WE AR E NOT JESUS
WE AR E NOT JESUS
WE ARE NOT JESUS
July 24, 2026
Every so often I hear a phrase repeated in sermons, conferences, and Christian books that gives me pause:
"We are Jesus to our community." Or perhaps you've heard it another way: "You may be the only Jesus someone ever meets."
I understand what people are trying to communicate. The intention is usually good. We want Christians to live in such a way that others see Christ's love, compassion, and truth through us. That is a thoroughly biblical goal. But I believe the language itself is imprecise, and theology has a way of reminding us that words matter.
The Church is not Jesus. We never become Jesus. Our calling is something both more humble and more beautiful: we belong to Jesus, we are united to Jesus, and we point people to the living Jesus.
One of the unintended consequences of saying that we are "Jesus" to our communities is that it can subtly suggest that Jesus himself is somehow absent and that the only "Jesus" they will meet is the Jesus in us. It's as it there isn't an actual Jesus we can point them to and we have to sort-of 'manufacture' a Jesus for them to meet. The New Testament paints a very different picture. Jesus is not merely a historical figure whose work now depends entirely upon us and is met only through us. He is risen. He reigns. He's REAL. He intercedes for his people. He pours out the Holy Spirit. He leads his Church. He is present with his people beyond his people.
Before ascending, Jesus promised, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
The Church does not replace Christ's presence. Rather, Christ is present with and through his Church. That distinction matters.
Scripture never tells believers that they are Jesus. Instead, it repeatedly describes us as the Body of Christ. Paul writes, "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27) Notice the relationship. Christ remains the Head. We are members of his Body. The Body exists because it is united to its Head. It receives its direction, life, and purpose from him. The metaphor is one of communion and dependence, not identity. The Church is inseparably united to Christ, but it never becomes Christ himself.
The Apostle Paul uses another helpful image: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." (2 Corinthians 5:20) An ambassador represents a king. He speaks on behalf of the king. He carries the authority entrusted to him by the king. But he never mistakes himself for the king. That is the Church's vocation. We proclaim Christ. We represent Christ. We invite people to Christ. But we never become Christ.
One of the beautiful patterns throughout the New Testament is how consistently its leaders direct attention away from themselves. John the Baptist famously declared, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) Paul told believers, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Notice that Paul never stopped with himself. He always pointed beyond himself to Jesus. Likewise, Peter, John, and the other apostles never presented themselves as the destination of faith. They continually directed people to the crucified, risen, and reigning Christ. That remains our calling today.
Some may wonder whether this is simply arguing over words. I don't think it is. Language shapes theology, and theology shapes ministry. If we begin thinking of ourselves as "Jesus" to people, even rhetorically, it can unintentionally foster unhealthy assumptions. People may begin attaching themselves more to personalities than to Christ. Leaders may slowly become indispensable. Churches may begin functioning as though Christ's presence depends primarily upon the giftedness of particular individuals. None of those are healthy developments. The healthier posture is one of joyful humility: "I hope people see Christ reflected in my life." That is quite different from saying, "I am Jesus to them."
At the center of Christianity stands the mystery of the Incarnation. The eternal Son became flesh. That event is unique. It is unrepeatable.
The Church does not continue the Incarnation by becoming additional incarnations of Christ. Rather, through the Holy Spirit we participate in the life of the risen Christ while remaining fully human creatures redeemed by grace. The distinction protects both Christ's uniqueness and the dignity of the Church's mission.
The New Testament gives us no shortage of beautiful descriptions of who we are.
We are:
the Body of Christ
ambassadors for Christ
witnesses of Christ
disciples of Christ
temples of the Holy Spirit
members of God's household
priests in his Kingdom
lights in the world
None of these diminish our calling. In fact, they elevate it. Our purpose is not to replace Christ but to reveal him. Not to become the Savior but to bear witness to the Savior. Not to convince people that they have met Jesus in us, but to help them encounter the living Jesus who is even now seated at the right hand of the Father. He is still building his Church. He is still calling sinners to himself. He is still healing, saving, forgiving, and reigning. And one day, he will return—not because we have become him, but because he has always remained the Lord of his Church.
May our lives be so full of his grace that people see his character reflected in us. But may they never stop with us. May every act of love, every word of truth, and every expression of mercy point beyond ourselves to the only One worthy of worship: Jesus Christ, the living Lord.
-Mike