Are you following the Real Jesus?
Dispelling Myths & Deception. A deep dive into John 1: 1-3
When it comes to global recognition, no one holds a candle to our Lord Jesus Christ. He's a household name across faiths: 2.1 billion Christians follow Him, 1.6 billion Muslims consider Him a prophet, and a mix of Hindus, atheists, Jews, and New Agers all know of Him. That's about 6.5 billion out of 8 billion people on earth. Crazy, right?
But before we start celebrating, there's a twist. The Jesus that billions claim to know may not be the same Jesus revealed in Scripture. Many have a skewed idea of who He really is. Ask around, "Who is Jesus?" and you'll get a mixed bag of answers. Some say He's a prophet, others call Him a great teacher, an ascended master, or even Archangel Michael.
As we get closer to the end times, the confusion is only going to get worse. Believing in the wrong Jesus might actually be worse than not knowing Him at all.
The Deception Alert
The Bible repeatedly warns about this deception. Paul cautioned saying: “But I fear… lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds would be led astray… for if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached… you may well put up with it” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
John spoke of "deceivers" promoting the lie that "Christ did not come in the flesh" (2 John 1:7-8). Even Jesus himself foretold that "many will come in My name...and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:5).
The common thread in all these verses is ‘deception,’ and it comes from Satan, the deceiver-in-chief himself. He has even infiltrated the Church, deceiving many with a counterfeit Jesus.
So, how do we protect ourselves from the enemy’s deception? The best, foolproof strategy is to know who Jesus truly is from the Bible. What better place to start than the eyewitness account of Apostle John?
The Word : Logos or Memra = God
Apostle John starts with an intriguing term for God - the “Word.” He doesn't explain it because his audience didn't need an explanation.
First-century Jews used the term “Memra” (Aramaic for “Word”) to refer to God without using His name directly, in order to avoid violating the commandment against taking God's name in vain. This practice continues even today, with Hebrew terms like HaShem or Adonai.
Greeks, on the other hand, used “Logos” (meaning Word) for the intelligence and underlying force behind creation . So whether it’s a Jew or a Gentile reading John 1:1, they knew the term memra / logos referred to God himself.
The Uniqueness of the Word
In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. - John 1:1-3
John ascribes to the Word (Jesus Christ) the supreme attributes of deity.
His Pre-existence: Notice the Bible does not say, “In the beginning God created the Word.” No. The Word was already there in the beginning before anything was created. The Word is eternal - the Alpha & the Omega.
His Co-existence: John then tells us that the Word existed along with God (i.e., God the Son existed along with God the Father in the beginning),
Was Himself God. Not a lesser God, not an extension of God, but fully God. Isaiah 9:6 says: His name is Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.
The Creator of all: The “Word” is not an impersonal force or supernatural power—the Word is a person, and it is a “He.” He created all things, and without Him, nothing—not even one thing—was made that was made.
The Word Became Man
Here’s where it gets even more fascinating: "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us" (John 1:14).
The eternal God stepped into history, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:6-7)
So, do not let people sell you a diluted, skimmed version of Jesus—Any view diminishing Jesus as merely a prophet, wise teacher, or "ascended master" falls devastatingly short - He is God and to deny His deity is blasphemous.
The Fullness of God Revealed in Christ
How do we get to know God better? Through nature, prayer, or spiritual leaders? While nature does reveal God's creative power and glory, it doesn't tell the whole story. Even the great prophets like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah were merely messengers, relaying God's messages without fully revealing His essence. Only through the Son do we fully comprehend the Father’s nature:
Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory & the exact image His person (Heb. 1:3)
in Jesus all the fulness of Godhead dwells in bodily form Col 2:9)
"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son (the Word), who is in close fellowship with the Father, has declared Him.” (John 1:18)
Jesus : He that has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:8)
Why It Matters
And why does recognizing the true Jesus matter? This is not a mere intellectual exercise - your eternity hangs on what you do with Jesus. Only by believing in the biblical Christ can one receive forgiveness of sins and have eternal life (John 3:16).
All other diluted depictions of Jesus that the devil peddles are counterfeits lacking the power to save. We must, therefore, fix our gaze solely on Jesus who is the eternal Word (God), the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, and the only mediator between God and man.