Life's Most Important Questions

“Life’s Most Important Question”?

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Over 2000 years ago Jesus asked his disciples the most important question in the world! And it is still the most important question in the world today.

The Question is who is Jesus?

You may be sitting there thinking, I’m going to let someone smarter than me answer that question. But nobody can answer that question for you. Your wife, your husband can answer it for you, your children can answer for you. It doesn’t work that way, the question is a personal question; Jesus asked you, “who do you say I am”?

This is a question that you cannot dodge.

There are some questions that we like to dodge; if a rude person asks us how much money you make or how much something cost, we dodge that question. When your wife asks you “Does this dress make me look fat,” that is a question you NEED to avoid! The answer is “NO!” brother!

There are some questions we can avoid answering, and there are some questions not worth answering. But this is not one of them!

This question cannot be dodged or avoided!

In these verses Jesus asks His disciples two very important question.

Both questions concerned who He is,

The first question V:18-“Who do the people say I am?

The second question V:20-“Who do you say I am?

The place Jesus chose to ask this question was not random. The book of Matthew tells us that they were in a place called Caesarea Philippi, it is a beautiful place, not far from Mt. Hermon, near the source of the Jordan River; it was a place with a deep religious background. The city was originally called Paneas, after the Greek God Pan, but when Phillip the tetrarch took over, he renamed it Caesarea Phillip (after himself and Caesar). And he built a temple for the people to worship Caesar. The thing that makes Caesarea Phillip the perfect place for Jesus to ask this question is the various religious beliefs of the city. It contained a new temple to Caesar, an old temple dedicated to the Greek God Pan, and an even older temple dedicated to Baal worship. At the sight where these temples were built is a big rock cliff, with shrines to different gods craved out in this rock cliff. People would go there to pray and offer sacrifices to their gods. There is also a huge cave hollowed out in this cliff, with a big rock where they made sacrifices to their false gods, even human sacrifices where made there.

It was a city with many idols to false gods. Jesus chose this place as the backdrop for these questions. Who do men say I am? Am I just another god among all these other gods? Are Am I much more?

To answer life’s most important question there are three things you must do; #1 you must:

1. Reject the Opinions of men!

V:18-19.

First Jesus wanted to know what the opinions of men where about him. Jesus ask, what is the word on the street about me?

And just like today there was a variety of answers.

V:19-Read.

There were several different opinions about who Jesus Christ was, and they were all wrong. Some people said Jesus was:

*John the Baptist:

This belief originated from Herod, who had John the Baptist beheaded. In -“Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all those done by him: and he was perplexed, because it was said by some, that John was risen from the dead “. Herod was a creeper who stole his brother’s wife. I don’t think they sat next to each other at family reunions.

John the Baptist called Herod out and told him it was sin, and Herod arrested him, but didn’t kill him because he was afraid of a revolt.

Herod was angry with John the Baptist, but his wife Herodias hated John the Baptist and plotted to have him killed. On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced in front of the king at a party and Herod promised to give her whatever she asked for. Her daughter asked her mom what she should ask Herod for, and Herodias said, ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter! Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, and when he heard about Jesus, he was afraid that John the Baptist had come back from the dead. This superstition spread to others. Some say your John the Baptist.

*Elijah:

Other people believed that Jesus was Elijah, the great prophet. Elijah stood up to Ahab, and he called down fire from heaven. In the Old Testament, God promised to send Elijah to prepare the way for the Messiah, and many people believed that Jesus was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah. (They did not recognize that John the Baptist was the one preparing the way ( and ).

*One of the old prophets:

Other people believed that he was one of the old prophets, like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Jeremiah preached a lot about judgment, as did Jesus.

Further, Jeremiah was persecuted by the religious leaders, much like Jesus was. There are similarities, and many people noticed these and associated Jesus with Jeremiah.

From the answers the disciples gave, we learn that the people had a lot of different opinions about who Jesus was. But all the answers show they only believed he was a great prophet, nothing more!

Just like people had a lot of opinions about Jesus then, people have all kind of opinions about who Jesus is today. Most unbelievers today say that Jesus was just a man, a good moral teacher, a prophet but they do not recognize any divine qualities or deity in Him.

*Jehovah’s Witnesses-believe that Jesus is just Michael the archangel, who became a man.

*Mormons- believe that Jesus was just a man who became one of many gods; they also believe that Jesus was the half-brother of Lucifer (just a terrible case of sibling rivalry!)

