Who Is Jesus?

Need: Many people are unsure who Jesus is at first glance and even after several passes. But if Jesus is who He claimed to be, then knowing who He is, is the most important thing in the world.

Because, according to Jesus, we are able to have a relationship with God; the Lord of lords, through Him.

For The Disciples: Jesus used the setting near Caesarea Philippi as the historical backdrop to declare His Lordship to those closest to him, and to reveal His plan for those who recognize Jesus as Lord.

For the Church Today: It is of the utmost importance we recognize the significance of the location and the profound words spoken by Jesus. It is crystal clear that Jesus asserted His authority as the ultimate Lord over any other gods or prophets....

This is an extremely important series about Jesus that can, and I trust will, change the course of people’s lives for eternity. So invite your friends, your unbelieving family to come over the next 5 weeks as we answer the question

Who is Jesus?

Let’s stand as we read

Matthew 16:13–19 HCSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “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!” And Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.”

Prayer

Explanation

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

Caesarea Philippi: was in northern Galilee.

It was largely occupied by Romans who believed in polytheism (the worship of many gods) and a few Jewish people who were monotheists. The area boasted several caves that have been discovered where the Greek God “Pan” was worshiped. The Term Pantheism where god is in all things within the world was coined due to the Greek God Pan.

Pan was known as the god of the shepherds who cared for sheep, the god of forest, fields and vegetation- It was in Caesarea Philippi where the spring of water that feed both the Jordan river (where Jesus was baptized) and the Sea of Galilee Jesus where walked on water, began.

The large spring of water produced the most beautiful gardens in all the region.

standing in front of the most beautiful place on earth, inhabited by the most inclusive worshipers on earth, Jesus asks the question

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

But before we answer the question lets ask another question...

Who did Jesus say He was?

Paralyzed Man in Mark two:

Mark 2:1–12 HCSB

When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves: “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic, “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

THere was no doubt in Jesus’ mind that He was God, so then who did others say He was?

14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

They all believed He was a prophet or a good teacher.

What did historians say about him?

The Jewish historians and the Roman historians both make important references to Jesus in their works over the first century and early second century.

Non-Christian sources like the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, help us identify key aspects of Jesus’s life:

1. Jesus was a Jewish teacher with a large following;

2. Many considered him to be the messiah;

3. He was crucified by Pontius Pilate at the instigation of Jewish leaders;

4. Worship of him began to spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire.

Josephus a Roman recorder also wrote about Jesus. Josephus wrote during the time of the Jewish Revolt (66-73 AD). In one of his writings, The Antiquities of the Jews, he describes Jesus as “a wise man and a teacher who performed startling miracles and as a consequence found a following among both Jews and Greeks;” it further states that “he was accused by Jewish leaders before Pilate, who condemned him to be crucified; and it points out that his followers remained devoted to him even afterward.” (Ehrman, The New Testament, p.214)

So we no most people saw Jesus as special, like a prophet based on His righteousness and His miraculous work.

Scholar today, don’t even questions the actual existence of Jesus as there is more written of His existence than we have writings declaring the existence of George Washington.

Jesus is asking them, some say God, others a prophet, but He wanted to know what they thought.

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Illustration

C. S. Lewis a popular theologian and philosopher said that based on the evidence of Jesus in the Bible, and through non-christian literature you are left with only 3 options really,

He is either a Liar, Lunatic or Lord. explain

[At the end of the day, we all need to have an understanding of who the greatest figure in history is, and we should live accordingly]

Illustration:

I was born “The blizzard of 78. I came into the world with a huge entourage.

I made a pretty grand entrance into this world, but nothing like Jesus’ birth. The world bent time around his birth!

Jesus is so big to our history of life, in the landscape of time our time is literally measured based around His birth.

“B.C.” is Before Christ

“A.D.” Anno Dome mini “In the year of the Lord”

If he was only a teacher,

that is some teacher appreciation gift!

It's not exactly a reward for someone who lies or is mentally unstable, but it makes sense that the ruler of all would be the one to oversee time and the physical world.

No true scholar in time, since His life on earth, has denied His existence. However that doesn't establish who those closest to Him felt he was.

16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Louie Giglio

Salvation is through investigation and revelation, therefore keep searching and keep seeking Him to make it known

[Peter’s life was forever changed because he believed in Jesus as the Lord and he was led by God’s revelation.

In that place of all places Jesus calls Peter the Rock where the gates of Hell won’t prevail or any other work of culture or the demonic world. 👇]

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,

[that is to say I will give you the authority to do my will]

and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Believing in Jesus as Lord changes your life in ways not even imaginable.

1. Knowing Jesus as Lord comes with

special revelation and understanding

2. Knowing Jesus brings authority and

responsibilities.

Who is Jesus? He cannot be Lord if he is a lunatic or a liar.

A lunatic is not of sound mind to be God and a liar is morally disqualified to be holy and righteous like the Bible said Jesus was.

Was he crazy? His power is confirmed throughout history.

He healed the sick, gave site to the blind raised the dead and he himself was raised from the dead. Who can do that but God?

He never claimed to only be a teacher or a prophet. He said He was the Christ. His prophecy came true and his actions were from honest intentions to serve people not take advantage of them.

Those actions,

the record’s throughout history,

the prophecy of his coming,

his miracles

his own death, & resurrection,

the martyrdom of his disciples

all suggest that everyone who came in contact with him; who was seeking to investigate who He was, was given revelation to his Lordship and they were radically changed by a relationship with him.