Who Is Jesus?

by Greg Gilbert

A famed historian once noted that, regardless of what you think of him personally, Jesus Christ stands as the central figure in the history of Western civilization. A man violently rejected by some and passionately worshipped by others, Jesus remains as polarizing as ever. But most people still know very little about who he really was, why he was really here, or what he really claimed. Intended as a succinct introduction to Jesus's life, words, and enduring significance, Who Is Jesus? offers non-Christians and new Christians alike a compelling portrait of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this book encourages readers to carefully consider the history-shaping life and extraordinary teachings of the greatest man who ever lived.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Evangelism, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Faith, Discipleship

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Greg Gilbert (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is senior pastor at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of What Is the Gospel?, James: A 12-Week Study, and Who Is Jesus?, and is the co-author (with Kevin DeYoung) of What Is the Mission of the Church?.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite in the trilogy—and the first I’d give to a nonbeliever.

[Brian Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Written with unbelievers in mind, but profound and encouraging for believers as well. Gilbert eloquently presents Jesus as the King, the God-man, who came to be our champion and die and rise again.

I read this book with a new believer in our church in Brazil.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest. I did not think I would like this book. Who is Jesus is the question that we all answer in what we say and what do and how we live. That is what this book is all about and I was surprised by it.

Starting with the first chapter-What do you think? Have you given it much thought? Have you thought deeply about it?
Jesus was an extraordinary man and then some…The way Jesus directed his followers to think. Reminding us that we are made in God’s image and being so we belong to him. It is when we recognize God’s image in ourselves and give ourselves to him-Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind.
When you think of Jesus do you think of Jesus as your king? I found the chapter of Jesus’ kingship very interesting and what it signified for mankind. As a king, Jesus stands and represents us. He is a substitute and champion. Do we understand what kind of king Jesus represents to us today?
Jesus is the great I am and he is one of us. In his humanity, he was hungry, cold, cried and laughed. He also danced. There is a bible reference but I don’t remember where it is. It is in his humanness, he identifies himself with us so that he can represent us.

The most interesting insight was the temptation of Christ. The 3 temptations that Satan threw at Christ were the same that he threw at Adam and Eve in the Beginning and still is today. Distrust God, force God’s hand and fail to worship God in truth of who he is. These were the failings of the nation of Israel and I question if it the failing of the church today.
Christ became our last Adam in accomplishing what Adam could not. Then becoming the Lamb of God; the sacrifice for man. It is important to realize that sacrifice had to be made for sin. Do you realize for us to have life, something must die. An animal must die if I have steak, or if have any veggies or fruit, the seed must die before it can bear fruit.
In spite of his death on the cross, Jesus is our resurrected and reigning Lord and King. He has authority to rule and judge and save. His kingdom is one of redemption. Jesus invites us to come know him.

A special thank you Crossway, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it’s written more toward non-Christians, I still recommend this all followers of Jesus. This would be a great addition to church building lobbies or for people joining a congregation for the first time.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and simple book is a much needed introduction to the life of Jesus and the life he offers freely. Gilbert beautifully articulates how Christ has been proclaimed, died, resurrected, ascended, and is now reigning. In a world full of deep apologetic books on Jesus this simple introduction is a much needed gospel reminder that the apologetics make little sense if Jesus wasn’t who he said he was. A great aid to evangelism.

[Kirsten Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid book. I would definitely recommend it to someone who was intellectually interested in the life of Jesus and had a hunger to learn about Him. While the premise and arguments are good, I think someone who wasn’t really interested wouldn’t be swayed by it, but that is less reflective of the book and more reflective of how Satan has blinded the eyes of many.

For an interested seeker, though, this would be a great resource.

[Dan Curnutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short booklet we get a good treatment of the topic, “Who Is Jesus.” Greg Gilbert lays out a very clear and comprehensive discussion on the topic, it is geared towards those who have yet to decide who Jesus really is.

