Jesus: the “Holy One of God”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35). He said this the day after He miraculously fed over 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish. The people pursued Jesus wanting Him to feed them again. He explained He was the bread of life that would satisfy their spiritual hunger for a relationship with God but He was not there to satisfy their desire to see miraculous signs.

He then challenges the people with a strange proclamation “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

… Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves” (John 6:51, 53). In response many who had followed Him, turned away (John 6:66).

Jesus then asks the twelve apostles if they were also going to leave (John 6:67). Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

“The Holy One of God” is both a title for the Messiah and it Identifies Jesus as being One with God the Father (John 10:30). The Old Testament identifies Yehovah as “the Holy One of Israel” over 30 times, “And the nations will know that I am Yehovah, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).

Six time Isaiah identifies the “Holy One” as their “Redeemer.” “Thus says Yehovah your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 43:14). Once, Yehovah identifies Himself as their “Savior.” “For I am Yehovah your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; … I, even I, am Yehovah, and there is no savior besides Me” (Isaiah 43:3, 11).

It is correct to call both Jesus and Yehovah our redeemer and savior because we believe in the trinity – One God in three persons. Jesus stated, “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30) so both are correctly identified as being our savior and redeemer.

Isaiah is speaking of God judging the world when he says, “And the light of Israel (Yehovah) will become a fire and His Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day” (Isaiah 10:17). Isaiah calls Jesus “His Holy One.” Peter used this same title for Jesus – “the Holy One of God.”

At the last supper, the apostles learned the elements of communion (bread and wine) are the body and blood they were to consume. Jesus was testing their faith – they passed the test.

Jesus is the Holy One of God. He is our savior, our redeemer, our judge and our God.