“But, Whom say ye that I am?”

Revelation of the Person of the King

Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

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

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Revelation of the Person of the King

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When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

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

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

In todays society, there are many beliefs about Jesus. Some say a good man, a prophet, a myth, many different things. Jesus and His disciples were traveling and when they came to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus ask them this series of questions. There is no reason given to why He ask this, He just does.

In todays society, there are many beliefs about Jesus. Some say a good man, a prophet, a myth, many different things. Jesus and His disciples were traveling and when they came to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus ask them this series of questions. There is no reason given to why He ask this. This is Christmas approaching us and thoughts are going toward the Holiday season. Some are celebrating Christmas for the right reason, the Birth of our Lord and Savior. Others are wound up it the paganism of the season, the giving of gifts only. If we do not recognize Jesus as Peter did, we are celebrating Christmas the wrong way.

This is Christmas approaching us and thoughts are going toward the Holiday season. Some are celebrating Christmas for the right reason, the Birth of our Lord and Savior. Others are wound up it the paganism of the season, the giving of gifts only. If we do not recognize Jesus as Peter did, we are celebrating Christmas the wrong way. We have to know who Jesus is.

The event that is recorded in these verses took place about two and a half years into Jesus’ earthly ministry, which means the cross was only about six months away. Well, knowing that His arrest and crucifixion was right around the corner, Jesus took His closest followers up to a place called Caesarea Philippi for a retreat of sorts.

Another thing: at that time the population of Caesarea Philippi was mainly non-Jewish, so there would have been no interruptions by multitudes clamoring for Jesus’ attention, nor would there have been any Jewish religious leaders, who by this time were looking for any opportunity to arrest our Lord. In other words this was a perfect place for our Lord to bring His first followers for some much needed solitude and study. And this retreat was indeed much-needed because as I said time was growing short. The cross was visible on the horizon, and because it was it was imperative that James and John, and Peter and the others have a clear understanding of Who Jesus was, why He had been born, what was about to be done to Him, and why.

Now, another thing you need to know to get your understanding of the setting of this text accurate is the fact that in Jesus’ day the hills of the Caesarea Philippi area were scattered with temples of ancient Syrian Baal worship. As many as 14 such temples would have littered the landscape. And, not only were Syrian gods worshiped there, there was also a cavern nearby that was said to have been the birthplace of the Greek god Pan, the “god” of nature. Caesarea Philippi was originally called “Panias.” Another huge temple would have stood there in Jesus’ day built out of white marble by Herod the Great and dedicated to the worship of Augustus Caesar.

While traveling, Jesus ask the Disciples a couple of questions. It doesn’t tell us why He ask these questions, but He did.

The Lord’s first question is this: “Whom do men say that I am?” Jesus knew what the people were saying about Him. He wasn’t paranoid, nor was He seeking the praise of men. Jesus intended to use the opinions of the people, concerning His identity, to cause the disciples to think about their own opinions of just Who Jesus was.

· When Jesus asks this question, His men tell Jesus want they have been hearing others say. They said some people say that you are, “John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.” Let’s take a moment to break their response down.

Ø John the Baptist – Jesus certainly resembled John the Baptist in His preaching. Both men preached a message of repentance and righteousness. But, many people had seen Jesus and John together, so this response is kind of strange to me. Of course, Herod Antipas believed that Jesus was none other than John the Baptist raised from the dead,

, 16. 14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

That is probably where the John the Baptist theory came from.

That is probably where that theory came from.

Ø Others believed that Jesus was Elijah raised from the dead.

Ø Others believed that Jesus was “One of the prophets”. This was a long list that included such prophets as Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and others. Like Moses, Jesus declared the Law of God. Like Isaiah, Jesus preached about sacrifice and holiness. Like Daniel, the message of Jesus was a prophetic message of a coming King and His kingdom. Like Jeremiah, Jesus carried out a ministry marked by compassion and brokenness. He was, after all, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”, . Like Hosea, Jesus loved the unlovable and was willing to redeem lost, wretched sinners.

That’s what the people were saying, but other voices were also expressing their opinions about Jesus in that day.

Ø The Pharisees and other religious elitists of the day said, “…He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” .

Ø The Scribes, the men viewed as great teachers of the Law, said, “He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils,” .

Ø The Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jewish religion, said, “…He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” .

Ø His Own family and friends said, “He is beside himself,” .

Ø Even as Jesus hung on the cross, giving His life a ransom for sin, the religious elite continued to express their evil opinion of Him. “Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him,” .

People at the time Jesus was walking on this earth, people all thru the ages, and people in todays society, answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” in many different ways. People of today are saying there are many ways to God, Jesus is not the only way. They say He is just a good man, a prophet, a myth, that the Bible is fictional and it doesn’t tell the truth about Jesus.

