Chapter 3: What We Believe About Jesus
Status: ✓ Completed
Reading Date: [Add today's date]
1. STUDY GUIDE
Focus Areas for Reading
As you read this chapter, pay special attention to:
Essential Concepts:
- Jesus as "the Word of God" and God's self-communication
- The meaning and significance of the titles: LORD, JESUS, CHRIST
- Jesus as fully God and fully human
- Jesus as Truth unveiled
- How Jesus transformed humanity
- Jesus's continuing presence in the Divine Liturgy
Critical Questions to Consider:
- Why is Jesus more than just a great teacher or historical figure?
- What does it mean that Jesus is "the Word of God"?
- How can Jesus be both fully God and fully human?
- Why does the Nicene Creed emphasize Christ so heavily (84 of 101 Greek words)?
- How is Jesus present to us today?
Key Passages:
- John 1:1-3 & 1:14 - The Word became flesh
- Luke 1:30-31 & Matthew 1:21 - The name Jesus
- Matthew 16:16 - Peter's confession
- Colossians 1:15-20 - Christ as image of the invisible God
- Hebrews 1:1-2 - God speaking through the Son
- John 1:18 - The Son revealing the Father
- Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission and Trinity
2. SUMMARY
Overview of Chapter Content
Chapter 3 focuses on who Jesus Christ is according to Orthodox Christian faith. Coniaris presents Jesus not as an abstract doctrine but as a living reality who demands our worship and transforms our understanding of both God and humanity. The chapter emphasizes the titles, nature, and continuing presence of Christ in the Church today.
Main Themes
The Proper Response to Jesus
The chapter opens with a powerful observation: If Shakespeare or Dante entered a room, we would rise in respect. But if Jesus entered, we would fall down in worship. This distinction—between honoring great men and worshipping Christ—sets the tone for understanding who Jesus truly is. He is not merely the greatest figure in history but God Himself in human form, worthy of worship and ultimate allegiance.
Jesus as "The Word of God"
St. John repeatedly calls Jesus "the Word." This is theologically profound: just as words communicate our inner thoughts and enable others to know what is on our minds, so Christ—the Word of God—communicates to us the thoughts of God. Jesus came to earth to be God's "language" in speaking to humanity. Through Christ, dialogue with God is re-established.
The significance: Before the Incarnation, humanity was separated from God by sin and the fall. Through Jesus, God bridges this separation by becoming human and speaking directly to us. Jesus is not a message about God; Jesus is God's actual self-communication.
LORD - The Title of Divinity
The Nicene Creed calls Jesus "Lord," a title used throughout the Old Testament exclusively for God. By deliberately applying this title to the glorified Jesus, the early Church was making a stunning claim: Jesus is the absolute and undisputed creator and possessor of the entire universe. He is the Master; we are the servants. One of the earliest and simplest creeds was: "Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3). This wasn't poetic or symbolic—it was a direct assertion of Jesus's divinity and absolute authority.
JESUS - The Name of His Mission
The name "Jesus" comes from the Hebrew "Joshua," which means "God is salvation." This wasn't arbitrary. The angel announced to Mary: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Critical insight: His name itself declared His purpose. There is no mention at all of His teaching at the Incarnation announcement, because—as Coniaris notes—His teaching would be ineffective without first salvation. The fundamental mission is rescue, redemption, healing.
The name Jesus carries immense power and comfort:
- The name that brings comfort to the afflicted
- Strength to the weak
- Hope to the hopeless
- Forgiveness to the sinner
- Courage to the faltering
- Life to the dying
In Orthodox prayer, the invocation of the name of Jesus—"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me"—becomes itself a prayer expressing the deepest needs of the soul. It is above all names, and "at whose mention all things bow, those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth."
Jesus is the human name of God's Son, denoting His human nature. He was fully man and fully God in one and the same person—a mystery that must be preserved.
CHRIST - The Title of His Office
"Christ" means "the Anointed One." In ancient Hebrew custom, a person was anointed when set apart for a high office (e.g., David was anointed to become king). "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word "Messiah."
What this means: When we speak "Jesus Christ," we are making a complete confession of Orthodox Christian faith. We are saying Jesus is the Messiah, the One anointed by God to save His people. As Peter proclaimed: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16).
