When the Spirit of God draws our attention with the simple word “This,” He is pointing not to an idea or a philosophy, but to a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is the One to whom all Scripture directs our gaze. Here is the One whose personality, power, and preeminence stand in a class by themselves.

Consider first His incomparability. At His baptism, the heavens opened and the voice of the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, BSB). Who better than the eternal Father to speak of the eternal Son? If all the praises of men and angels were gathered into one great symphony, it would still fall short of the Father’s testimony. Christ is not one among many; He is the Beloved, the singular delight of Heaven.

Then observe His unlimited power. When He calmed the raging sea, the astonished disciples exclaimed, “Who is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:25, BSB). Nature, which submits to no human hand, bows instantly at His word. No wonder their hearts were filled with awe! What manner of Man indeed—God robed in human flesh, yet wielding the authority of the Creator.

But His persuasiveness is no less striking. When officers were sent to arrest Him, they returned empty-handed, confessing, “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” (John 7:46, BSB). The charm of His words, the wisdom of His teaching, the weight of His very presence—these arrested them more powerfully than chains could have restrained Him. Christ’s voice carried the authority of truth and the tenderness of grace.

And who can overlook His philanthropy? It was said of Him, almost as an accusation, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2, BSB). How beautiful that the Holy One did not shun the unholy. He moved toward the broken, the rejected, the outcast. Children ran to Him; sinners clung to Him. He is still the Friend of sinners today, offering welcome to all who will come.

Consider also His conquering life. On the cross, a placard proclaimed, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37, BSB). What seemed like mockery was in fact a divine declaration. The cross, meant for humiliation, became His throne of triumph. Through death, He conquered death. Through shame, He secured everlasting glory. His kingdom was not thwarted at Calvary—it was established.

And we must not forget His great proclamation. As the disciples stood gazing upward after His ascension, angels announced, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11, BSB). The Christ who came once in humility will return in majesty. Not another Christ, not a different Christ, but this same Jesus—scarred yet victorious, despised yet exalted.

Finally, behold His preeminence. John declares, “This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20, BSB). Here all earthly comparisons end. Christ is not merely a teacher, a prophet, or a reformer—He is the true God. Eternal life is not a possession separate from Him; it is bound up in knowing Him. In Christ, deity and humanity meet perfectly and forever.

How does the Spirit’s word “This” strike your heart today? Are you looking to Christ with the wonder, the reverence, the trust that He deserves? In a world full of shifting voices and crumbling hopes, the Spirit bids us lift our eyes to This Man—the Christ who saves, sustains, and soon will reign.

For further meditation, consider:

Colossians 1:18 – “He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.”

Hebrews 12:2 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”