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Who Is Jesus?

Who Is Jesus?

By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher

The debate over who is Jesus started in the very earliest years after his death and resurrection. One of the big issues is how could he possibly be fully God and fully man. If fully God, then he is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. If fully man, then he suffers pain, hunger and even fear.

The good news of the Gospel as resolved by the Council of Nicaea is that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. Scripture supports this “both/and.”

On the one hand, as fully God, Jesus knew what the Pharisees and Sadducees were thinking (Matthew 22:15ff), could command a centurion’s servant to be healed at a distance (Matthew 8:5-13), and raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). On the other hand, as fully man, Jesus wept (John 11:35); said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32), and Jesus asked his Father “if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Philippians 2:5-11 answers this in a very direct way by saying that, although Jesus was fully God he took upon himself and humbled himself to be fully man so he could be the sacrifice once given for our sins.

Pages and pages have been written and can be written about this subject. Like any human being who’s awakening to the spiritual, that person knows personally the presence of God and yet longs for the presence of God and feels his limitations.

These issues are resolved in the wonderful movie THE YOUNG MESSIAH in complete coherence with the Bible and the church and, in particular, the Nicene Creed.

By moving away from a historical Jesus movie, toward an allegorical Christ movie, the movie reveals to people who don’t know the story the very essence of being fully God and fully man and also the essence of the revelation of Jesus and all its ramifications.

Since the 1890s (and before that in literature), representations of Jesus can tend toward history as in a Jesus movie or fantasy, as in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR where Jesus sings, or GODSPELL, which portrays Christ as part of a singing troupe of street clowns and mimes. In contrast to Jesus figures, Christ figures are often either redeemers or saviors. The redeemer figure represents Jesus taking on human burdens and sinfulness in suffering and even death. Movies may also portray Jesus Christ Himself as teacher, wonder worker, all-powerful Creator, monk, human, or Risen Lord.

All of this is acceptable if the Christology is orthodox (which merely means right doctrine). An orthodox Christology requires at least:

– A real ontology (which means that reality is real, not just a great thought or something else)

– A real epistemology (which means that a person can really know that reality is real)

– A real soteriology (which means that Jesus really saved us)

– A real resurrection

– A real divinity (Jesus Christ is “very God of very God,” which is how the Council of Nicea resolved the Homoousian conflict that Jesus was of the same essence, or substance, as God the Father, and so there is only one God)

– A real incarnational theology (Jesus Christ was “fully God and fully Man,” which resolves the Gnostic and Arian heresies that Jesus was only one or the other)

– A real history (Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection were actual events in history; thus, they are more than historical, but not less than historical)

– A real morality (Jesus died once for the sins of all)

– A real victory (Jesus Christ’s death was not a defeat but a triumph)

Finally, different kinds of movies that focus on Jesus Christ or other religious themes, also embrace the following types:  passion plays, spectacles, epics, experimental or avant-garde movies, drama, supernatural movies, apocalyptic movies, picaresque movies, and clerical movies.

To see the rest of the story, see THE YOUNG MESSIAH. And read the full review here.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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