The chapter includes a poignant dialogue between a Jewish soldier and a rabbi during WWII. When asked what the Messiah would have that Jesus doesn't have, the soldier offered an unanswerable question: More love? More goodness? More miraculous power? More righteousness? There is no answer. Jesus embodies every quality the Messiah was prophesied to possess.
Truth Unveiled - Jesus as the Revealer
Jesus said, "I am the Truth." This is staggering: not "I teach truth" or "I know truth," but "I am truth." As Coniaris explains, it's as if truth wore a veil before, but in Jesus the veil is removed.
The theological significance:
- Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
- He is the exact representation of God's nature (Hebrews 1)
- No one has seen God, but the only Son in the bosom of the Father has made Him known (John 1:18)
Jesus reveals the fullness of who God is and, by extension, who humanity is meant to be. Through Him, the whole truth of God's nature and humanity's destiny is unveiled.
St. Paul summarizes this magnificently:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible...He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church...For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross." (Colossians 1:15-20)
Jesus: Not a Window, but the Light
Coniaris includes a powerful anecdote: A Bahai speaker in India said all religions are equally true, like sunlight shining through different windows. Jesus is one window among many. But the Indian translator responded: "I beg to differ with the lady. Jesus Christ is not the window. He is the Light itself."
This captures the Orthodox understanding precisely. Jesus is not one way among many valid paths to God. He is the Light itself, the source of all illumination. Other religions may contain partial truths (windows through which light shines), but Jesus is the Truth himself.
Pascal expressed it beautifully:
"Not only do we understand God only through Jesus Christ, but we understand ourselves only through Jesus Christ. We understand life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, what we know is neither our life nor our death, neither God nor ourselves."
Transformed Humanity - Jesus as Our Model
Here is a critical and life-changing truth: Jesus took on our humanity, cleansed it, and transformed it into holy and glorious humanity. He made humanity the temple of God's presence, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Through His Ascension, Jesus took our human nature into Heaven with Him.
The implication: How can anyone now say "I'm only human" in a derogatory way? Human nature itself has been divinized by Christ. To be truly human is to be like Jesus—fully God but also fully human, like us in everything except sin.
There's a common misconception: the closer we get to God, the less human we must become. But this is backwards. The only time we deny our humanity is when we sin. The farther we travel from God, the less truly human we are. We recover our true humanity by returning to God through Christ.
Perfect humanity is Christ's humanity. Jesus shows us what it means to be truly human. He gives us the power to become like Him.
Fully God AND Fully Human
Coniaris emphasizes a paradox that must be preserved: Jesus is fully God and fully human. Not 50/50, not mostly divine with a human shell, but completely divine and completely human in one person.
Sometimes His divine nature seems so overpowering that we think it swallowed up His human nature. But this is not Orthodox teaching. He was complete God and complete man in one and the same person.
Why this matters:
- If He were not fully human, He couldn't truly save humanity
- If He were not fully divine, that salvation would be limited
- Both natures are essential to who He is and what He accomplished
Jesus Present Through the Ages in the Liturgy
Finally, Coniaris emphasizes that this same Jesus is made present to us today through the Divine Liturgy. In the Epiclesis prayer (the moment when the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to consecrate the bread and wine), the veil between heaven and earth is lifted. Jesus is no longer a historical figure from 2,000 years ago—He is here, now, present with us.
The continuing presence of Jesus in our midst is the main theme of the liturgy itself:
- Priest: "Christ is in our midst"
- Response: "He is and ever will be"
The liturgy is thus "the sacrament of Christ's permanent saving presence among us today." Every time we receive Holy Communion, we eat the Body of Christ and drink His Blood. We are not remembering a dead savior; we are encountering the living Christ.
