Who do you say I am?

Introduction

The power of questions

“Do you want to come to a pancake party?”

“Will you marry me?”

“Why do you think that?”

Jesus was incredible at asking questions — intro series

One of my favorite questions to ask — Who do you think Jesus is?

Asking on plane to BHAM

“Jesus died for me” doesn’t mean anything if you’re talking about a random Hispanic guy

Marther Luker King Jr. died for our sins”“

You need to know who Jesus really is

Read Matthew 16:13-16

Son of Man = Jesus (from Daniel 7)

John the Baptist — Jesus’ cousin, baptized Jesus, thrown in prison (spoke out against Herod), beheaded

Elijah — one of the greatest prophets in the OT, showdown on Mt. Carmel

Jeremiah/prophets

3 ways people try to limit Jesus

When it comes to your life and eternity, only your answer matters

John the Baptist — Miracle Worker

Overlap b/t John and Elijah

But Herod thought Jesus was John raised from the dead (John 14:2 — “”)He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.

They saw him as a miracle worker and nothing more

Lifeline on hard days

Finals season

Sickness/illness

Getting dumped by gf/bf

Need friends first semester

Bank account is running low

GPA tanks w/ scholarship on the line

Worried you won’t land a job at graduation

It’s not wrong to ask for some of these things…it’s wrong when we end there. Some saw the miracles and believed! Others saw and wanted more free bread.

Elijah — Prep for Judgement Day

Malachi 4:5 — “Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes”

Jesus spoke of coming judgement a lot

Ironically, John the Baptist was this Elijah figure

Fire insurance/get out of jail free card

Contra S Asian baptism questions

Are you willing to leave home and lose the blessing of your family?

Are you willing to lose your job?

Are you willing to go to those who persecute you, forgive them, and share Christ with them?

Are you willing to be beaten rather than deny the faith?

Are you willing to go to prison?

Are you willing to die for Jesus?

RENEW question #3

Are you committed to following Jesus no matter the cost, without conditions or excuses for the rest of your life?

If all you want is Jesus to save you from hell but you aren’t ready to submit to him as King, you wouldn’t like heaven any more than hell.

Jeremiah — Prophet

2020 — 52% of Americans thought Jesus was a good teacher, not God; 30% of “Christians”

Source of good life advice

Liberal women (Jesus loving/inclusive/tolerant) & conservative men (trad life glorification)

If you can’t admit to yourself that there’s parts of Jesus’ commands that you’d prefer not be there then either 1) you’re lying or 2) you don’t fully realize what Jesus expects of you.

Exhortation

Diagnostic

Do you pray because you simply want something from God or because you want more of God?

Is your faith just about getting you out of hell or is it about getting hell out of you?

Are you obedient to Jesus even when you don’t agree?

Lost — There are people who believe Jesus can rise from the dead who still don’t submit to him as Lord, and there has to be a day that you submit.

Anything short of the King on the throne is no the real Jesus.

Here’s the good news, lest we despair of our shortcomings…

Jesus is more than a prophet, he is the One prophesied of

He is more than a miracle worker or a messenger of judgement

The miracle he worked at the cross turns the fear of judgement into the joyful expectation of deliverance