin and Free Will
• 10:37 Our Response to Jesus
• 12:35 Closing and Call to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:33

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Radiant Mission Podcast. I'm your host, rebecca Toomey, and today we are continuing our Coffee Talk series, where we tackle big faith questions in a short, thought-provoking format. Think of it like a conversation over coffee, just you and me digging into the deep truths of our faith. And today's question who is Jesus? There is no name more widely known or more controversial than Jesus Christ. Some people believe he was just a good teacher, others think he was a prophet, many call him Lord and Savior. But who is Jesus really? The question isn't just theological, it's personal. What you believe about Jesus shapes everything your faith, your purpose and even your eternity. In Matthew 16, verses 15 through 16, but what about you? Jesus asked who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Now let's talk about Jesus in the Bible and his divine identity. The Bible really leaves no room for doubt Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah and the only way to salvation, and there is historical evidence for Jesus's existence. Some skeptics question whether he was a real person, but there is overwhelming historical evidence confirming that he lived, taught and was crucified. And I still have my little newborn with me today, so please excuse the squeaks. Let's actually first talk about the non-biblical historical accounts of Jesus.

Speaker 1: 2:27

Beyond the Bible, there are several ancient historians who were not Christians who documented Jesus' life and his impact. The first is Josephus, a Jewish historian in the first century AD AD. In Antiquities of the Jews, josephus describes Jesus as a wise teacher who performed surprising deeds and was crucified under Pontius Pilate Interesting. Then we have Tactus, who is a Roman historian in the second century AD. In the Annals, tactusius excuse my pronunciation references christ's execution under pilot and acknowledges the rapid spread of christianity. Then we have laney, the younger roman governor, second century ad, and letters to emperor trajan. He describes early, early Christians worshiping Jesus as a God. These secular sources to me really confirm details about Jesus, including his crucifixion and the growth of Christianity following his death and resurrection.

Speaker 1: 3:39

And how about the archaeological evidence? Archaeological discoveries also support the Bible's accuracy regarding Jesus' time period. The Pilate Stone, found in 1961, confirms the existence of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death. The Calphus Ossuary, discovered in 1990, is believed to contain the remains of the high priest who played a role in Jesus' trial. There are also eyewitness testimonies. The New Testament was written by eyewitnesses or based on eyewitnesses' accounts, within decades of Jesus' life. The Apostle Paul records early Christian beliefs, including Jesus' resurrection, in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3-8, which scholars date to within 20 years of Jesus' death. The Gospels provide detailed, consistent accounts of Jesus' ministry, crucifixion and resurrection. Despite being written by different authors. Despite being written by different authors, with historical writings, archaeology and firsthand testimonies, the evidence overwhelmingly supports that Jesus was a real person whose impact changed the world forever.

Speaker 1: 4:56

Now let's talk about Jesus' fulfilled prophecies. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, prophecies foretold his coming no-transcript. And then I'm going to read from Isaiah 7, 14. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel. That's in the Old Testament. Now let's jump to the New Testament, in Matthew 1, 23. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. There was also a prophecy about his birth being in Bethlehem, and I'll cite Micah 5.2 and Matthew 2.1 and Micah 5.2, but you, bethlehem, ephratath. And Micah 5, 2, but you, bethlehem, ephratath. Though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are of old, from ancient times. And then in Matthew 2, 1, we read after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during the time of King Herod, magi from the East came to Jerusalem. We are also told a suffering servant who would bear our sins, in Isaiah 53, 5, verses 5 through 7. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our inequities. The punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and, as a sheep before its shearers, is silent. So he did not open his mouth. Now the mathematical probability of one person fulfilling even a handful of these prophecies is beyond astronomical. Yet Jesus fulfilled them all. So let's talk about Jesus, the only way to God.

Speaker 1: 7:29

What is sin? Why does it exist? And what about free will? Sin is anything that goes against the will and holiness of God. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, introducing sin into the world, and if you look back into Genesis 3, you can read all about that. But why did they disobey? And the answer lies in free will, the ability that God gave humanity to choose between good and evil. And God didn't create us to be robots who would be forced to love and obey him. Instead, he created us with the freedom to choose. Love cannot be genuine without free will. If we were forced to obey God without choice, it would not be true love or worship. And unfortunately, with free will also comes the possibility of sin, choosing our own way instead of God's.

Speaker 1: 8:29

Adam and Eve made the choice to eat the forbidden tree, and that resulted in separation from God, and that continues to affect all of humanity In Deuteronomy 30, verse 19,. This day, I will call the heavens and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live Now, while sin carries consequences. God and his love and mercy, which we talked about in the episode about God, they made a way for us to be reconciled to him through Jesus Christ, and it began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, introducing sin into the world Again Genesis 3.

Speaker 1: 9:21

Sin is more than just breaking rules. It is a separation from God's perfect design and it distorts relationships. It brings suffering and ultimately it leads to spiritual death. In Romans 3.23, we're told for all have sin and fall short of the glory of God. But because God is perfectly just, he cannot ignore sin. Sin carries consequences and the ultimate consequence is separation from him. But God, in his love and mercy, made a way for us to be reconciled to him, and that is why he sent his son to die.

Speaker 1: 10:08

God's plan for salvation wasn't an afterthought. It was his plan from the beginning. From the moment that sin entered the world, god promised a redeemer that would defeat sin and restore humanity. In John 3.16,. No human effort could undo the curse of sin. So Jesus took our place, and his death on the cross satisfied God's justice and his resurrection proved his victory over sin and death.

Speaker 1: 10:54

In Romans 5, verse 8, it says but God demonstrates his own love for us while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. So what does this mean for us? You guys, if Jesus really is who he says he is, then we can't just see him as a good teacher. We must respond.

Speaker 1: 11:16

There are really three possible responses to Jesus. We can reject him. Many people do just like back in his time we could ignore him. And some people believe in jesus, but they live as if it doesn't matter. The third option is that we can follow him. We can trust in him as savior and surrender to his lordship. In Romans 10, verse 9, it says that if you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Speaker 1: 11:59

So as you sip your coffee today, take a moment to reflect. Who do you believe Jesus is? Have you placed your trust in him, and how does Jesus's identity shape your faith and daily life? Today we're going to close with Acts 4, verse 12. Salvation is found in no one else, verse 12,. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. If this episode got you thinking, I'd love to hear from you. Join the conversation on Instagram at the Radiant Mission, on Facebook at the Radiant Mission Podcast or, if you prefer watching, check out the video version on YouTube by searching for Rebecca Toomey, and don't forget to subscribe and leave a review for the show. That will help more people to find these faith-based conversations. I would also love for you to become a supporter of the show. Until next time, I'm wishing you a radiant week. See you soon.