1. So thought some of His family - ; cf.

2. As did many others -

G. CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...

1. As per Mark's gospel, Peter said "You are the Christ" -

People at the time Jesus was walking on this earth, people all thru the ages, and people in todays society, answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” in many different ways. People of today are saying there are many ways to God, Jesus is not the only way. They say He is just a good man, a prophet, a myth, that the Bible is fictional and it doesn’t tell the truth about Jesus.

a. Christ (Greek) = Messiah (Hebrew)

b. Meaning, "the Anointed One"

His beginnings. His birth was prophesied seven hundred years before He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in Bethlehem. But Jesus existed long before His birth. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (), He was signifying the work of the Trinity in creation. Man was made in the image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Clearly, Christ’s beginnings signify that He is unlike any other person who’s ever been born.

2. As per Matthew, Peter added "The Son of the living God" - Mt

16:16

Jesus is called by many names in Scripture—King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Savior, Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God—and these are just a few, Since His beginnings.

a. God's Son in an unique sense, not true of any mortal

b. As confessed by others (Nathanael, Martha, John) - ;

11:27; 20:31

People at the time Jesus was walking on this earth, people all thru the ages, and people in todays society, answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” in many different ways. People of today are saying there are many ways to God, Jesus is not the only way. They say He is just a good man, a prophet, a myth, that the Bible is fictional and it doesn’t tell the truth about Jesus.

His beginnings. His birth was prophesied seven hundred years before He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in Bethlehem. But Jesus existed long before His birth. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (), He was signifying the work of the Trinity in creation. Man was made in the image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Clearly, Christ’s beginnings signify that He is unlike any other person who’s ever been born.

Today, it is not much different...]People at the time Jesus was walking on this earth, people all thru the ages, and people in todays society, answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” in many different ways. People of today are saying there are many ways to God, Jesus is not the only way. They say He is just a good man, a prophet, a myth, that the Bible is fictional and it doesn’t tell the truth about Jesus.

His birth was prophesied seven hundred years before He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in Bethlehem. But Jesus existed long before His birth. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (), He was signifying the work of the Trinity in creation. Man was made in the image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Clearly, Christ’s beginnings signify that He is unlike any other person who’s ever been born.

***Then Jesus got to the point He was after all along, verse 15.......

Most Christian Teens Don’t Have Traditional Beliefs! Historically, the foundations of the Christian faith have centered on four core beliefs: 1) The Bible is trustworthy in what it says about Jesus. 2) Jesus is God. 3) Jesus lived, died, and came back to life. 4) Jesus is the only way to heaven. Among Christian teenagers today, only about one in ten (9 percent) indicate a confident belief in all four of those core doctrines. The rest (91 percent) express measurable misgivings, and sometimes outright disbelief, in one or more of these essentials of their own faith. Jesus Saves” is a Question Mark for Christian Teens Fewer than half of Christian teens (39 percent) express strong confidence that Jesus is the only way to heaven, writes Nappa in The Jesus Survey. In fact, 61 percent of Christian students are either unsure or unwilling to commit to an exclusive belief that “Jesus Saves.” What’s more, fully 13 percent of Christians in our youth groups say they believe strongly that Jesus is NOT the only way to heaven. So how does one get to an eternal reward? According to 1/3 of our Christian teens (33 percent), “Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and other great religious leaders all have equal standing in leading people to heaven.”

***Then Jesus got to the point He was after all along, verse 15.......

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

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus simply asks, “But, Whom say ye that I am?” It is a simple question, but it is filled with eternal implications. A correct answer to that question takes one to Heaven; an incorrect answer to that question takes one to Hell.

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus simply asks, “But who do you say that I am?” is a simple question, but it is filled with eternal implications.

People today say, What difference does it make who Jesus is? A correct answer to that question takes one to Heaven; an incorrect answer to that question takes one to Hell.

A correct answer to that question takes one to Heaven; an incorrect answer to that question takes one to Hell.

What difference does it make who Jesus is?

To become a Christian, we must know who Jesus is. Then once we have received Him as our personal Savior, knowing Christ will have effects on our character, It will impact our beliefs. Jesus works in our minds, giving us assurance and altering our perspectives, convictions, and judgments to align with His. It will also influence our lifestyles. According to

To become a Christian, we must know who Jesus is. Then once we have received Him as our personal Savior, knowing Christ will have the following effects:

n It will mold our character,

n It will impact our beliefs. Jesus works in our minds, giving us assurance and altering our perspectives, convictions, and judgments to align with His.

n It will influence our lifestyles. According to

, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away.”

Now our lifestyles will reflect His righteousness. It will determine our eternal destiny. This is the ultimate reason why knowing Jesus is so important. Our eternal destination of heaven is determined by our relationship with Him as our Savior.

“But who do you say that I am?”

Looking at verses 16 & 17

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

SERMON NOTES | SN151213 Peter, as was his custom, spoke for the whole group. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ!” He got it right! In Matthew’s account of these events, Matthew quotes Peter as saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” .

