Who Do You Say That I Am?

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Who Do You Say That I Am?

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on May 23, 2008 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Summary: Sermon from Matthew 16 exploring the identity of Jesus

Who Do You Say That I Am? (Matthew 16:13-16)

Pastor Jeff Williams

11-25-07

A Question Can Change Your Direction

In college, I was a member of the “honors student association.” Before you get too impressed, let me assure you that there was nothing honorable about my involvement in this organization! Basically, it gave me the opportunity to go to conferences in different cities and act like the fool that I was. One such conference was New Orleans.

While we were at the conference in New Orleans, the troop split into two groups. One group was led by a senior girl named Kelly who was a Christian. This group was interested in the antebellum homes, the above ground cemeteries, and the shrimp gumbo. The other group, a motley crew, was led by a junior guy who was the party animal of the HSA -me. This group headed for Bourbon Street every chance we got.

As the two groups were leaving the hotel one night, Kelly pulled me aside and said something that literally changed my life. She looked me dead in the eye and said, “Jeff Williams, you are a leader.” I was stunned. No one had ever called me that word before. Before my ego could enjoy it though, she asked me a question that would eventually change my whole life direction. She said, “Why do you lead the wrong way?!” I didn’t know what to say so I just shrugged. She walked away never knowing the impact she had on my life.

It had never occurred to me that I was a leader, let alone that I was leading the wrong way. I could not get the question out of my head and it is one of the reasons I started my search for God. Nearly twenty years later, I am still trying to learn all I can about how to be a leader who leads the right way. On this Thanksgiving weekend, I am so thankful that Kelly Creigh had the guts to ask me a question that literally changed my direction.

The Most Important Question Ever Asked

Over the last five weeks, we have been exploring the questions Jesus asked. Scripture records 180 questions that Jesus asked and I am going to make a bold statement this morning. I believe the question that Matthew records in the sixteenth chapter of his Gospel is the most important question Jesus asked. I’m willing to go one step further. I believe it is the most important question EVER asked! (More important than “Where’s the Beef?” or “Who shot J.R.?”) It is THE question that everyone must answer. You can not remain neutral. You can not sit on the fence. It is the question that can change your direction - “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15)

63% of Christian Students Believe What?!

According to reseJosh McDowell, 63% of students that identify themselves as Christians do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. These are not atheist or gothic students. These are students who identify themselves as Christ-Followers. When I read that stat, I knew what our focus would be at the upcoming fall retreat.

Every year we take a group of students away for a weekend to build their faith while having fun. This fall we took thirty-six junior and senior high students, and eight brave adults, to Rock River Christian Camp in Polo, IL. We spent the whole weekend looking at this “most important question ever.”

When we returned, I sent out a summary of our weekend to my email list and received a reply from a friend. After reading all that the students had learned, she wrote back that she wished that the adults could have a retreat like that too. I knew I was preaching this weekend so I asked Brian if I could change the topic and teach some of the material I shared with our students. He said yes and here we are.

Let’s pray.

Please turn in your copy of God’s Word to Matthew 16 starting in verse 13.

What’s the Word on the Street?

In the preceding chapters of Matthew 14-15, Jesus is on the move. He is teaching, preaching, healing, do miracles, and challenging the religious. He is steadily moving north. The context for this morning’s passage is as north as you can get. Caesarea Philippi was the northern most territory in Israel. It was a Gentile center for pagan worship and most inhabitants considered the emperor a “god.” Located at the foot of snow-covered Mt. Hermon, this area was a beautiful place to rest and pray. It was at Caesarea Philippi that he asked his disciples two questions that change the course of history.

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do the people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13)

Luke tells us He was praying before He asked this question. (Luke 9:18) Jesus identifies Himself as the “Son of Man,” a term for the Messiah from the book of Daniel. He is not interested in an opinion poll. This question was designed to set up the next, more important, question.

He wants to know - what’s the word on the street about me?

