If we were to go to many universities and take a poll of who people think Jesus is, we would get all sorts of answers. Some would say that He was a great teacher or a great philosopher. Some might say Jesus was a religious radical. Some could possibly say that He was crazy or even mentally ill. There would be some who would say that Jesus was a myth, and never even existed. And then there would be those who confessed that He was exactly who He said He was, the Son of God, and our Savior. In our Gospel passage for this week we see Jesus asking the same question to His disciples. Let’s take a look at our Scripture.
As our passage opens, Jesus is part way through His time of ministry on earth. His fame had spread throughout Galilee and Judea. Many people had heard about Him, and crowds had come to hear Him preach, see or receive a miracle. Now Jesus asked His disciples what these crowds were saying about Him, who they thought He was (vs. 18). The disciples gave several answers, and as like people today, there were a variety of things people were thinking about who this Man, this Teacher was. Their answers included that a number of people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or some other prophet come back from the dead (vs. 19). Jesus didn’t fit the common belief at the time that the Messiah would be a conquering king or hero who would destroy all of the Jews enemies, particularly the Romans. Since Jesus wasn’t doing this, most of the Jews didn’t think He could be the Messiah. Jesus then asked them who they felt He was (vs. 20). Immediately Peter spoke up and professed that he believed Jesus was the Messiah, sent by God.
This is a question that each and every one of us will have to answer. Who do we say that Jesus is? Our answer will determine our eternal destiny. The Christian faith goes beyond knowing what others believe about Jesus. It requires us to hold beliefs for ourselves, and not just riding the coattails of our parents or grandparents. When Jesus asks “Who do you say I am?” He wants us to take a stand.
To say that we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, is to say we believe that He is God incarnate, born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried, and that He rose on the third day. We believe that He is fully capable of forgiving our sins, and reconciling us to Himself. We believe all that He taught is true, and that we can have eternal life because of Him.
Jesus then proceeded to tell the disciples what was going to happen to Him, that He would suffer and die for the sins of mankind (vs. 22). This was certainly not the picture that the majority of the Jewish people had of their Messiah. Jesus was not the conquering hero right then, but later He will return as the Conqueror.
As our Scripture passage continues, Jesus shares a very important teaching with His disciples and with us. To be a true Christian, a true disciple and follower of Jesus, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross each day, and follow Him (vs. 23-26). The self-denial Jesus is talking about is not some sort of reclusive asceticism, but a willingness to obey His commands, serve one another, and to suffer, perhaps even die, for His sake.
Christians follow the Lord by imitating His life, and by obeying His commands. One cannot truly call themselves a Christian, a true believer, if they do not obey and follow what Jesus said in His Word, the Bible. Christians must identify completely with the message of Jesus, even if it means death. We must deny our own selfish desires, and quit focusing on self altogether.
One cannot have both Jesus and the world. One or the other must go. If one gains the whole world, and loses his soul, he has nothing. Which is more important to you - this present life, or Jesus and eternal life? Nothing material can compensate for the loss of eternal life!
There will come a day for each of us when we will stand before God, and He will ask us, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” What will your answer be? Our life is only for a brief moment in comparison to eternity. Gaining what the world has to offer will only last for a moment, but then there is an eternity lost from God. However choosing Jesus in this life will gain us an eternity in heaven with Him.
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