WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” – Mark 8:29

This is one question that is still relevant today. Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your provider, you will receive provision and if you see him as your refuge and fortress, you will receive protection.

The people of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, saw Jesus in the natural just as a man. They said of Him, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?” (Matthew 13:55–56) They saw Jesus as just a carpenter and the son of man. They did not see Him as God in the flesh. As a result, He could not do many mighty works there. (Matthew 13:58)

Today, many people, including some philosophers, see Jesus of Nazareth as a good person who led an exemplary life. There is no argument as to integrity of his character even in most religions. Those philosophers feel that if all of us could live our lives like Him, the world would be a better place. They see him as a great teacher who taught values that shape people’s lives. That is why most government institutions and business schools have adopted “theories and concepts” in the bible.

This is main issue: They don’t see Jesus as the bread of God who came from heaven to give life to the world. (John 6:33) They don’t see Him as the one who came to give them living water, so that they would never thirst again. (John 4:14) They don’t see Him as the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) They don’t receive from Him what they need because they don’t esteem Him rightly.

Jesus did not come just to set a good example for man to follow. No amount of good examples can be enough to bring peace to our world. He came to be our Redeemer. (Galatians 3:13) For no man can deliver himself from the power of sin. Just like Adam we have all partaken of the knowledge of good and evil. The challenge evil drives us and good in us cannot make us righteous. He came to be our righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30) He came to be our shepherd, so that we will not lack anything. (Psalm 23:1)

Jesus asked His disciples once, “But who do you say that I am?” He didn’t want them to have an opinion of him based on the crowd was saying. He wanted a personal revelation. How you answer this question depends on how you see Jesus. And how you see Jesus will determine how and what you receive from Him. 

So see Him as your God, as everything He claims to be in His Word, and He will do mighty works in your life. God’s heart is longing for a personal relationship with you more than you can ever be.