THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-16 CSB (see also Mark 8:27-29, Luke 9:18-20)
I believe the most important question ever asked was when Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" So who do you say that Jesus is? Some say that Jesus was a good or wise teacher, or a prophet. But Jesus went much farther in His claims.
Here are some things Jesus said of Himself in the Gospel of John:
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said that by believing in Him, we will have eternal life!
The woman said to Him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am He” (John 4:25-26). Jesus clearly told the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures.
“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again" (John 6:35). There is no equal to putting our trust and confidence in Jesus! Nothing and no one else ultimately satisfies us.
“You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24). Jesus claimed to be from heaven. If we do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, we will die in our sins.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Jesus equated Himself with God. The Jews clearly understood what Jesus was saying, as they attempted to stone Jesus for blasphemy after saying this!
Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance" (John 10:7-10). Jesus claimed exclusivity as the only path to salvation. He came so that we may have abundant life!
"I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Jesus again equated Himself with God. After repeating back to Jesus that they understood He was claiming to be God, the Jews again picked up rocks to stone Him.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Jesus claimed exclusivity as the only path to God.
Do you agree with Jesus' claims? And if you are speaking with others about their faith and want to know whether their faith diverges from Christianity, a good start is to ask them, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
I believe the most important question ever asked was when Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" So who do you say that Jesus is? Some say that Jesus was a good or wise teacher, or a prophet. But Jesus went much farther in His claims.
Here are some things Jesus said of Himself in the Gospel of John:
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said that by believing in Him, we will have eternal life!
The woman said to Him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am He” (John 4:25-26). Jesus clearly told the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures.
“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again" (John 6:35). There is no equal to putting our trust and confidence in Jesus! Nothing and no one else ultimately satisfies us.
“You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24). Jesus claimed to be from heaven. If we do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, we will die in our sins.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Jesus equated Himself with God. The Jews clearly understood what Jesus was saying, as they attempted to stone Jesus for blasphemy after saying this!
Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance" (John 10:7-10). Jesus claimed exclusivity as the only path to salvation. He came so that we may have abundant life!
"I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Jesus again equated Himself with God. After repeating back to Jesus that they understood He was claiming to be God, the Jews again picked up rocks to stone Him.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Jesus claimed exclusivity as the only path to God.
Do you agree with Jesus' claims? And if you are speaking with others about their faith and want to know whether their faith diverges from Christianity, a good start is to ask them, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
by Jonathan Ott, Elder
Posted in Faith Blogs
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