3. VISUAL OUTLINE
The Titles of Jesus and What They Mean
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE NAMES & TITLES OF JESUS │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ JESUS (Name) │
│ └─ Hebrew: "Joshua" = "God is salvation" │
│ Purpose: To save His people from sins │
│ Power: Comfort, strength, hope, forgiveness │
│ │
│ CHRIST (Title) │
│ └─ Greek: "Anointed One" = "Messiah" │
│ Office: Set apart to save His people │
│ Meaning: Complete confession of faith │
│ "Jesus is the Messiah" │
│ │
│ LORD (Title) │
│ └─ Old Testament name for God alone │
│ Authority: Absolute creator & master │
│ Relationship: He is Master, we are servants │
│ │
│ THE WORD (Theological name) │
│ └─ God's self-communication to humanity │
│ Function: Reveals God's thoughts │
│ Effect: Dialogue with God re-established │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Jesus's Two Natures
JESUS CHRIST
|
_____________|_____________
| |
FULLY DIVINE FULLY HUMAN
| |
- Creator of all - Born of Mary
- Sustainer of cosmos - Tempted like us
- King & Master - Suffered & died
- Lord of all - Rose from the dead
| |
└───────────┬───────────────┘
│
ONE PERSON, BOTH NATURES
│
NOT 50/50, NOT mostly one
COMPLETE God + COMPLETE man
│
The Model for True Humanity
The Revealer of God's Nature
The Savior of the World
Jesus as Truth Unveiled
BEFORE JESUS:
Truth wearing a veil
└─ Partially revealed through prophets
└─ Shadows and types in the Law
└─ Humanity's understanding limited
JESUS APPEARS:
The veil is removed
└─ God revealed in human form
└─ Complete knowledge of Father's nature
└─ True nature of humanity disclosed
└─ Path to salvation made clear
JESUS: THE LIGHT, NOT A WINDOW
[Other religions]
↓ (partial light)
Different windows
↓
But one source shines through all
[Jesus]
↓
THE LIGHT ITSELF
↓
The ultimate, complete, true revelation
God's Plan of Communication
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT ONGOING
(Through Prophets) (In Person) (In Church)
God speaks ────→ Words & God speaks ────→ The Word ────→ Jesus
indirectly Prophets in flesh (Jesus) present
1 Person in us
2 Natures
Partial Complete Applied
revelation revelation revelation
→ preparation → fulfillment → transformation
The Five Dimensions of Jesus's Presence
JESUS THEN & NOW
|
┌───────┬───────┼───────┬───────┐
| | | | |
TEACHING HEALING SAVING RISEN LITURGICAL
│ │ │ │ │
Words Miracles Redemption Ascension Present
& Signs Cross & in Bread
showed Resurrection & Wine
truth & in
His People
Jesus: Perfect Humanity Restored
BEFORE SIN:
Humanity as God intended
└─ "In the image and likeness of God"
└─ Capable of communion with God
AFTER THE FALL:
Humanity corrupted
└─ Sin distorts our nature
└─ We lose our true humanity
└─ We become "less human" in our sinfulness
JESUS ARRIVES:
Humanity restored & transformed
└─ Takes on perfect human nature
└─ Lives as truly human (without sin)
└─ Sanctifies and glorifies human nature
└─ Takes human nature to Heaven (Ascension)
NOW:
We are called to recover true humanity
└─ Through following Christ
└─ Through sacraments & grace
└─ Becoming fully human by becoming like Jesus
4. REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Personal Application & Deeper Thinking
On Jesus as LORD:
- What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is "Lord"—the Master and Creator of everything? How should this change how you address Him and relate to Him?
- The chapter emphasizes that being a Christian fundamentally means recognizing Jesus as Lord. What does that entail in your daily life?
- In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept Jesus as Lord? Where do you still try to be "the master"?
On Jesus as JESUS (Savior):
- The name "Jesus" means "God is salvation." In what ways have you experienced Jesus as your savior? What does salvation mean to you specifically?
- Coniaris says the name Jesus "brings comfort to the afflicted, strength to the weak, hope to the hopeless." Which of these qualities do you most need Jesus to be for you right now?
- The chapter emphasizes that Jesus's primary mission is to save, not just to teach. How does this understanding change your view of what Christianity is fundamentally about?
On Jesus as CHRIST (Messiah):
- What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Messiah—the one anointed by God? How is this different from seeing Him just as a great teacher?
- The rabbi in the chapter couldn't answer what the Messiah would have that Jesus lacks. What qualities do you see in Jesus that confirm He is the promised Messiah?
On Jesus as The Word:
- "In Christ dialogue with God is re-established." What does this mean for your personal relationship with God?
- If Jesus is God's "language" or "self-communication," how should you approach learning about Him? How is studying Jesus different from studying a book about God?
On Jesus's Two Natures:
How do you reconcile in your mind that Jesus was fully God AND fully human? What aspects of this paradox are hardest for you to understand?
Coniaris says "to be truly human is to be like Christ." What does it mean to be truly human, according to this chapter? How is this different from what the world teaches?
