Who is Jesus?
By George Stroh
December 24, 2013
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13-15)
It seems like a strange question for Jesus to ask His disciples; "But who do you say that I am?" They had been with Him, day and night, for over two years. They heard His marvelous teaching and saw His many miracles, and yet even His disciples were unsure about who Jesus was? It has been nearly two thousand years and most people still can't correctly answer this most crucial of all questions; "But who do you say that I Am?"
Was Jesus the resurrected John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or another of Israel's great prophets? Was He just a good man that God blessed with supernatural abilities? Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to Him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16: 16, 17)
What God revealed to Peter is that Jesus is the promised Messiah. He is a man, but He is also God, the Son of the living God. Jesus is both fully God and Fully man. Emmanuel-- God with us! He is no longer that helpless little baby boy who was placed in a manger. Nor is He still that helpless broken man dying on a Roman cross. He is almighty God! And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Each of us will someday stand in judgment before almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ. How will you answer the question; "But who do you say that I am? Merry Christmas and Maranatha!
