WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS?

PROCLAMATION

“ ‘But what about you?’ He asked.  ‘Who do you say that I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are The Messiah, The Son of The Living God.’  Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for that was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.’ ”   Matthew 16:15-17 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees came to Jesus to test Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.  Jesus refused to give them a sign and left them. (Matthew 16:4)  He warned His disciples to guard against the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:5-12)  Then He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I The Son of Man am?”  After they had given Him various answers, He then asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15)  Peter said, “Thou art The Christ, The Son of The Living God. (Matthew 16:16) 

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, knows who He is, and He is not seeking our validation of His existence.  It is not important to us who others think that He is.  All that matters for each of us individually is, with respect to our salvation, who is He to us.  We must believe and confess that He is who He says that He is. (John 10:36-38)  If we confess and believe, we will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10)