Understanding Ourselves Through Jesus Christ

By James Katende – To understand oneself through Jesus Christ is to embark on a profound journey of transformation, rooted not in self-discovery alone, but in the discovery of God’s perfect design and purpose for our lives.

In the quiet moments of reflection and in the midst of life’s chaotic struggles, the true identity of a person is revealed not in the accumulation of achievements, possessions, or accolades, but in the depth of one’s relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offers us a mirror, not to reflect who we are in our current state, but who we were always meant to be. His life, His teachings, and ultimately His sacrifice on the cross bring clarity to the confusion and distortion that often cloud our understanding of ourselves.

In a world that constantly demands that we define ourselves through external labels—career, status, nationality, even the fleeting images we project on social media—understanding oneself with Jesus Christ begins by looking inward and upward. It requires a shift in perspective from the superficial to the eternal. Jesus, in His ministry, repeatedly challenged conventional views of identity. To be truly known, He showed, one must first acknowledge who we are in God’s eyes. Our identity is not defined by what we do, but by who we belong to. To recognise Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Saviour, and the Redeemer is to acknowledge that we are not mere accidents of biology or the result of arbitrary circumstances; we are created with intentionality, with purpose, and most importantly, with divine love. The core of our identity lies not in what the world says we should be, but in the divine declaration of who we are in Christ—children of God, beloved, redeemed, and called for a higher purpose.

Jesus’ own life serves as the ultimate example of what it means to understand oneself. From the very beginning of His ministry, He demonstrated that true identity comes from obedience to the Father’s will, not the validation of the crowd. Jesus did not seek approval or status. In fact, He often withdrew from the multitudes to commune with His Father in solitude, teaching us that true identity is found in the intimate relationship with God. The world may say that our worth is determined by our productivity, our success, or our influence, but Jesus shows us that we are loved for who we are, not for what we can achieve. His life was a declaration that true greatness is not found in worldly measures, but in humility, service, and faithfulness to God’s call. To understand oneself with Jesus Christ is to see ourselves as He sees us—not as imperfect, flawed beings defined by sin, but as children of God, redeemed by His grace and empowered by His Spirit.

When we begin to understand ourselves through Jesus, it becomes clear that our identity is inseparable from the gospel. The gospel is not just the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection; it is the story of how humanity was created, fell, and then, in Christ, was offered redemption. Jesus Christ stands at the centre of this story, and through Him, our personal stories are also rewritten. In Christ, we are not bound by our past mistakes, our failures, or the brokenness that we often see reflected in ourselves. Instead, we are made new. The Apostle Paul writes that in Christ, we are “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Understanding oneself through Jesus Christ means embracing the fact that our identity is grounded in His finished work on the cross, which frees us from the shackles of guilt, shame, and condemnation.

As we look to Christ, we also come to understand our calling. Jesus does not leave us to wander aimlessly, searching for purpose. Through His example and His teachings, He shows us the path of discipleship, the path of becoming more like Him, and ultimately, the path of fulfilling the divine purpose for which we were created.

Understanding oneself with Jesus Christ means coming to terms with the fact that our true identity is found in Him and in Him alone. It means seeing ourselves not through the lens of the world’s standards, but through the truth of God’s Word and the example of His Son. To know Christ is to know ourselves, to find our purpose, and to live out the calling He has placed on our lives. In Jesus, we find our worth, our mission, and our peace. And in Him, we are forever transformed.