*Unitarian Universalists-simply teach that Jesus was a good man, like Mister Rogers in a robe; they say that He is to be respected for his good teachings on love, justice, and healing.

*New Agers- believe that Jesus is a state of consciousness that everyone can aspire to achieve.

*Scientologists- believe that Jesus was an “implant” forced upon a Thetan about a million years ago.

*Buddhists- believe that Jesus was an enlightened man, much like Buddha.

*Hindus- believe that Jesus was probably a man, or maybe an incarnation of a god, or one of many gods; they do not believe that He alone is God. (They believe in 330 million gods)

*Muslims- believe that Jesus was simply a man and a prophet who is inferior to Muhammad.

It basically boils down to this: the world and the religions of the world believe that Jesus was simply a man or one of many gods, but they do NOT believe that Jesus Christ was the one and only Son of God! It is important to KNOW that all of these views of Jesus are WRONG!

The people in Jesus’ day misunderstood who Jesus Christ truly was, and people today misunderstand who Jesus really is.

It is interesting to see that not all of these answers were terrible (most people don’t think Jesus was crazy or demon-possessed). They recognize Him as a great spiritual teacher; they recognize that He was a major leader. However, they didn’t recognize Him for who He truly is: the Son of God.

One of my most embarrassing moments was when I saw Tess in the isle at Wal-Mart, and walk up behind her, and said Hey baby and put something in the buggy! But it wasn’t Tess! A case of mistaken identity!

Many people don’t recognize who Jesus Christ really is! He was not just a good man or a moral teacher…He was the God-man!

If you want to know who Jesus really is; the first thing you must do is reject the opinions of men!

Any view that minimizes or denies the deity of Jesus Christ must be rejected and denied. We must never compromise or cave when it comes to the deity of Jesus Christ; Jesus was not merely a man. To answer the question, who is Jesus? 1st of all you must; Reject the opinions of men!

To answer life’s most important question you must:

2. Receive the Truth of Scripture!

V:20.

After Jesus asks the disciples who other people say that He is, He directs the question to His disciples. He makes it personal he asks them,V:20-“Who do YOU say that I am?” This is the question that each of us must ultimately answer: who do we say Jesus Christ is? What do we believe about Jesus Christ? Jesus asks all of the disciples this, and Peter answers for all of them.

Who else would you expect to step up and speak out? Peter said, V:20-The Christ of God!”

Peter boldly and confidently identifies Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God. His answer was the complete opposite of the world’s answers!

Peter did not say that Jesus was a good man or a good teacher, or a great prophet…He said Jesus was God!

Peter knew this because he knew what the O.T scriptures said about the messiah; and because he had observed Jesus for three year.

Notice what Peter affirms in his answer:

*Jesus was “the Christ,” the Messiah, the Anointed One.

The Old Testament promised a Messiah, someone from the line of David who would reign as eternal king. The Israelites had studied the Old Testament Scriptures and they knew that a Messiah was coming to rescue them. Peter identified Jesus as that figure; He was the eternal king who would reign. He was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies.

-“Peter answered and said, you are the Christ, the son of the living God”.

*Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus is not merely a King or human; He is also God.

Peter’s confession acknowledges the deity of Jesus and His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is God in human flesh! Peter recognized that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Deliverer and He recognized that Jesus was God. God has revealed Jesus’ identity to us in the Word of God.

The Gospels give us a full picture of the miraculous birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel reveals the true humanity of Jesus Christ. He was:

*physical born (virgin birth)

*grew up as a boy

*worked as a carpenter-Jesus was a tough guy with calluses on His hands and muscles on His frame, he was not a sissy with permed hair and soft skin, who wore a comfortable dress with matching open-toed sandals and drank de-café coffee.

I’m not sure why almost every artist portrays Jesus as a weak, frail man. Jesus was a tough guy who called out the religious leaders and cleaned out the temple with a home-made whip.

*was hungry and thirsty

*displayed emotions

*died on a cross

The Gospels reveal that Jesus Christ was fully human.

However, the Gospels also reveal His deity. He:

*was virgin born

*was sinless

*performed miracles

*forgave sin

*rose from the dead

The Gospels record Jesus’ sacrificial death, and the rest of the New Testament reinforces His atoning sacrifice. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said:

-“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”.

-“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world”

Jesus died for your sins and my sins; He died for the sins of the entire world.

The Bible also teaches that salvation and forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ alone.

- “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”

Jesus said, - “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

Jesus alone is presented as our Savior in Scripture.