How does knowing that Jesus was tempted like us, suffered like us, and died like us affect your faith in Him?
On Truth and Revelation:
Jesus claimed to be "the Truth" itself. What are the implications of this claim? How does this compare to other religious leaders' claims?
The Indian translator said Jesus is "the Light itself," not just a window. How does this exclusive claim about Jesus sit with you? What does it mean for your faith?
On Transformed Humanity:
"Jesus took our humanity into Heaven with Him." What comfort and hope do you find in this truth?
How does understanding that Jesus became human and sanctified human nature change how you view your own body and humanity?
In what ways are you being called to recover "true humanity" by becoming more like Jesus?
On Jesus in the Liturgy:
When you hear "Christ is in our midst" and respond "He is and ever will be," what should that moment mean to you?
How does knowing that Jesus is truly present in the liturgy (not just symbolically) change how you approach receiving Holy Communion?
Integration & Commitment:
What is the most transformative insight from this chapter about who Jesus is?
How will understanding Jesus as the Word, the LORD, the Savior, and the Messiah shape your approach to conversion and life in the Orthodox Church?
What is one specific way you can acknowledge Jesus as LORD in your life this week?
5. KEY DEFINITIONS
Core Christological Terms
THE WORD OF GOD (Greek: Logos)
- Definition: Jesus understood as God's self-communication and revelation to humanity
- Theological Meaning: Just as words express inner thoughts, Jesus reveals God's inner nature and mind
- Function: Reestablishes dialogue between God and humanity broken by sin
- Scripture: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1)
- Significance: Emphasizes that Jesus is not merely a messenger about God but God's actual self-expression
INCARNATION
- Definition: God the Son taking on human flesh; the Word becoming human in Jesus Christ
- Theological Import: God entering into human nature to accomplish our salvation
- Significance for This Chapter: Explains how Jesus is fully God (the Word) and fully human (born of Mary)
- Scripture: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14)
JESUS (Hebrew: Joshua)
- Definition: The human name of God's Son, meaning "God is salvation"
- Mission: To save His people from their sins
- Power & Function: Brings comfort, strength, hope, forgiveness—meets the deepest spiritual needs
- In Prayer: The invocation of the name Jesus itself becomes a prayer expressing the soul's needs
- Distinctive Feature: His name declares His purpose from conception
CHRIST (Greek: Christos)
- Definition: Title meaning "the Anointed One," equivalent to Hebrew "Messiah"
- Historical Background: Recalls the ancient practice of anointing kings and priests for office
- Confession of Faith: To say "Jesus Christ" is to confess that Jesus is the Messiah promised by prophets
- Authority: The anointing sets apart for a specific divine mission
- Scriptural Basis: Peter's confession: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16)
MESSIAH (Hebrew: Mashiach)
- Definition: The anointed one sent by God to save His people
- Old Testament Hope: Israel waited for the Messiah who would bring salvation and establish God's kingdom
- Christian Belief: Jesus is the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecy and expectation
- Jewish-Christian Difference: Jews await the Messiah's coming; Christians believe He has already come in Jesus
- Meaning: "Jesus Christ" literally means "Jesus the Messiah"
WORSHIP
- Definition: The response of falling down before one who is God; ultimate allegiance and adoration
- Distinction: Different from honor or respect given to great humans (like Shakespeare)
- Application: The proper response to Jesus, who is God in human form
- Scripture: "If Jesus were to appear before us, we should fall down and give him worship"
LORD (Greek: Kyrios)
- Definition: Title used throughout the Old Testament exclusively for God
- Meaning: Absolute creator, possessor, and master of the universe
- Application: By calling Jesus "Lord," early Christians affirmed His divinity and absolute authority
- Relationship Expressed: "He is the Master, we are the servants"
- Early Creed: "Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3) was one of the simplest and most profound confessions
TWO NATURES OF CHRIST (Greek: dyophysitism)
- Definition: The Orthodox teaching that Jesus is fully divine and fully human in one person
- Clarification: Not 50/50, not partially one or the other, but completely both
- Importance: Necessary for salvation—only God can save, only a human can represent humanity
- Preservation: Both natures must be kept together without confusion or separation
- Scripture: "The Word became flesh" (emphasizes both natures united in one Person)
FULLY HUMAN
- Definition: Jesus possessed a complete human nature with body, soul, rational mind, and will
- Significance: He was tempted as we are, suffered as we do, and died like all humans
- Exception: He was without sin—"like us in everything except sin"
