Who is YAHshúa the Christ?

YAHshúa, also known as Jesus Christ, is central to the Christian faith. His identity, nature, and work are foundational to understanding the message of the Gospel and the entire narrative of the Bible. To fully grasp who YAHshúa is, we must explore His divine and human nature, His messianic role, His work of redemption, and His ongoing significance for believers.

1. The Identity of YAHshúa (Jesus Christ)

1.1 The Name YAHshúa:

The name YAHshúa is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus, meaning "YAHWEH is salvation." This name encapsulates His mission and identity, as He came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The use of "YAHshúa" emphasizes His connection to YAHWEH and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.

1.2 The Christ (Messiah):

"Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "Anointed One." Throughout the Old Testament, the Messiah was prophesied as the one who would deliver Israel and establish God's kingdom on earth. YAHshúa fulfills these messianic prophecies, as seen in passages like Isaiah 9:6-7 and Daniel 7:13-14.

1.3 Fully God and Fully Man:

YAHshúa is both fully divine and fully human, a doctrine known as the Hypostatic Union. This means that in one Person, YAHshúa possesses two natures—divine and human—without mixing, changing, or dividing them. John 1:1, 14 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." This passage affirms YAHshúa's divinity and His incarnation as a human being.

1.4 The Second Person of the Trinity:

As the Son, YAHshúa is the second Person of the Trinity. He is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. His role within the Trinity includes being the mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5), and the one through whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16).

2. The Messianic Role of YAHshúa

2.1 The Fulfillment of Prophecy:

YAHshúa’s life and ministry fulfill numerous Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. From His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23) to His suffering and death (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22), YAHshúa embodies the long-awaited hopes of Israel for deliverance and restoration. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:4-5) and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:24-28) further confirm His messianic identity.

2.2 King and Savior:

YAHshúa is not only the promised Messiah but also the King of Kings and the Savior of the world. His kingship is both spiritual and eschatological, meaning that while He reigns now in the hearts of believers, He will one day return to establish His kingdom in its fullness (Revelation 19:11-16). As Savior, YAHshúa delivers humanity from sin, death, and the powers of darkness through His sacrificial death and resurrection (Colossians 1:13-14).

2.3 The Suffering Servant:

YAHshúa’s messianic role includes being the Suffering Servant, as depicted in Isaiah 53. He willingly took upon Himself the sins of humanity, suffering and dying on the cross to atone for sin. This aspect of His messianic role is crucial for understanding the nature of His mission: to bring reconciliation between God and humanity through His own sacrifice.

3. The Work of YAHshúa

3.1 The Incarnation:

The incarnation is the event in which the eternal Son of God took on human flesh. The purpose of the incarnation was to enable YAHshúa to live a sinless life, to reveal the Father to humanity (John 14:9), and ultimately to die as a substitute for sinners. Philippians 2:6-8 speaks of YAHshúa’s humility in becoming human, "being in the form of God... He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

3.2 The Atonement:

YAHshúa’s death on the cross is the central act of atonement in Christian theology. He bore the wrath of God against sin, satisfying divine justice, and reconciling humanity to God. The concept of substitutionary atonement is articulated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." His blood was shed as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), and His death fulfilled the sacrificial system established in the Old Testament.

3.3 The Resurrection:

The resurrection of YAHshúa is the cornerstone of Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:14). By rising from the dead, YAHshúa conquered death and validated His divine nature and the truth of His teachings. The resurrection also assures believers of their future resurrection and eternal life (Romans 6:5). YAHshúa's resurrection is a sign of His victory over sin and death, and it is celebrated as the proof of His lordship and the basis for Christian hope.

3.4 The Ascension and Exaltation:

After His resurrection, YAHshúa ascended into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father, exalted above all (Acts 1:9-11, Philippians 2:9-11). His ascension marks the completion of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His heavenly intercession for believers (Hebrews 7:25). It also signifies His ongoing reign as Lord over all creation, with the promise of His return in glory to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).

4. YAHshúa’s Ongoing Role in the Life of Believers

4.1 Mediator and Intercessor:

YAHshúa continues His work as the mediator between God and humanity. He intercedes on behalf of believers, advocating for them before the Father (1 John 2:1). His role as High Priest is emphasized in Hebrews, where He is described as one who sympathizes with human weaknesses and provides access to God’s grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).

4.2 Head of the Church:

YAHshúa is the head of the Church, which is described as His body (Ephesians 1:22-23). As the head, He guides, nourishes, and directs the Church in its mission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The Church is called to live in submission to Christ, reflecting His character and carrying out His commands.

4.3 Source of Spiritual Life:

YAHshúa is the source of spiritual life for believers. He describes Himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35) and the "vine" in which believers must abide (John 15:1-5). Through union with Christ, believers receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to live out their faith and grow in Christlikeness (Galatians 2:20).

4.4 The Return of YAHshúa:

YAHshúa’s return is a central hope for Christians. The New Testament teaches that He will return in glory to consummate His kingdom, judge the living and the dead, and establish a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). His return will be the fulfillment of all God’s promises and the ultimate realization of God’s redemptive plan.

5. The Significance of YAHshúa in Christian Theology

5.1 The Foundation of Salvation:

YAHshúa’s person and work are the foundation of Christian salvation. There is no salvation apart from Him, as stated in Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." His unique role as Savior means that faith in Him is necessary for reconciliation with God.

5.2 The Revelation of God:

YAHshúa is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. He reveals the Father’s character, will, and love in a way that is unparalleled in any other revelation (John 1:18). Through YAHshúa, believers come to know God personally and enter into a relationship with Him.

5.3 The Fulfillment of God’s Plan:

YAHshúa’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension are the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan as revealed throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points to YAHshúa as the central figure in God’s story of salvation. He is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), the one through whom all things are reconciled to God (Colossians 1:20).

5.4 The Example for Believers:

YAHshúa is also the model for Christian living. Believers are called to imitate His humility, love, and obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:5-8, John 13:34-35). His teachings and example provide the blueprint for how Christians are to live in relationship with God and others.

Conclusion

YAHshúa the Christ is the eternal Son of God, the promised Messiah, and the Savior of the world. He is fully God and fully man, uniquely qualified to mediate between God and humanity and to accomplish the work of redemption. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension are the foundation of the Christian faith and the source of salvation for all who believe. YAHshúa continues to intercede for believers, guide His Church, and will one day return to consummate His kingdom. Understanding who YAHshúa is leads to worship, obedience, and a life of devotion to the one who is YAHWEH’s salvation.