Mark 8:22-30

I have seen this place, it is at the base of Mount Hermon and has a spring running through it which connects to the Jordan River and just around the corner from there is the place called the gates of hell which is right next to the altar to the Greek fertility god Pan where the place of the goat dance takes place in worship to that god. But also in this place was a temple to worship Caesar as a god. Today the place is called Banias which is named after the Greek god Pan.

Who do people say that Jesus is? -

John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets… All those answers make Jesus out to be far less than He actually is.

Who do you say that He is? -

This is the most important question for every person to answer for themselves isn’t it?

The question is intended to stir up the heart of the hearer to make their own decision and confession, either for or against Jesus. Because in the end their simply is no middle ground. All of us are either for or against Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives.

You have to realize that your answer to this question is how you will be judged...

Can I remind you of who the Bible declares Jesus to be and why our answer is so important?

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9–13 ESV

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Later when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus who came under the cover of night to discover for himself who Jesus is, we have Jesus saying this to him...

John 3:16–21 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Who do men say that Jesus is? Who do you say Jesus is? Who does Jesus say He is?

Jesus very clearly declared some things about Himself through His I AM statements. Those statements are all relevant to the eternal condition of each one of us.

We will take a closer look at each of these 7 statements because they are important for each one of us in answering the question Who do you say that Jesus is.

When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign so that they would believe in Him He declared that He is the bread of life -

John 6:31–40 ESV

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

In John 8 Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world while clearly and boldly saying that if we do not know Jesus we cannot know His father in heaven.

John 8:12–19 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

The door of the sheep & the good shepherd -

John 10:9–18 ESV

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

When Lazarus died and his sisters Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus wasn’t there in time to save him from dying and had given up hope Jesus told them that He is the resurrection and the life just before He raised Lazarus from the dead...

John 11:25–26 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

When teaching about salvation and eternal life Jesus said that He is the way the truth and the life - John 14:6 -

John 14:1–7 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

And finally when teaching about our place in this worl;d as follows of Christ Jesus declared that He is the true vine that we as the branches are connected to in order to bear much good fruit - John 15:1

John 15:1–11 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

You see Jesus doesn't have an identity problem. Man has the identity problem. Man's problem is that they don't know who Jesus really is and therefore they cannot truly know who they are or what desperate need they have for Jesus.

Notice what Peter responds with.

It would seem that Peter has been paying attention to what Jesus has been saying and doing. But observing those things isn’t enough. Like Peter we must have special revelation from the Holy Spirit to understand what we have observed Jesus saying and doing.

Look at his answer and the response from Jesus in the account that Matthew gives us...

Matthew 16:16–17 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

When the Lord speaks to us or reveals something to us it often times happens so naturally that we almost have to pause and make sure it was the Lord that spoke or brought revelation to us. God doesn’t usually speak to us in a thundering voice or in a great vision, or with a beam of light shining down upon us in a dramatic way. It is most often that the Lord does so in a way that is natural and smooth flowing so that we just come to a realization of the thing He is speaking and are able to understand it or even speak it out as Peter did here without all the theatrics that we often times imagine would accompany the voice of God. You see, as Christians we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us and as we continue to grow in our relationship with Him it can almost become second nature to interact with Him (as it should) and be led in our understanding, conversation, and really our lives by Him.

Tell no one -

That is until after His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The reason they are not to tell anyone that Jesus is Messiah is because the Jews have a wrong concept of messiah at this point. The Jews are looking for a political messiah who will free them from Roman oppression not a spiritual Messiah that will free them from sin.

Who do men say that Jesus is today?

Who did He proclaim Himself to be?

Have you had a revelation from the Holy Spirit to answer the question? -

Who do you say that Jesus is?

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