- Purpose: His perfect humanity is the model and standard for what true humanity looks like
- Implication: We recover our true humanity by becoming like Jesus
FULLY DIVINE
- Definition: Jesus possessed the complete divine nature, all of God's attributes and powers
- Titles: Lord, Creator of all things, Sustainer of the cosmos, Pre-eternal, Immortal
- Scripture: "In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1:19)
- Authority: As God, He has absolute power and authority over creation
- Worship: Only God is worthy of worship, therefore Jesus receives worship as God
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD (Greek: eikon)
- Definition: Jesus as the exact representation and visible expression of God's nature
- Scriptural Basis: "He is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15)
- Meaning: To see Jesus is to see what God is like; He perfectly reveals the invisible Father
- Relationship: Jesus and the Father are so intimately united that knowledge of one is knowledge of the other
- Significance: God is made knowable and understandable through Jesus
TRUTH (Greek: aletheia)
- Definition: Jesus's self-identification: "I am the Truth"
- Meaning: Not merely that He teaches truth or knows truth, but that He is truth itself
- Significance: All reality, meaning, and authentic knowledge are grounded in Jesus
- Application: Separated from Jesus, we cannot truly know ourselves, God, life, or death (per Pascal)
- Church Understanding: Jesus unveils the whole truth about God and humanity
VEIL REMOVED (Metaphorical)**
- Definition: The concept that truth was "veiled" before Jesus, but in Him the veil is removed
- Old Testament: Truth was partially revealed through prophets and types; understanding was limited
- New Testament: In Jesus, the fullness of God's truth is unveiled; the incomplete becomes complete
- Manifestation: God is no longer hidden or distant but revealed in human form
- Application: Through Jesus, the deepest truths about God and our destiny become clear
NOT THE WINDOW, BUT THE LIGHT
- Definition: Jesus is not one way among many valid ways to God; He is the ultimate Truth and way itself
- Contrast: Other religions may contain partial truths (like windows through which light shines), but Jesus is the Light itself
- Exclusivity: This is the Orthodox understanding of Jesus's uniqueness and centrality
- Implication: Christ is not merely a window through which we see God; He is the complete revelation of God
- Scripture Basis: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)
TRANSFORMED HUMANITY (also Deification or Theosis)
- Definition: Jesus took our humanity and transformed it into holy, sanctified, glorified humanity
- What Jesus Did: Cleansed human nature of sin's corruption and restored it to its intended glory
- Ascension Meaning: Jesus took our human nature into Heaven itself
- Implication: Human nature itself has been sanctified and elevated by the Incarnation
- Our Response: We are called to recover true humanity by imitating Christ and receiving grace
THEOSIS (Also called Deification)
- Definition: The process of becoming like God through participating in divine grace
- Not Pantheism: We don't become divine by nature, but we share in divine life and attributes
- Foundation: Made possible because the divine became human (Incarnation) so humans could become divine
- Method: Through the sacraments, prayer, repentance, and following Christ
- Goal: To be "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4)
EPICLESIS
- Definition: The prayer in the Divine Liturgy invoking the Holy Spirit to consecrate the bread and wine
- Moment: When the priest asks the Holy Spirit to transform the gifts into the Body and Blood of Christ
- Significance: Christ becomes really present—not symbolically, but truly—in the Eucharist
- Effect: This makes Christ's continuing presence possible in the Church today
- Connection to Chapter: Demonstrates that Jesus is not a historical figure but a living, present Lord
HOLY COMMUNION (also Eucharist)
- Definition: The sacrament in which we receive the Body and Blood of Christ
- Meaning: To eat the flesh of Jesus and drink His blood (in the form of bread and wine transformed by the Spirit)
- Effect: Through communion, Jesus dwells within us; we are united to Him and to His Body the Church
- Frequency: In Orthodox practice, received repeatedly as a means of encountering the living Christ
- Significance: The most intimate way we experience Christ's present, saving power
DIVINE LITURGY
- Definition: The Orthodox service of worship in which the Eucharist is celebrated
- Content: Includes prayers, hymns, Scripture readings, and the sacrament of Holy Communion
- Central Truth: "Christ is in our midst"—the liturgy is the sacrament of Christ's permanent presence
- Structure: Built around revealing and encountering the living Jesus
- Response: "He is and ever will be"—affirming Christ's eternal and continuing presence
6. UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
How the Key Passages Connect to Chapter 3 Themes
John 1:1-3 & 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh
Full text (1:1-3): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that has been made."
