Who is He?

Mark 8:27-30 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 Christ.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
 
JESUS asked the universal and eternal question. Each person must answer correctly to inherit eternal life.
   Would you agree with Peter that Jesus is the Christ? This sounds correct. But Peter would have defined “Christ” or “Messiah” from the Jews’ point of view. They viewed the Christ to be an earthly ruler who would literally sit on David’s throne. He would release Israel from foreign rule to establish the nation as a world power as it was in David’s reign. 
   We would then disagree with Peter, wouldn’t we? We would say that Jesus is the Christ who reigns over death. He sits on heaven’s throne prepared to judge the world. He will, indeed, rule over the New Jerusalem as God’s Son not David’s descendant.
   The point here is we must know what we are talking about when we speak of God. Peter and the disciples were beginning to see Jesus in the way Jesus had given sight to the blind man. They were unable to see the entire picture until the risen Christ stood before them. But perhaps they should have seen him sooner.
   After all God had prepared the Jews for the Son’s appearance. Jesus was in the Law. The prophets spoke specifically of his coming. The Jews knew the time, place and purpose of his life. Even Elijah and Elisha had performed the kinds of miracles Jesus would do. The Jews had the right information to identify God among them, but they misunderstood or ignored it.
   The absolute answer to Jesus’ question comes to us with the Bible’s absolute truth. When someone asks you, “Who is Jesus?” there’s no excuse not to know. The entire Bible points to Jesus. If there is a specific question about Jesus, you can find the answer in the truth.
   When we answer, “He is Lord, Savior, Resurrection, Life, the Word made flesh and much more, we must understand how these names define his authority over our lives. We can’t say he is “Savior” if we do not trust he has forgiven our sins. We can’t call him, “Lord” if we reject his commands. “King” is irrelevant if we dismiss his rule over the church and our lives.
   How then do you answer Jesus’ question? Is it based on Scripture? Do you speak of him in the way you honor and worship him? Are you willing to live into your answer?