Who is Jesus Christ?

TEXT: Matthew 16:13-28

TOPIC: Who Is Jesus Christ?

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama

March 1, 2007

Matthew 16:13–28 ESV

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say 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 replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

“Jesus Christ is the subject of more than 300 Old Testament prophecies. His birth nearly 2000 years ago, and the events of His life, had been foretold by many prophets during a period of 1500 years. History confirms that even the smallest detail happened just as predicted. It confirms beyond a doubt that Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of God and Savior of the world.” Bill Bright

I. JESUS’ CLAIMS CONCERNING WHO HE IS

A. Mark 14:61-62

Mark 14:61–62 ESV

61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

B. John 6:38

John 6:38 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

C. John 5:17-18

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (KJV)

D. John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (KJV)

E. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)

F. John 14:8-9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (KJV)

1. Jesus claimed to be the judge of all mankind.

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (KJV)

2. Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins.

Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (KJV)

3. Jesus claimed to be the only way to the Father.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)

Jesus Christ exists eternally, John 8:56-58 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (KJV)

To free men from condemnation for their sin, He took upon Himself the form of man, becoming totally human, yet totally divine.

Philippians 2:6-7 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (KJV)

Also John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” and John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 14

His humanity is illustrated by His birth of a human mother, His natural human growth and development, Luke 2:40 “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”

His deity is pointed out by His name “Immanuel”, by His miracles, especially His resurrection, by His witness of Himself and the witness of others.

FURTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST’S DEITY

1. He knows all men

John 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (KJV)

2. He controlled nature

Matthew 8:26-27 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (KJV)

3. He raised the dead.

John 11:43-45 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. (KJV)

WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT JESUS

John the Baptist “Behold the Lamb of God”

Peter “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Martha “The Son of God”

Thomas “My Lord and My God”

Paul “He was made sin for us and He is God and Savior” Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (KJV)

JESUS CLAIMED TO BE GOD

(Two Alternatives)

HIS CLAIMS WERE FALSE

(If false, then you have two alternatives)

He knew that His claims were false

in which case He made a deliberate

misrepresentation—He was a liar.

Or,

He did not know that His claims were

false in which case He was sincerely

deluded—He was a lunatic.

OR HIS CLAIMS WERE TRUE

If true then HE IS LORD!

(But you still have two alternatives)

You can Accept Him

or,

You can Reject Him