Full text (1:14): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Relevance: This passage is foundational to understanding Jesus as "the Word of God." It establishes both Jesus's pre-existence and divinity (1:1-3) and His Incarnation and humanity (1:14). Coniaris uses this throughout the chapter to explain that Jesus is God's self-communication. The Word was with God and was God—indicating His divinity and eternity. Yet the Word became flesh—taking on complete humanity. This single passage encompasses the entire mystery of the Incarnation that the chapter explores.
Luke 1:30-31 - The Naming of Jesus
Full text: "And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'"
Relevance: This passage establishes the origin and significance of the name "Jesus." The name was not given by Joseph or Mary's choice but announced from heaven by the angel Gabriel. This emphasizes that the name itself carries divine significance and announces the child's mission. As the chapter explains, "Jesus" means "God is salvation," and the name was given because His primary purpose was to save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 - Jesus's Mission Declared
Full text: "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
Relevance: This verse directly connects the name to the mission. Before Jesus was born, it was announced that He would save people from their sins. This is the fundamental purpose of the Incarnation. Coniaris emphasizes that there is no mention of teaching at the Incarnation announcement because teaching would be ineffective without first salvation. This verse clarifies that Jesus's primary identity is as Savior.
Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession
Full text: "Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"
Relevance: Peter's confession represents the complete understanding of who Jesus is: He is both "the Christ" (the Messiah, the anointed one) and "the Son of the living God" (divine, from God the Father). Jesus affirms this confession as fundamental to faith and says that upon this rock He will build His Church. In the chapter, Coniaris uses this to show that calling Jesus "Christ" is making a complete confession of faith in His messianic office and divine sonship.
Colossians 1:15-20 - Christ as Head of All Creation
Full text: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Relevance: This is perhaps the most comprehensive description in Scripture of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished. Coniaris quotes this passage to establish:
- Jesus as "the image of the invisible God"—He reveals what God is like
- Jesus as Creator and Sustainer of all things
- Jesus as head of the Church
- Jesus as the firstborn from the dead (Resurrection)
- The fullness of God dwelling in Jesus
- Jesus as the reconciler of all things through His cross
This passage encompasses Jesus's cosmic significance, His divinity, His humanity, His work of salvation, and His ongoing role as head of the Church.
Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaking Through the Son
Full text: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."
Relevance: This passage establishes the superiority and uniqueness of Jesus as God's self-revelation. Before Jesus, God spoke through prophets—partially and indirectly. But now, in these "last days" (the Church age), God has spoken through His Son—directly and completely. The chapter uses this to explain that Jesus is the culmination of God's self-communication to humanity. What prophets could only hint at or point toward, Jesus embodies and reveals fully.
John 1:18 - The Son Revealing the Father
Full text: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known."
Relevance: This verse establishes Jesus as the mediator who makes the invisible God known. God is invisible and unknowable in His essence, but through Jesus, the Son, God is revealed and made knowable. Coniaris uses this to support the understanding that Jesus is Truth unveiled—through Him, what was hidden about God's nature is made manifest.
Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission with the Trinity
Full text: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Relevance: While primarily Trinitarian in focus, this verse emphasizes Jesus's place within the Trinity and the centrality of the name of Jesus in the Church's mission. Disciples are made by baptizing them "in the name" of all three Persons—showing Jesus's essential role in Christian identity and salvation. To be baptized into the Church is to be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.
