Untitled Sermon (18)
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Who Do You Say That Jesus Is? (8:27-30)
INTRODUCTION
On the road from Bethsaida to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples two questions...
"Who do men say that I am?" - Mk 8:27-28
"But who do you say that I am?" - Mk 8:29-30
The responses to such questions concerning Jesus' identity...
Have been many and varied
Both in Jesus' day and today [It is the most important question people could ask themselves, for their response determines their destiny both in this life and the life to come. Let's take a look at...]
WHAT PEOPLE SAID THEN
JOHN THE BAPTIST...
King Herod thought this when he heard about Jesus - Mk 6:14
And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.”
Perhaps motivated by guilt for having beheaded John - Mk 6:16
But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”
ELIJAH...
Likely based on their misunderstanding of Malachi's prophecy - Mal 4:5
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Which Jesus explained referred to John the Baptist - Mt 17:10-13
And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things;
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
JEREMIAH...
As mentioned in Matthew's account of this conversation - Mt 16:14
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Who some Jews expected to be resurrected as a precursor to the Messiah
ONE OF THE PROPHETS...
One of the old prophets risen again
As mentioned in Luke's account of this conversation - Lk 9:19
They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.”
BEELZEBUB...
Some had identified Jesus with Beelzebub, that is, Satan - Mt 10:25
“It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
So thought some of the scribes and Pharisees - Mk 3:22; Mt 12:24
The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”
MENTALLY DERANGED...
So thought some of His family - Mk 3:21; cf. Jn 7:5
When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
As did many others - Jn 10:30
CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD...
As per Mark's gospel, Peter said "You are the Christ" - Mk 8:29
And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Christ (Greek) = Messiah (Hebrew)
Meaning, "the Anointed One"
As per Matthew, Peter added "The Son of the living God" - Mt 16:16
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
God's Son in an unique sense, not true of any mortal
As confessed by others (Nathanael, Martha, John) - Jn 1:49; 11:27; 20:31 [Opinions of Jesus' identity were quite diverse during His ministry. Today, it is not much different...]
Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
WHO DO I SAY THAT JESUS...
self-help Jesus - who came to bring you your best life now
911 Jesus - only go to him when we are in danger of desperate need
good person with some good ideas
casual friend - acquaintance of mine
FABRICATION...
Your answer will determine your eternity - cf. Mt 10:32-38 Ac 17:30-31
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
“For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Your answer will determine how you live today - cf. Mt 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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."
Why not confess Jesus now, as you obey the gospel of Christ (e.g., Ac 8:35-38).
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
For you will either confess Him now, or confess Him later when it is too late...! - cf. Php 2:9-11
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
if he is anything other than
Savior
Lord
sacrificial Lamb of God
reigning King
who calls us to...
radical
sacrificial
painful discipleship