Everyone had a opinion about Jesus. If you would go to the market, people would be talking about Jesus. If you went to the synagogue, you would hear heated discussion about the wandering rabbi from Galilee. In fact, the religious leaders had decided that He was demon-possessed (Matthew 3:22). Even His mother and siblings thought He had lost His mind (Matthew 3:31) Some said He was a saint, others said He was a demon.

Unfortunately, most people were very confused about who Jesus was.

“ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets’” (Matthew 16:14)

The disciples have been out among the people. They have heard the whispers. Three theories had emerged about who Jesus was.

First, one of the disciples reports that some people think He is John the Baptist. John was a national hero who stood up to the Pharisees. But this is a really strange theory since John the Baptist was a contemporary of Jesus. In fact, they were cousins. They lived at the same time and ministered in the same areas. John was beheaded for confronting Herod because of his adulterous relationship. Some people thought that the spirit of John the Baptist had somehow entered Jesus. In fact, Herod Antipas thought this very thing. (Matt 14:2)

John preached with power that pointed to the coming of the Lamb. But Jesus was that Lamb “that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

Second, the rumor was going around that Jesus was Elijah. In a strange way, at least this made more sense. Elijah didn’t die but was caught up to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. (2 Kings 2) He also performed supernatural acts of healing, even raising people from the dead! (I Kings 17)

Malachi had predicted that Elijah would return and announce the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5) But this prophesy pointed to John the Baptist’s ministry, not Jesus.

He also was a man of intense, powerful prayer who prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t for three years. (I Kings 17:1)

By the way, did you catch the controversy that Georgia’s governor caused by praying for rain for that rain-starved region? Many people complained about the separation of church and state. Guess what? It rained that night!

Third, many were saying that Jesus was Jeremiah come back to life. Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” because of his compassion (Jeremiah 9:1) They both were examples of patient endurance in the face of unfair suffering. As people watched Jesus love the unlovable, care for the marginalized, and weep over people far from God they couldn’t help connecting the two.

Jesus could also have been one of the other prophets.

Do you notice what all three of these theories have in common? The people identified Jesus with figures in the past instead of acknowledging that Jesus was unique. After all that Jesus had said and done, He couldn’t have just be an ordinary man. Napoleon was quoted as saying, “I know men and Jesus Christ is no mere man.”

The crowd was confused. But Jesus was really more interested in what His disciples thought so He asked a second question. This is the question that I want to focus on this morning.

“But what about you?’ he asked. Who do you say that I am?’” (Matthew 16:15)

The Greek of this sentence is very strong. “You” is at the head of the sentence for emphasis and then in the body of the sentence again. It was an intensely personal question, directed right at the disciples that required a personal answer.

Time for the DTR

In every relationship there comes a time for what the students call the “DTR” talk- “define the relationship.” This is an awkward conversation when the couple has to define what they mean to each other. Are they just friends? More? Is she “the one?” Here’s one thing that’s for sure. Before you propose you need to know this information. 12

That’s one of the reasons I asked Maxine to marry me in a hot air balloon. If she said no, I could always throw her overboard!

For three years, this group had followed Jesus and watched Him. They saw Him up-close and personal. They saw His miracles and heard Him pray.

Now it was time for their final exam. Peter speaks for the group and gives the answer that changed their direction geographically. After this event, Jesus resolutely heads south toward Jerusalem and to the cross. This question also changed the course of history.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Peter’s Confession

Peter’s spoke for the group and his words still echo through history. Jesus was not John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah. He was the promised Messiah or “Anointed One” on which all the Old Testament hopes had been placed.

Peter calls Him the “Christ” -the Greek word for Messiah. This was not Jesus’ last name but title that described Jesus’ mission of salvation.

He also calls Him “the Son of the Living God.” Jesus was no mere man. He was the unique God-Man.

Although Peter’s confession was correct it was not complete. All the disciples had been raised with an expectation of the Christ. The only problem is they completely misunderstood who the Christ would be.