How These Verses Work Together
| Verse(s) | Establishes |
|---|---|
| John 1:1-3, 1:14 | Jesus as God's Word incarnate—divinity and humanity united |
| Luke 1:30-31 & Matthew 1:21 | Jesus's name and mission to save |
| Matthew 16:16 | Jesus as Christ the Messiah and God's Son |
| Colossians 1:15-20 | Jesus's cosmic significance, divinity, and work of redemption |
| Hebrews 1:1-2 | Jesus as the fullness of God's revelation |
| John 1:18 | Jesus as the revealer of the invisible God |
| Matthew 28:19 | Jesus's essential place in Christian baptismal faith and mission |
Together, these verses establish that:
- Jesus is fully divine (God's Word, the image of God, Lord)
- Jesus is fully human (flesh, born, died, raised)
- Jesus is the complete revelation of God—Truth unveiled
- Jesus is the Savior—His primary mission and power
- Jesus is the Messiah—the anointed one, fulfilling all prophecy
- Jesus deserves worship as God and allegiance as Lord
- Jesus is cosmically significant—Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer of all things
- Jesus is the center of Christian faith and the foundation of the Church
7. CHAPTER 3 AS A PARENT WOULD TELL IT
"Who Is Jesus, Really?"
A Story to Help You Understand
Imagine a group of great historical figures walked into a room—Shakespeare, Dante, Einstein, all the greatest minds and artists humanity has ever produced. You would stand up to honor them. You would show them respect.
But then Jesus walked in.
You wouldn't just stand up. You would fall down. You would worship Him.
That's the difference between Jesus and every other great person in history. He's not just great. He's God.
Jesus: God's Language
Let me ask you something: How do you know what's inside someone's mind?
Well, when they speak words. Words are how we communicate what we're thinking. When my friend speaks, I know what he's thinking because he uses words to tell me.
Jesus is like that, except on a divine scale. Jesus is the Word of God. He's God's language. He's God speaking directly to us.
Think about it: God is invisible. We can't see God with our eyes. But God needed to communicate with us. God needed us to understand what He's like, what He thinks, what His heart is. So God didn't just send a message. God didn't send a prophet with words.
God became a person. God spoke to us in the only language we could fully understand—a human life. Jesus is God's self-communication. He's God speaking in the language of human existence.
Through Jesus, dialogue with God is re-established. We can know God. We can speak with God. We can be in relationship with God again.
The Three Names of Jesus
Jesus has three names or titles, and each one tells us something important:
JESUS - His Human Name
"Jesus" comes from the Jewish name "Joshua," which means "God is salvation." This wasn't a random name His parents chose. The angel announced before Jesus was born: "You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
His very name tells His purpose. He came to save us.
Think about the power of that name. The name of Jesus:
- Brings comfort to the afflicted
- Gives strength to the weak
- Offers hope to the hopeless
- Grants forgiveness to the sinner
- Gives courage to the faltering
- Brings life to the dying
In Orthodox prayer, we invoke the name of Jesus. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." The name itself becomes a prayer. It expresses the deepest needs of our soul.
It's above all names. All creation bows at the mention of the name of Jesus.
CHRIST - His Official Title
"Christ" means "the Anointed One." In ancient Israel, when a person was set apart for a high office—like when a king was chosen—they would be anointed with oil. David was anointed to become king. "Christ" is the Greek word for "Messiah."
So when we say "Jesus Christ," we're making a complete confession of faith. We're saying: "Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the one God anointed to save His people."
For thousands of years, the Jewish people waited for the Messiah to come. And when Jesus came, Peter looked at Him and said: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
A rabbi once asked a Jewish soldier what the Messiah would have when He came that Jesus doesn't already have. Would the Messiah have more love? More goodness? More miraculous power? More righteousness? The soldier couldn't answer because Jesus has everything the Messiah was supposed to have.
LORD - His Divine Title
In the Old Testament, "Lord" was the name for God alone. No one else was called "Lord."
But the early Church, after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, called Him "Lord." They said, "Jesus is Lord." This was the earliest creed of the Church. It was a shocking declaration: Jesus is God. He is the Master of all creation. He is the absolute ruler of everything.
When we call Jesus "Lord," we're saying He has absolute authority. He is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe. He is the Master, and we are His servants.
Truth Unveiled
Jesus said something that sounds simple but is actually incredible: "I am the Truth."
Not "I teach the truth." Not "I know the truth." But "I am the Truth itself."
It's as if, before Jesus, truth was wearing a veil. It was hidden, partially revealed, hard to see clearly. But when Jesus came, the veil was removed.
In Jesus, the whole truth about God is revealed. We see what God is really like. We understand what humanity is supposed to be. We see what love really means. We see what justice really means. We see what mercy really means.
A philosopher named Pascal said something beautiful:
"Not only do we understand God only through Jesus Christ, but we understand ourselves only through Jesus Christ. We understand life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, what we know is neither our life nor our death, neither God nor ourselves."
