WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Matthew 16:15: “But what about you?” He asked [Simon Peter]. “Who do you say I am?”
Who do you say Jesus is?
Every person will have to answer this question one day.
People’s faith in Jesus determines how He ministers, or serves them. Those who worship Jesus as healer, He heals. Believing Jesus to be a refuge and fortress brings protection and security. Followers who trust Jesus to live through them find transformed lives. Those who knew Him growing up in Nazareth saw Him as a regular guy. Matthew 13:55-58 identifies Jesus’ life. He was son to a carpenter. Mary was His mother. He had brothers and sisters, too.
But no one recognized Jesus as God in the flesh (John 1:14).
Jesus must have shrugged His shoulders in reply: “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
Because homies did not see Jesus as God, His miraculous signs weren’t demonstrated in Nazareth. Faith attains miracles!
See the lesson linked below for Scriptural references of Jesus’ various gifts to the world He came to serve. Jesus just wasn’t a good person who led an exemplary life. No, no, no. Of course, if we all were like Him, the world would be a better place. But while Believers are being transformed into His likeness a little every day, we still sin! (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Jesus is the bread from heaven. Everyone who eats this bread has life (John 6:33). Jesus is the source of living water, or the Holy Spirit (John 4:10, 14). He is the Passover Lamb of God who died to forgive us all our sins and offer eternal life (Matthew 27:50-53).
Nazareth homies never thought Jesus was THAT guy!
But Peter revered Jesus as the Christ, Son of the living God! (Matthew 16:16). Peter knew Jesus as Redeemer. So, not only were his sins forgiven, but he knew that Jesus shone his own righteousness in Peter. This strength enabled Peter to continue living after being totally humiliated (Matthew 26:74-75).
Take Home Nugget
The other disciples saw Jesus differently than Peter in Matthew 16:14. When asked who people said Jesus is, they responded, “John the Baptist, Elijah, perhaps Jeremiah—or one of the other prophets.”
Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Help me confess that Jesus is Lord and bow before Him, heavenly Father. For He is my Redeemer and Savior, there is other! Amen.
Adapted from “Who Do You Say that Jesus Is?” by Rev. Joseph Prince. www.josephprince.org. June 18, 2017.
J.D. Griffith
For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Latest Christmas book by J.D. Griffith:
Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment