And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:49

Sunday, March 6, 2022

Who Do You Say That I Am?


In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16: 13-20 we have the familiar and often quoted verses of a discussion between Jesus and His disciples, with that all important question that is still asked today of many believers, and non-believers alike.... "Who do you say that I am?

"13: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14: They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15: “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17: Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
18: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20: Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.


Earlier this week, while listening to a podcast, I heard a sort of side comment that I would like to explore in this post, based on this Scripture passage. What if it was us asking Jesus, "Who do YOU say that I am?" rather than Jesus asking us, who do we say that He is?

What struck me about this is that it is majorly important how we actually see ourselves is based entirely on what we think God or even Jesus thinks of us. How often have you thought, or even heard someone say something like; "God could never love (or forgive) me for what I have done."

If we have any insight into the number of times we have tried to live up to the expectancy of what we have been told or think for ourselves; the standard of perfection for being a Christian is; and how often we have failed to meet that standard; then how easy to think that Jesus is as disappointed in us as we are ourselves.

We may just as readily declare with Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” However, we might not believe that Jesus has as high of a view of us in return. So, then let's discover what His answer might be if you ask Jesus that same question, "Who do you say that I am?"

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Cor: 5:21 Therefore Jesus sees you as the righteousness of God!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matt.5:14

Lest you think that of course Jesus loves you, because He died for you, and yet are not so convinced that God the Father shares that same love; let me remind you of John 3:16 "GOD so loved the world that He gave...." And in 2 Cor. 5:19 "It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).

It is not uncommon for people to think that Jesus came to save us from the wrath of God, especially after a cursory reading of the Old Testament. And because of that belief, many false doctrines have arisen, and deceived the hearts of many toward the Love of God! It is as if God and Jesus were not one in the same. Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father!

Colossians 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

As I have mentioned in previous posts, that I have listened to countless sermons from Brian Zhand, pastor of the Word of Life church in St. Joseph Missouri, and he repeats a statement that I have quoted from which clarifies this relationship of God and Jesus, which goes like this:

"God is like Jesus,
God has always been like Jesus,
There was never a time when God was not like Jesus,
We have not always known this, but now we do!

If ever you feel the need to run to Jesus to protect you from the Father God, know this, that all of the goodness and mercy and love and compassion, and caring and fullness of Jesus, is that which is revealed in Him from the Father! God is NOT mad at you! And Jesus reveals to us how true that is. So now you know what the answer is the next time your broken heart needs to inquire of God: "Who Do You Say That I Am?"



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