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Peter, as was his custom, spoke for the whole group. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ!” He got it right! In Matthew’s account of these events, Matthew quotes Peter as saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” .

There in Caesarea Philippi, against that backdrop of paganism and false religion, Peter saw in a humble, homeless carpenter from Nazareth the very essence of God Himself. Peter looked at Jesus and saw the Messiah, which is what the word “Christ” means. It is a title and not a name. It literally means “The anointed One.” Peter also saw Jesus as the “Son of God.” What a statement of faith! It is made even more amazing by the fact that up to this point, only God and demons have recognized the identity of the Lord Jesus.

Of course, Peter did not come to the knowledge on his own. says, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven”. The Lord’s identity was revealed to Peter by God Himself and God’s Word.

(KJV) 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(KJV) 41 And many more believed because of his own word;

(KJV) 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(KJV) 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

(KJV) 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

(KJV) 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Belief by drawing of the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God is true in every genuine conversion,

This is true in every genuine conversion,

. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

n It will determine our eternal destiny. This is the ultimate reason why knowing Jesus is so important. Our eternal destination of heaven is determined by our relationship with Him as our Savior.

No one is saved by the persuasive opinions of men. Nor can anyone be saved on their own time.

Without God’s help any assessment of God’s Messenger will be faulty. No one can come to Jesus or believe on Him without divine help. People are so ensnared in the quicksand of sin and unbelief that unless God draws them,

And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

they are hopeless. This drawing of God is not limited to a few. Jesus said, “I … will draw all men to Myself” (). This does not mean that all will be saved but that Greeks (Gentiles; ) as well as Jews will be saved. Those who will be saved will also be resurrected .

People are saved when their spiritual eyes are opened by the Lord. He gives them the faith to believe unto salvation,

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

CONCLUSION

1. We have seen what people said about Jesus...

a. Then - during His earthly ministry

b. Now - by atheist, agnostic, skeptic, and believer

2. But the key question today is this: "Who do YOU say that Jesus

is...?"

a. Your answer will determine how you live today.

b. Your answer will determine your eternity - cf. ; Ac

b. Your answer will determine your eternity.

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

17:30-31

My prayer is that you would join with Peter and countless others and

confess to Jesus:

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

• Jesus is deity. The Son of God came into this world in human flesh, but He never ceased to be God. Although He limited the use of His divine attributes at times, He was still omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

Peter, as was his custom, spoke for the whole group. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ!” He got it right! In Matthew’s account of these events, Matthew quotes Peter as saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” .

n His beginnings. His birth was prophesied seven hundred years before He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin in Bethlehem. But Jesus existed long before His birth. When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (), He was signifying the work of the Trinity in creation. Man was made in the image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Clearly, Christ’s beginnings signify that He is unlike any other person who’s ever been born.

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

n His names. Jesus is called by many names in Scripture—King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Savior, Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God—and these are just a few. Since

all His names add depth and meaning to our understanding of who Jesus is, we must never stop learning what they reveal about Him.

• Jesus is deity. The Son of God came into this world in human flesh, but He never ceased to be God. He was still omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

n His attributes.

• Jesus is deity. The Son of God came into this world in human flesh, but He never ceased to be God. Although He limited the use of His divine attributes at times, He was still omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

• He was human. While being fully God, Jesus was at the same time a sinless man who came to show the world love and forgiveness.

My prayer is that you would join with Peter and countless others and

There in Caesarea Philippi, against that backdrop of paganism and false religion, Peter saw in a humble, homeless carpenter from Nazareth the very essence of God Himself. Peter looked at Jesus and saw the Messiah, which is what the word “Christ” means. It is a title and not a name. It literally means “The anointed One.” Peter also saw Jesus as the “Son of God.” What a statement of faith! It is made even more amazing by the fact that up to this point, only God and demons have recognized the identity of the Lord Jesus.

My prayer is that you would join with Peter and countless others and

. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

No one is saved by the persuasive opinions of men. Nor can anyone be saved on their own time.

confess to Jesus:

Without God’s help any assessment of God’s Messenger will be faulty. No one can come to Jesus or believe on Him without divine help. People are so ensnared in the quicksand of sin and unbelief that unless God draws them,

John 6:65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

People are saved when their spiritual eyes are opened by the Lord. He gives them the faith to believe unto salvation,

they are hopeless. This drawing of God is not limited to a few. Jesus said, “I … will draw all men to Myself” (). This does not mean that all will be saved but that Greeks (Gentiles; ) as well as Jews will be saved. Those who will be saved will also be resurrected .

People are saved when their spiritual eyes are opened by the Lord. He gives them the faith to believe unto salvation,

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

No one is saved by the persuasive opinions of men. People are saved when their spiritual eyes are opened by the Lord. He gives them the faith to believe unto salvation, .

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

“But, Whom say ye that I am?”

“But who do you say that I am?” A question that everyone will have to answer sooner or later!!!