Who Is Jesus?
Names and Descriptive Phrases of Jesus - Part 9
By Allan E. McNabb

In this series we’re talking about the names and descriptive phrases identifying Jesus.  Thus far we’ve talked about Jesus as God, Lord, Savior, Creator, the Word, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and the propitiation for our sins.

In this article, we talk about Jesus as the life.

Jesus is the Life
Jesus came into the world as the life and Light of men.

• “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (Jn. 1:4).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  The result of salvation in Christ is life.  Therefore, Jesus is called the life.

• “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

Jesus is the Word of Life
In First John, the apostle goes further, and says Jesus is the Word of Life.

• “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life” (1 Jn. 1:1).

Jesus is called the Word of Life because His words give life to lost souls.  Jesus says:

• “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life’” (Jn. 5:24).
• “‘It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life’” (Jn. 6:63).

And Peter confesses, when Jesus asked if the apostles were going to leave:

• “. . .‘Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life’” (Jn. 6:68).

Jesus Gives Eternal Life
The life Jesus gives is eternal life.

• “. . . the Word of Life — and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us (1 Jn. 1:1-2).

Therefore Jesus is the true God and eternal life.

• And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20).

So when Jesus went to Bethany at the death of Lazarus, He confesses to be the resurrection, in addition to the life.

• “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (Jn. 11:20).

Jesus is Our Life
Paul summarizes our relationship with Jesus, and our dependence on Him, by saying He’s our life.

• “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then . . . ” (Col. 3:3-4).

Notice that people whose life is Christ, “have died” and their “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).

Earlier Paul explained that we are buried, raised up with Christ, and made alive together with Him, when we are baptized (Col. 2:12-13).

Therefore, we learn that Jesus becomes our life at the time we are baptized.

Accordingly, John tells Christians they possess eternal life while living upon the earth.

• “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:13).

We’ll be Revealed with Jesus in Glory
Because Jesus is our life, we’ll be revealed with Him in glory.

• “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

Paul describes the glory of that day, when Jesus descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel.  Those who have fallen asleep in Christ will return with Him, and those who remain will rise up to meet the Lord in the clouds.  Then we’ll return with Jesus, and remain with Him forever.

All of this is made possible by our Father, who sent Jesus to seek and save the lost.  And by our Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins.

As you think about these things, remember to give thanks!

To be continued.