WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?

PROCLAMATION

“He saith unto them, ‘But whom say ye that I am?’  And Simon Peter answered, ‘Thou art The Christ, The Son of The Living God.’  And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but by My Father which is in heaven.’ ”   Matthew 16:15-17 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by 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 16:1-4)  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 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)  Jesus told Simon Peter that he was blessed because only His Father, God in heaven, could have told him that. (Matthew 16:17)  Then He told him “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church …” (Matthew 16:18)  Jesus then told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise again on the third day. (Matthew 16:20-21)  Peter rebuked Jesus saying that would never happen, and Jesus then said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan …” (Matthew 16:22-23)  He said that for men to become His disciples, they must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him.  He said whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Him will find it.  What good will it do a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

 

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, knows who He is, and He is not seeking our validation of His existence.  It should not be important to us who others think that He is.  All that matters for each one 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)  Jesus, The Christ, is coming back and He will reward each person according to their works. (Matthew 16:27)