As he begins the book he asks the question, “Now of course you may not accept what Jesus says. You may reject it outright. But think about it: Wouldn’t it make sense not to do that too quickly? Wouldn’t it make sense to get to know this man a bit before you completely toss off what he says about you? Let me be bold and make a request, since you’ve been so kind to pick up this book and start reading it: Give Jesus a chance. It may be that as you learn more about him, you’ll realize that there are actually some very good reasons for believing what he said—about himself, about God, and about you.”

With that request made Gilbert then moves into a dialogue about Jesus and his teachings, his miracles, his actions and eventually his death on a Roman Cross. The outline for his work is very well thought out and very well articulated. He does not bludgeon you over the head with scripture, instead he gently lays out his argument for who he believes Jesus is.

This little booklet will become a great tool for all to have in their possession who want to share about Jesus with skeptic’s, non-believers, agnostics, atheists, etc. The only request that Gilbert makes is to give him a chance to lay out the case for Jesus and then they can make their own conclusion about Who Jesus Is.

There was an earlier book that did much to help people come to Christ, that was Lee Strobel’s book, “The Case for Christ.” That book is wonderful and a great tool as well. It is quite a bit longer than Gilbert’s book. So, the difference will be this, will your friend read a shorter treaty on Christ and be willing to dialogue about it? If so, use Gilbert’s book. Then after that move on to Strobel’s book as the second discussion starter with your friend.

I believe that Gilbert’s book will become a primer for many non-believers to come to address their decision about whether they believe Jesus is who he said he was or not. The Nine Marks Series of books are wonderful, but this newest one might be the best yet.

[Chase Luka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I am thoroughly astonished to say the least. Going into reading this I heard “Who is Jesus” was somewhat of an elementary introduction about who Jesus is. I am glad to say I was proven wrong.

The first few chapters may have felt like this, but very quickly we realize this is a book that a person who has been a Christian for twenty years could pick up and see Jesus in a new light. The author lays out many thought-provoking ideas in areas where we often overlook. Jesus said things to blow our mind, not for us to skip over and Mr. Gilbert does an excellent job at slowing us down to see a series of implications of claims that Jesus or the Bible makes such as, “I am”.

I would highly recommend this for Christians or non-Christians because Mr. Gilbert makes it clear Jesus is either an idiot or he is the creator of the world.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book. it was written in a style of reasonable apologetic for convincing. I appreciated the straight forward and refreshing accessible language to the person and work of Christ. A Person and work that reaches back through eternity, is promised at creation and fall, is illustrated in Israel, law and the prophets and finally culminates and continues in the first century and to the eternity future. It is solidly founded in scripture without being overwhelming to those who might not be fully acquainted with God’s Word. This is a great give away to someone who might be seeking an honest answer from the Christians perspective on “Who is Jesus?”

[Cole Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and precise, Gilbert answers the critical question, "Who is Jesus?" This book was very well-written and to the point. Would recommend this book to anyone who cannot answer this question for themselves.

[Jonathan Pait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the beauty of chapter 8!

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Though it's definitely geared more towards unbelievers, any believer would benefit from considering afresh the wonder of all that Jesus is and does for us. Gilbert particularly does a good job drawing out how astonishing the things Jesus says and does truly are, a note especially worth considering for believers who have grown numb by consistent exposure to how amazing these things truly are.

I would use this book most for someone totally unfamiliar with who Jesus is (an atheist), whereas I would use What is the Gospel? for someone who may be pretty aware of Jesus but still not saved (a Roman Catholic, etc.).

[Stephen Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally can't believe it:

I've been a Christian for the majority of my life and this book was written for people who don't know Jesus (or don't know Him well)...and yet I learned NEW and IMPACTFUL things in this little book about Jesus Christ!

On top of that, it was rational, comprehensive, and super easy to listen to.

I finished it in two days, and closed the book with a newly discovered desire to be a part of the story of Christ.