They were looking for a great military leader like George Washington, a great political leader like Abraham Lincoln, and a great reformer like Martin Luther King Jr. all rolled up into one person.

Instead, the Messiah came and many people missed Him completely.

He was a Carpenter (Mt 13:55) instead of a Conqueror. One of the sources I read said that when the Messiah came the “hills would run red with blood.” But Jesus did not mass an army or initiate a military campaign. In fact, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be a normal guy who wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. (Isaiah 53:2)

He was a Healer (Mt 14:14) instead of a Political Hero. Instead of being a political hero that would overthrow Rome he was a homeless healer who made blind people see, deaf people hear, lame people walk, and dead people, well, not dead! But this should not have surprised anyone who knew that Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would do these very things. (Isaiah 35:5)

He was a “Illegitimate” child of peasants instead of child of imperial birth. Don’t think for a second that people did not know the rumors that swirled around the young couple from Nazareth. Jesus grew up having to deal with whispers and cruel looks from those who thought he was a product of a sinful situation. Everyone knew that Mary couldn’t be a virgin. How could such a kid be Israel’s King? Unless the prophesies of Isaiah that said the Messiah wold be born of a virgin were true. (Isaiah 7:14)

He was a Suffering Servant instead of a Sovereign King who would overthrow Rome. Most Jews could not handle the thought of the Messiah being massacred. But as students of the Scriptures, they should have known the prophetic words of Isaiah about the suffering Messiah. (Isaiah 53:3-5)

He was a Teacher who loved sinners instead of a rabbi who loved traditions. Jesus was so different from the other religious figures of His time. The religious leaders cared more for God’s rules than God’s heart. They were heartless rule keepers who thought their actions secured their right standing with God. Those who did not adhere to all their rules were deemed “sinners” and worthy of their judgement.

Jesus constantly broke the rules by cavorting with sinners. He ate with tax-collectors. He hung out with the riff-raff. He prayed with prostitutes. He was the strangest rabbi people had ever met. And the “sinners” loved Him. They flocked to Him. Jesus understood that lost people matter to God. The Pharisees could not believe that the Messiah would sit in the company of sinners, especially Gentiles. But didn’t they remember that Isaiah wrote the Messiah would minister to all the nations? (Isaiah 42:1)

They missed the point and many of them missed their chance. They were close, but close doesn’t count.

Once, while playing golf, I hit one of the most amazing shots I’ve ever hit. I crushed the ball off the tee and it disappeared over the hill. I walked up and peered over the rise. My ball was on the green about three feet from the hole. It’s important to understand that I am not a very good golfer. I did a little gig as my friend Karl stood beside me. He allowed me to enjoy myself and then said, “That’s an amazing shot. But that green is seventeen. We are currently playing hole one. That green is way over there.” I was so close but on a different green.

Jesus is My Home Boy?

In our culture there is great misunderstanding of who Jesus is, although according to a recent Gallup poll 82% of Americans report they are Christians. If you type the words “Jesus Christ” into Google you get fifty-five million hits! You can find everything from evangelistic sites to sites to buy Jesus dolls that quote Scripture.

Some people wear t-shirts proclaiming Jesus to be their “home boy.” Others consider Jesus little more than a first century illusionist like Chriss Angel. His name is used as a curse word often in today’s movies. Interestingly, Jesus shows up in a lot of popular music.

Kid Rock, the hip hop/rocker/bad boy, just released his new CD entitled “Rock and Roll Jesus.” Listen to these engaging lyrics:

Testify/It’s a Rock revival

Don’t need a suit

Ya don’t need a bible

Get up and dance

I’m gonna set you free yeah

Testify/It’s all sex, drugs, rock n roll

A soul sensation that you can’t control

And you can see I practice what I preach

I’m your rock n roll Jesus

Yes I am

He ends the song with a command to “get on your knees” because “I’m your rock and roll Jesus.” By the way, it may interest you to know that this CD was number one on the Billboards for five straight weeks.

