Who Do You Say I Am?

1. Recently there has been something that I have noticed about the culture that we live in and that is that everyone is unsure of who Jesus Is!

Well I was thinking about the cartoons

and the other day I was just skimming the internet looking at different things that people believe about Jesus. and I found some interesting things that people believe.

a. A lot of people are having a mistaken Identity over who Jesus truly is.

For those of you who have not seen this movie this movie basically has this family (the incredibles)who fight crime and what ends up happening is throughout the movie there is this one main bad guy who they are trying to catch. and this bad guy actuall

So I was searching online and thought I would share some.

and if you were like most kids you probably awnsered that

If you have not basically what happens is there is this family with super powers who are called the incredibles and the incredibles are this family that fights bad guys.

because I found a bunch of different groups

and in this movie specifically the incredibles fight this bad guy who can control minds through screens, but the bad guy in the movie actually wears a mask so you are unsure of the identity of who it is.

Some people were discussing what was Jesus’s ethnicity:

i. There are so many arguments happening trying to figure out the true identity of Jesus.

and what ends up happening is there is another man in the movie who a

There were motercycalist for Jesus

b. Some people believe that Jesus was African American

There were people who believed Jesus was Irish

So what happens is throughout the movie because of all the different circumstances that occur you are convinced that this one character in the movie is the bad guy wearing the mask.

i. He Called everyone brother

and time after time you keep thinking that this one person who is actually a really good person in the movie is the bad guy.

There were clowns for Jesus

ii. He liked Gospel

But what ends up happening in the movie is they finally figure out who is the real bad guy and she is a character who you actually thought was a good guy.

There were Dogs for Jesus, cats for Jesus

iii. And he didn’t get a fair trial

So you reach this mind blowing moment

there was even a group called athesist for Jesus.

And then you feel bad because this guy you thought was plotting against this family the whole movie actually turns out to be good.

c. some people believe that Jesus was Italian

And the list keeps going on.

i. He talked with his hands

and it was just because of all the different things going on, all these different circumstances that made it seem like this guy in the movie was a bad guy.

But there are all sorts of groups that you can find that are for Jesus and these groups believe all sorts of different things about who Jesus is.

Circumstances can often time have a strong impact on what we think about people and different situations in general throughout our lives.

They

and as I was thinking about this I started to think about how it is so easy for different circumstances in our life to impact how we view God.

and when you look at our culture people believe a ton of different things about who Jesus is

ii. He had wine with his meals

You know for a lot of people you start to think about these different circusta

iii. He used olive oil

d. some people believed that He was Californian

i. He never cut his hair

ii. He walked around Bare foot all the time

iii. He started a new realign

c. some people believe that Jesus was Italian

i. He talked with his hands

e. Still some people believed that Jesus was Irish

ii. He had wine with his meals

iii. He used olive oil.

Still some people believed that Jesus was Irish

i. He never got married

ii. He was always telling story’s

iii. He loved green pastures

f. But probably the most convincing arguments out there is that Jesus in fact a Woman

i. He fed a crowd at a moments notices with virtually no food

ii. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn’t get it

iii. And even after he was dead, he had to get up because there was still work to do.

g. But there is actually a big problem when it comes to People inside and outside of the church defining who Jesus actually is and what he has done for us

But with all seriesness there is a huge issue in our culture in understanding who Jesus is and what he came to do.

There are some people who feel like Jesus is a person who is here to j

Its easy even within the church to not understand fully who Jesus is and what he came to do.

Because there are people who believe that Jesus is here to not let them to have any fun.

there are people who believe that Jesus is here to soley judge them

Because there are people who believe that Jesus is here to soley judge them

Hes here just to tell you how messed up you are in life.

there are people who believe that Jesus is here to not let them to have any fun.

There are people who think Jesus is just a giant bully in the clouds

There are people who lost a loved one and may be thinking why would Jesus let this happen.

And when you look at all of these different beliefs that people have about Jesus it is easy to say I want nothing to do with someone like that.

So today we are going to be looking at a passage found in

Because in this passage Jesus ask the disciples an important question about who he is and it ends up being a question that really every single one of us have to awnser as well.

So if you would turn to it says:

The New International Version Chapter 8

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

8:31–9:1pp—Mt 16:21–28; Lk 9:22–27

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

8:31–9:1pp—;

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

So this passage starts out by with Jesus and the disciples walking in Caesarea Philippi.

and Caesarea Philippi was actually a place where there were all these false gods and alters to these gods all over the land that the people in the area built.

so I want you to get this image in your head of what is going on here because Jesus and the disciples are walking through this area and the disciples still have never really been told who Jesus is up into this point.

And right at verse 27 Jesus ask his disciples “who do you say I am?”

and I just imagine there being a pause, because the disciples are walking through this area and on one side of them is this man who there is clearly something special about Him, but then on the other side of them there are all these false gods that disciples have remembered being around forever.