10/10 worth your time, and highly recommend as a book to give to people who want to know more about Jesus Christ.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Jesus? Seems like such an easy question. He is the Son of God, he came and died on the cross and rose again, and will one day return for His bride. But who is Jesus? Do we really grasp this Messiah, this history altering figure? Are we able to share with the world who Jesus is and why he is far more than just a moral teacher who lived a long time ago? Pastor and author Greg Gilbert in his excellent book aptly titled Who is Jesus explores this simple yet truly profound question.

There are some books that while small in length, nevertheless pack a giant punch. Gilbert’s book very much fits into this category. While at first glance and upon the first read the message relayed in this book may seem to be focused on those searching for an answer in relation to this Jesus character so many talk about, I firmly believe this is also a book that even the most seasoned believer needs to read. After all, knowing Jesus is at the crux of what we call the Christian life.

Gilbert rightly begins by noting there is “one massive treasure trove of information about Jesus – detailed, personal, eyewitness, blow-by-blow accounts of what he said, what he did, and who he was.” Of course where we find that information is the Bible. For those who might feel like closing this book at the mere mention of the word “Bible”, Gilbert encourages them to stick it out and to continue reading. If nothing else, the accounts of Jesus’ life shared by the biblical authors were written as literal and actual history and thus should be considered along those lines. Gilbert encourages the reader to simply take a look at the claims made in Scripture and to examine them to see if they are true. If they are true, then the reader necessarily has to make an important decision as to what to do with Jesus and to answer that all important question of who is Jesus.

Throughout this book, Gilbert makes the claim that Jesus was no ordinary man, that he is the King of Kings, the great “I AM”, was fully human, the last Adam, the Lamb of God who died for our sins, and the resurrected and reigning Lord. These are certainly some bold claims in the mind of some who have not yet fully dealt with that underlying question of who is Jesus. Gilbert recognizes that fact and with a great deal of patience and speaking from the heart of a pastor, he walks the reader through each important claim made in this book, proving along the way that Jesus is who he claimed to be.

For instance, Jesus claimed to be the great “I AM”. While such a claim may not seem that big of a deal to our modern ears, making the statement that one was the great “I AM” was in the eyes of the Jewish people stating you are God. When God spoke to Moses way back in the book of Exodus, He told Moses to tell the people of Israel that “I AM” had sent Moses to deliver the people from bondage. So to say you are equal with God was shall we say a rather bold statement. Gilbert aptly comments, “if Jesus just wanted to say that he pre-existed Abraham somehow, he would have said, “Before Abraham was, I was.” But by using the present tense – “I AM” – Jesus was clearly taking for himself, again, the unique and exclusive name of God.” Thus, as God and being the Son of God, in order to know God and to have relationship with our Creator, we must know Jesus and affirm that Jesus is who he said he was – God.

Gilbert also does an excellent job of working through the humanity of Jesus, something theologians call the hypostatic union – Jesus as fully God and fully man. This is a rather deep theological concept and Gilbert expertly relates he truth of this issue to the reader devoid of technical terms, instead choosing to engage why this matters. Why did Jesus need to become God incarnate? Simply yet profoundly, Gilbert states “Jesus became human because we needed him to do so. We needed someone to represent us before God and be our substitute. That’s ultimately why Jesus came- to be a loving Warrior King who would save his beloved people.”

I highly recommend this book for those searching for the answer to who is Jesus and also for those who are long in the faith who want to refresh themselves on the answer to that question. Jesus made some bold claims that must be dealt with and Gilbert does a great job of doing that very thing. Those who are searching will be challenged and those who have longed affirmed Jesus as Lord will find this book a wonderful reminder of who Jesus is and why they are so in love with him.

I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautiful and simple book. But it simply deals with serious thoughts. Biblical and trustworthy. Would give to a nonchristian and new christian alike. Blessed me as well.

