Part 1: Who do people say He is?

Hello, and welcome to Finding out about Christ. This is study one: Who is Jesus Christ? And in this first part, we'll ask: who do people say He is?

Almost everyone has heard the name Jesus. For some people, it's a name they hear in church. For others, it's just a word people say when they're angry or surprised. But very few of us have stopped and really asked: who was He?

That's what we're going to do together in this course. We won't rely on rumours or on what someone told us once. We'll open the Bible and look at the evidence for ourselves.

You don't need to know anything about the Bible to follow along. Just bring an honest, open mind. And if you have a Bible of your own, keep it close by.

Let's start with a bit of imagination. Picture yourself getting on a plane. But this plane doesn't just take you to another country. It takes you back in time.

You land in Israel, almost two thousand years ago. The streets are dusty, the markets are busy, and the country is ruled by the Roman Empire.

And as soon as you step off the plane, you notice something. Everyone is talking about the same person. A man named Jesus, from a small town called Nazareth.

So you start listening. And you're surprised, because people don't agree about Him at all. Some people say He's a troublemaker. Someone who leads people astray.

Others say He's a prophet. A prophet is someone who brings a message from God. That's a big compliment.

And some people go even further. They believe He is the Son of God, the Christ. The word Christ isn't Jesus' surname. It's a title. It means the one God promised to send, God's chosen King and Rescuer.

Isn't it strange? Some people hate Him. Others love Him and even worship Him. But as you watch Him for yourself, one thing is clear. Here is a man who is remarkably kind, honest, and brave. So which is it? Who is He really? In this study, we'll look at two things. What other people said about Jesus and what Jesus said about Himself.

Let's begin with the crowds. Wherever Jesus went, people followed Him. If you have a Bible, pause the video now and look up Luke, chapter five, verse fifteen.

Here is what Luke wrote: But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. (Luke 5:15, BSB)

Think about who was in those crowds. People who were ill and had tried everything. People who felt forgotten. People who were simply curious. They came because they had heard about Him, and they wanted to see for themselves. In a way, that's exactly what you are doing today.

One day, Jesus asked His closest friends, His disciples, what people were saying about Him. You'll find this in Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses thirteen to sixteen.

They told Him: some people say you're John the Baptist. Others say Elijah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus turned the question around and asked them directly. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ And Peter answered: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16, BSB)

Notice how Jesus didn't let them hide behind other people's opinions. He asked them what they thought. And one day, that's the question He asks each of us. Not what your family thinks, or what your culture thinks, but this: who do you say I am?

Below this video, you'll find the two Bible passages we looked at. Try looking them up in your own Bible.

Then, when you're ready, mark this part as complete and continue with part two: what Jesus said about Himself.