Who Is Jesus? — The Eternal Son — Part 1

[This article is part of the series "Various Views of Jesus"]

The Eternal Son, Sent and Rejected

“But who do you say that I am?” — Mark 8:29

The Question That Won’t Go Away

Across time, culture, and creeds, this question confronts every generation: Who is Jesus?

He is the most written about, followed, and worshiped figure in history. His name crowns cathedrals and is whispered in moments of agony. Yet, despite this familiarity, confusion persists. This series has confronted the counterfeits—the self-help Jesus, the moral guru, and the revolutionary. Now, we move from contrasting Him to confessing Him.

Jesus Himself first posed the question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29). Peter’s confession that He was the Christ required clarification, as Jesus immediately pointed toward suffering, rejection, and resurrection. To truly know Him, we must look not into speculation, but down into the manger, forward to the cross, and upward to the throne.

The Son Who Was and Is

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1

Before time, there was Jesus—eternally God the Son, radiant with divine glory (Colossians 1:15–19). He did not evolve into divinity; He always was divine. Wherever the Father was working in redemptive history, the Son was present, fully and indivisibly. The incarnation did not begin His mission; it revealed it.

The Firstborn Son

“(He is) the firstborn over all creation” — Colossians 1:15b

Jesus is not first in time, but first in rank, resurrection, and inheritance. This title denotes unrivaled supremacy as the heir of all things. Throughout Scripture, the "firstborn" figure is often the unlikely choice—Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers. Jesus fulfills this pattern as the true Firstborn who was rejected by creation so that He could be exalted in glory.

He rose not just as a victorious man, but as the Head of the new creation. As the "firstborn from among the dead," Jesus overthrew death itself. He is not first among equals; He is first without rival, standing alone in the Father’s love.

The Son Who Was Sent

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” — John 1:14

The eternal Son entered human history physically. The incarnation was not a reduction of deity but the addition of humanity. Jesus remained fully God while becoming fully man—two natures perfectly united without confusion or dilution. He was hungry, yet He fed the multitudes; He grew tired, yet He commanded the storm. To behold Christ is to see God stooping low, veiling His majesty in weakness to dwell among His people.

Conclusion: Sent, Rejected, Incarnate for You

Who is Jesus? He is the eternal, uncreated Son; the rejected Firstborn; and the incarnate Lord. But the question of His identity leads inevitably to His mission: What did He come to do, and where is He now? This is not merely a theological inquiry, but a deeply personal summons. As we prepare to explore His mission in Part 2, His question still stands:

“Who do you say that I am?”

—End of Part 1—