“And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God…” – 1st John 5:20 (NLT)
Many assume that if they had seen the Lord Jesus in person when He walked the earth, they would have recognised Him instantly and loved Him immediately. The Scriptures, however, tell us something remarkable: Some of those who saw Him face to face did not believe in Him. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes heard His words, witnessed His miracles, watched His ministry, but still rejected His identity.
Our Lord Jesus did not come with outward features that commanded men to see His deity. Isaiah’s prophecy says, “My Servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.” (Isaiah 53:2, NLT).
Even in His arrest, Judas had to identify Him with a sign to the officers. That was because He wasn’t visually distinct from His disciples (Matthew 26:48-49). Even though His influence was known abroad, His appearance made no distinction from the crowd.
The Jewish leaders refused to acknowledge His origin and His ministry (John 9:29). Even after the man born blind received His sight, they chose unbelief over truth. They answered the man with contempt and dismissed him completely (John 9:30-34).
Jesus’ rejection not only came from religious leaders but from His own household. The Bible states, “For even His brothers didn’t believe in Him” (John 7:5, NLT).
Despite all the rejection, Jesus’ identity remained the same. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. The certainty of His deity is immutable and indisputable. He’s exactly Who He claimed to be: the Christ, the True God, and eternal life.
What’s your attitude toward Him? Do you know Him by revelation? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him? How certain are you?
Read: John 1:10-12; Titus 2:13-14
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 13:10-19; John 18:1-24; 1 Samuel 21; 1 Samuel 22; 1 Samuel 23