And I just imagine them going who is this guy is he just one of these false gods that we have seen throughout history, or is he just a prophet.

and I just imagine this uncertainty of who Jesus really is. but after what I imagine is a long pause the disciples awnser the question saying “well some people say that you are John the Baptist and others say Elijah and still others just one of the other prophets.

And Jesus goes well okay… but thats not what I asked you.

I want to know who do you think I am?

And thats the question that each one of us has to awnser.

Who is this man that we call Jesus.

Because what our answer is impacts almost every area of our life.

So Jesus ask the disciples this question and I imagine there is even a longer pause but Peter finally answers the question and says “You are the Messiah” and some of the other books of the Bible that tell this story from a different perspective say that he said “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God”

I mean he is definitely special or why else would we be following him.

and then they look over to one side of them and just see all of these false gods that the people have worshiped at some point and I imagine them just thinking well

and this answer that Peter gives is huge. because the phrase that Peter says is basically saying in the Bibles original language: look you want to know who I think you are.

I think you are the one who we have been waiting for since sin has entered the world and since the fall of man

I think that you are the one who we have been waiting for since the fall of man.

I don’t just believe that you are one of these false gods that we have seen in our past or someone who was kinda special.

But I believe that you are the one who is going to deliver me and the entire world.

That is who I say you are.

That is powerful statement.

And as I mentioned every single one of us has to answer this question of who Jesus is to us.

Because there are plenty of opinions on who he is.

But Peters answer is powerful.

And when you say Jesus I believe that you are here to deliver me from my sin that is where something powerful happens.

Because look what the passage says next.

Jesus loved you that much.

Because Jesus explains what this means and he says starting in verse 37 that he must suffer, and be rejected and killed but he will raise in 3 days.

It is amazing to think that Jesus wanted to pursue us that badly that he was willing to be tortured, and killed to be in a relationship with you. It is almost hard to wrap our minds around.

But if you want to be in a relationship with Christ you are able too because he died for you and it did not just stop there but he rose from the grave defeating the sin we have in our life.

I want you to think for a second about whether or not you have answered that question.

You might still be unsure of who he is and if you look at Peter in this passage he was a little shaky on who he believed Jesus was also.

But he said Jesus I still want to follow you.

And look how this passage ends because Jesus tells you exactly what you have to do to follow Him.

This passage ends with Jesus saying whoever wants to be my disciple (whoever wants to follow me) must take up their cross and follow me.

When he said you must take up your cross he was referring to something that Rome did in Biblical days

Where if you were caught doing something wrong you would actually be given the cross which they would be killed on and had to carry it through the town as a way for a person to demonstrate their submission and obedience to the authority that they have rebelled against.

and I think about that and go I dont want to do that. Who would?

But what Jesus is saying is that everyone of us has sinned, messed up and rebelled against God and he is saying look what I want you to do is to carry up this cross as a way to submit to God.

He is not asking you to physically die, but He is wanting you to die to your sin, repent and turn to obedience in Christ.

He is saying I want you to be all in.

You know I remember not to long ago hearing a speaker talk about how one time he was preaching at a church and there was this man who came forward who grew up in church. went to church most Sundays and really lived a decent life.

He was not a bad guy at all.

But he came forward and he laid his drivers license on the alter and the speaker was kind of confused because he was just thinking “what are you doing?”

But the man that came forward told him I don’t want to be living this life where I have kind of given my life to Christ but not completely.

I want to give all of me to Him

I want to give my very identity of who I am to him.

This man knew what it meant to take up his cross.

and that is what Christ is calling us to do.

I want everyone just to close there eyes for a second. and I just want you to think about that question that Jesus asked in the begining.

“Who do you say I am”

Because Jesus is asking you that very question.

But for some of us this could be

But I want you to in your head just awnser that question

“Who do you say I am?”

Because there are so many different beliefs that people have about Jesus.

I am not completely sure where every single person is in their walk with Christ today, but I want to give us a chance to answer this question.

if you would like to answer that question today by saying I believe you Jesus are the one.

The one who I place my trust in and I want to take up my cross whether this is the first time or whether you are sitting there going you know I have not been living a life all in for Christ, I would invite you to just raise your hand as a response.

Who do you say I am?

Will you pray with me?

Pray

Communion:

We are going to be partaking in communion today and communion is an amazing way for each of us to take up our crosses for Christ.

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

If you have placed your trust in Christ you are welcomed to take part in communion here.

Because this time on Sunday morning people from all around the world are receiving communion and it is a reminder that despite differences in beliefs, despite our culture we are unified in Christ.

During this last song I invite you to come forward and Arika will be serving the elements up front. Once you have the elements take them back to your seat and we will receive them together as the body of Christ. and while you are at your seat I would invite you to just pray and reflect on your relationship with Christ.

Song

Pray

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Holy God,

We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (, )

Before the partaking of the cup, let the minister say:

And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.

By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:

(Here the congregation may pray the Lord’s Prayer)

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Before the partaking of the bread, let the minister say:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

Before the partaking of the cup, let the minister say: