The real Jesus is unlike any other.

Paul warns about those who preach another Jesus that he has not preached because people are deceived by a different spirit and a different gospel and end up with another Christ (2 Corinthians 11:4). Jesus warns there will be deceptive false Christs and false prophets during the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:23-24). John warns about false prophets who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh who follow the spirit of the Antichrist who is presently at work (1 John 4:1-3). Note these things about the real Jesus.

First, there is the passion of the real Jesus in His virtuous life. The word "passion" does not refer here to an emotion but to His suffering, as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) and the passion refers specifically to the time from His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross at Calvary (Luke 22:39-23:49). 1 Peter 2:20b-23 reads, "But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously."

Second, there is the passing of the real Jesus in His vicarious death. Dr. Luke shares this in his account of the crucifixion of Jesus in Luke 23:46b, "Having said this, He breathed His last." Paul explains about Jesus, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8). 1 John 3:16a reads, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us." In Titus 2:14 we read about Jesus, "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

Third, there is the passage of the real Jesus in His victorious resurrection. Luke 24:6a reads, "He is not here, but is risen!" Jesus made His passage from death to life. C.S. Lewis shares the following in his book titled Miracles: "The New Testament writers speak as if Christ's achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the 'first fruits,' the 'pioneer of life.' He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so. This is the beginning of the New Creation: a new chapter in cosmic history has opened." This is indeed good news.
Make certain you have believed and received the real Jesus.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.