[Rebekah S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six months ago, a young man approached me in a Sam’s Club parking lot and asked me to donate to his church. He was part of a gap year program, trying to “figure out what he believed.” After 40 minutes of conversation, we uncovered that his “church” taught that Jesus death was a failure of God‘s original plan, and a second advent had come through some random 40-year-old man from Asia. I wish so badly that I’d had this book with me to give him.

Frankly, I wish that I had this book to give to college-age Bekah, too, who was being inundated with big theological terms and debates at Bible College, and really just needed someone to explain to her how the whole Bible works together to point to Jesus.

This book is really well written. It explains big themes in a simple way, it is faithful to Scripture, and it was a blessing to my heart. I carry a copy in my purse now, too, in case I ever have a Sam’s Club parking lot conversation again.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible, captivating, and edifying book about the most important question anyone could ever ask, "Who Is Jesus?" The author is a gifted writer who keeps you engaged and makes you want to keep reading. The book is well organized and addresses the most fundamental issues related to who Jesus is in a clear, understandable, and concise way. This makes it a great book to put into the hands of friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors who wonder what difference - if any - Jesus makes. It's also a great resource to give to people who aren't avid readers - it isn't very long and packs a lot of great content into the minimal amount of pages. Hands down: This is a highly recommended resource that will benefit not only the skeptic and the curious who wonder about Jesus, but the committed who have already surrendered their lives to following him.

[Hannah Kimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fiancé got this book at the Gospel Coalition Conference for me! I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of who Jesus is, but I'm a firm believer that there's always room for growth, and this book is just the tool for that. I read each sentence with more excitement and emphasis behind it. It's a simple book that lays out how awesome Jesus is with just scripture. No fancy quotes from theologians or popular "now" preachers so far. I appreciate this.

[Brooklyn Runyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am overwhelmed with gratitude and awe for my Savior after reading this book. Gilbert walks through the life of Jesus and unpacks the significance of so many parallels of God as the ultimate Judge and Jesus as the Son and Lamb of God. Felt like reading a conversational commentary on the Gospels and Exodus. All three of the books in this set (who is Jesus, what is the Gospel, and why trust the Bible) are incredible tools for understanding foundational truths and sharing your faith with others.

[Tyler Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A speaker gave this away to my students at a conference this past weekend. This is a really good short introduction to the person and work of Jesus. It writes with the skeptic in mind, but isn't apologetic. If someone is curious about Jesus and doesn't have reason to distrust the Bible as a reliable source of information about him, this is an amazing resource. Ideal for a book table at a church or Easter give away.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished going through this book with a new friend of mine who is seeking God and just got his first Bible.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about who Jesus is, whether you have been a believer your whole life or if you are a new believer.

I was raised in church and I still learned a lot from this little book.

[John Brackbill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear concise and compelling. Written directly to the unbeliever. Definitely a good book to hand out to those you are seeking to evangelize. Also extremely helpful for believers to read in order to learn how to effectively communicate the gospel.

[Joel Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is meant for those who have a vague idea of who Jesus is but don’t really know what to make of him or how he impacts your life.

I would highly highly highly recommend this book to everyone on this planet.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this with my young boys as a way to help give them some systematic theology. I knew this series was meant for the average joe, and while it was very accessible, it was still profound and insightful. Short too which was a plus for our needs.

[Tom Depew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What this book lacks in it’s length more than makes up for in it’s concision. A great introduction to the life and meaning of Christ! This would be a good gift for unbelievers.

[Keshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book full of easy to understand information about the title Who is Jesus? This book is written for non-believers but is great for those who are already Christians as well.

[Eric Durso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend this book to be reminded of the big questions people ask of Jesus and how we can approach them. Would also recommend this book to someone who is exploring/questioning Christianity

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple book about the most extraordinary man to ever live.

Read it.

[Danielle Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for Christians and non-Christians, simple to follow format but packed with thought-provoking questions. Short, easy read I would challenge you to share with others.