Think about that. Without Jesus, we don't even really know ourselves. We don't know our purpose, our value, our destiny. We know it all through Jesus.
Not a Window, but the Light
Some religions teach that all paths lead to God. They say Jesus is like a window—one way among many through which light shines. But other windows are equally valid.
But that's not what Jesus is.
There's a beautiful story about this. Someone said Jesus was like a window through which the light of God shines. But an Indian translator said something wise: "I beg to differ with the lady. Jesus Christ is not the window. He is the Light itself."
Jesus is not one path among many. He is not one window. He is the source of light. He is the fullness of truth. He is the only way to true knowledge of God.
This doesn't mean other religions have no truth at all. But Jesus is the complete truth, the whole light, the ultimate revelation of God.
Jesus: Fully God AND Fully Human
Here's a mystery that's hard to understand but absolutely essential: Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. Not partly one and partly the other. Not mostly one with a little bit of the other. But completely God and completely human.
His divine nature:
- He created the universe
- He sustains all things
- He is eternal and immortal
- He is worthy of worship
- He has all the power of God
His human nature:
- He was born of Mary
- He grew up
- He was tempted like we are
- He suffered
- He died
Both are completely true. Both are completely present in one person.
Why does this matter? Because:
- Only God can save us. Only divine power can overcome sin and death.
- But only a human can represent humanity before God. Jesus needed to be human to save humans.
He is the perfect model for what it means to be truly human. He shows us what humanity was meant to be before sin corrupted it. He shows us that to be truly human is not to turn away from God but to turn toward God. To be truly human is to be like Jesus.
When Jesus took on human nature and lived a perfect human life, He transformed humanity itself. He cleansed it. He made it holy. He took it to Heaven with Him at His Ascension.
So now, no one can say "I'm only human" as an excuse for sin. Human nature has been sanctified by Jesus. To be truly human is to be like Jesus—fully committed to God, fully loving, fully righteous, fully alive.
Jesus Present Today
Here's something that might surprise you: Jesus is not a figure from the past. He's not just a memory. Jesus is alive and present today.
This happens most vividly in the Church's worship, in the Divine Liturgy. In the liturgy, we pray words that seem impossible: "Christ is in our midst." And we respond: "He is and ever will be."
When the priest prays over the bread and wine, invoking the Holy Spirit, something miraculous happens. The bread and wine become the actual Body and Blood of Christ. Not symbolically. Actually. And when we receive communion, we're eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood. We're in the most intimate union possible with the living Christ.
This is the sacrament of Christ's permanent saving presence. Jesus promised He would be with His Church always, even to the end of the age. And He keeps that promise in the liturgy, in the sacraments, in the life of the Church.
So Jesus is not just a historical figure who lived 2,000 years ago. He's our contemporary. He's present now. He's available to us. We can encounter Him. We can be transformed by Him. We can eat His flesh and drink His blood.
What This Means for You
So who is Jesus?
- He is the Word of God, God's complete self-communication to humanity
- He is the Lord, the Master and Creator of all
- He is Jesus the Savior, who came to rescue us from sin and death
- He is Christ the Messiah, the one anointed by God
- He is the Truth, the revelation of what God is really like
- He is the perfect human, showing us what we're meant to be
- He is present with us now, in the Church, in the sacraments, in our hearts
And most importantly, He is worthy of our worship. Not just our respect, like we'd give a great historical figure. But our worship. Our complete allegiance. Our total trust. Our ultimate love.
He is God. And God became human so that we could be transformed, saved, and elevated to communion with God itself.
That's who Jesus is.
Study Completion Notes
Chapter 3 Completed: [Add today's date]
Personal Insights to Remember:
- [Space for your reflections]
Powerful Quotes to Meditate On:
- "If Shakespeare were to enter this room, I should rise up to do him honor; but if Jesus Christ were to enter, I should fall down and give him worship." —Charles Lamb
- "Jesus is the Light itself, not just a window"
- "Not only do we understand God only through Jesus Christ, but we understand ourselves only through Jesus Christ." —Pascal
- "To be truly human is to be like Jesus"
Questions for Next Session:
- [Add any unresolved questions here]
Connection to Your Faith Journey:
- [How this chapter deepens your understanding of Jesus and your conversion]
Next Chapter: Chapter 4 - What We Believe About the Holy Trinity