To know who Jesus is you must receive the Truth of Scripture! God’s Word clearly teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God!

The world says that Jesus was simply a good man, a moral teacher to be admired; however, they do not believe He was God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus was fully God and fully man and it teaches that He died on the cross to forgive the sins of the world.

The question that you have to answer is this: who do you say that Jesus is? Do you agree with the world, that Jesus was simply a good man? Or do you confess that the Bible is true and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world? Who do you say that Jesus Christ is? If you are saved, you need to be bold about Jesus Christ. I love Peter’s boldness here. The question was addressed to all the disciples, but Peter steps up and answers it.

He just declares Jesus’ deity with confidence and assurance. This is how the church should be; this is how Christians should be. We should boldly and confidently proclaim the deity of Jesus Christ. When the church refuses to defend the truth that Jesus is God, she becomes weak and powerless. She loses respect (like the politician who told his audience “those are my convictions; if you don’t like them, I have others”).

As Christians, we should be bold and confident about the person of Jesus Christ. We should have confidence in our salvation, knowing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world, and we should boldly share that with others.

To answer life’s most important question you must, not only reject the opinions of men, and receive the truth of Scripture.

You must:

3. Response to the Revelation of God!

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

Jesus told Peter that he was blessed, because God had revealed this truth to him. In other words, Peter did not discover this out on his own; God revealed it to Him. God revealed Jesus’ true identity to Peter.

God revealed to Peter who Jesus was and Peter response in faith. He confessed that Jesus was the Savior the son of God! Here's what you must believe in order to be saved. You must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. To be saved you must have a personal conviction that Jesus is the savior! To say from your heart; Jesus, you are the Christ, the son of the living God…. No doubts, a strong faith! Do you believe that?

Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God? Peter says, “I personally believe that you are the Christ, the Messiah—I believe that you are the Son of God. How did Peter come to this conclusion? Not be taking a poll, "What do others say?" Nor did he come to this conclusion because he had figured it out. Jesus said,V:17- "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

How can you know who Jesus Christ is? Not by depending on the testimony of others, not by your own intellect, but by divine revelation.

Lay your pride in the dust and ask God to reveal to you who Jesus Christ is. And I tell you, He will.

If you want to know who Jesus Christ is you can know, but not by taking a poll, not by your intellect; but by humbling yourself and opening yourself to the Word of God.

The Bible says, "God hath hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes." Are you willing to come with a child-like faith? You’re not going to strut into the presence of God. Peter’s personal conviction about Jesus, lead to a public confession of Jesus.

Suppose Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon Peter, who do you say that I am?"

And suppose Simon Peter said, to himself, I know who He is, but there are too many people standing around here. I don't want to be identified with Him openly and publicly, so I'm not going to make this great confession that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. There are some of you sitting in this building, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but you're ashamed to confess Him before men.

I want to tell you something. Walking down a church aisle doesn't save anybody. Shaking a pastor's hand doesn't save anybody, but what it indicates is a faith that is not ashamed of Jesus Christ!

How could you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and be ashamed of Him?

It's impossible. When God reveals to you that Jesus is the savior, the Son of God, you will confess Him!

And when you confess from your mouth and believe in your heart you will be saved!

And as a Christian confessing that Jesus is the son of God, and the Savior of the world is our greatest joy!

Peter answers life’s most important question, Jesus is the anointed one, the Savior, the son of God.

As soon as the disciples knew who he was, Jesus began telling them what he had come to do.

V:22-“The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day”.

Jesus the son of God came to this world to die on the cross, and be raised from the dead. That’s why Jesus said, the Son of Man must…

· Suffer.

· Be rejected.

· Crucified.

· Rise from the dead.

Jesus came to go to the cross!

God had no backup plan, no alternate plan. The cross was the essential plan of God set in motion before the foundation of the world.

-“Jesus is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world”.

The cross was not an ambulance sent to the scene of an accident. God the father, Son and Holy Spirit did not decide the plan of salvation, when man sinned. From all eternity, God knew that man was going to sin, and from all eternity, God planned to send his son to die on the cross for the sins of the world!

How does God forgive sins? He does it though a substitute.

Jesus was my substitute, taking my sin, dying in my place, paying the debt for my sin; that God might be just, and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus.

God’s Plan was for His son to pay the debt of our sins, that we though faith in him be forgiven!

Jesus must die, and he did die; and he must raise the third day; and he did!

This morning Jesus is asking you, who do you say I am? Have you confessed Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God? Are you saved, has there been a change in your life?

If not come and confess him today!!