Isn’t it obvious that our culture is very confused about who Jesus is? Unfortunately, it’s not just the culture but the church as well.

In a recent study of teenagers, of which 70% were active in a church youth group, and 82% identified themselves as Christians, George Barna found:

“87% of the students believed Jesus was a real person who came to earth, and 78% believed He was born of a virgin, yet nearly half (46%) believed He committed sins and over half (51%) said He died but did not rise from the grave.” (Quoted in “ReThink: Is Student Ministry Working?” by Steve Wright)

Before we start shaking our heads at the students, we need to look at our own faith. Newsweek and Beliefnet.com asked 1,004 American adults this question: “Can a good person who does not share your religious beliefs attain salvation or go to heaven?” Sixty-eight percent of evangelical Protestants said yes.” (Quoted in ReThink)

That’s us folks!

Jesus said it this way, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)

At Pontiac Bible Church, our Statement of Belief is strong and unwavering:

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten, virgin-born Son of God (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35, John 3:16). He is eternally one of the Godhead (Matthew 16:16, John 10:30, Matthew 17:5, John 1:1-3, John 1:14, John 14:9, Philippians 2:6). He became man and was the only sinless one among, men, without ceasing to be God (Hebrews 4:15, II Corinthians 5:21). He came to seek and to save the lost and to call out a people for Himself (Luke 19:10, Titus 2:14). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25, I Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7)

Matthew records that Jesus had a mission:

“From that time on [after Peter’s confession] Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Matthew 16:21)

He went to Jerusalem with you on His mind. He went to the cross with you in His heart.

“For God so loved [you] that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Liar, Lunatic, Lord

With His question, Jesus pushes for a personal decision. Who do YOU say that I am? Not Kid Rock or the person sitting next to you. You. What will be your decision about Jesus?

In the Christian classic, “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis gives three possible responses one could have to Jesus - He was either a “liar. lunatic, or Lord.” I’ll add one more - that he was a legend who didn’t exist at all.

* Some say that Jesus is a legend, a myth, made up by Biblical writers. This view is held by very few people due to the evidence, Biblical and extra-Biblical, of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

* Some say He was a liar. C.S. Lewis cautions us not to call Him “just a good moral teacher” because a good moral teacher wouldn’t tell the “whoppers” [lies] that Jesus told. If you read the Scriptures closely, you will be drawn to Jesus as the most truthful person who ever lived. He certainly was not a liar.

* Some say He was a lunatic, “on the level of a man who thinks himself a poached egg” in Lewis’ words. If you read the Scriptures, Jesus does not come off as a madman but as a very intelligent, rational person.

* Another option is to agree that Jesus was exactly who He said He was - the promised Messiah, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

At the age of 21, after considering the claims of Christ, I made my decision. Jesus was exactly who He said He was. I called Jesus my “Lord.”

Two Action Steps

Paul wrote this to the church at Rome:

“If you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

To confess Jesus as Lord means to bow your knee as well as your head. It is to admit that you can not do this on your own and you willingly submit to Jesus to be the forgiver and leader of your life.

To believe that God raised Him from the dead is to believe the impossible. Dead people don’t come back. But Jesus did. To affirm this truth means that nothing is impossible for God to do. That addiction or habit? That situation or person? That insurmountable hill that you keep trying to climb? If God can raise Jesus from the dead, don’t you think He can handle your issues? It is a matter of putting your faith and trust in Him.

The story is told of a man who wowed people by walking a tight rope back and forth across Niagara Falls. As he got to one said, everyone clapped. He had a wheel barrow waiting and asked the crowd if they believed that he could walk across the Falls with the wheel barrow. Everyone heartily agreed. The man then approached a gentleman in the crowd and asked him personally of he thought he could do it. Without hesitation, the man said that he believed. The performer then smiled and politely asked the man to get in the wheel barrow. The man refused and walked away.

It’s one thing to believe with your head but God wants your heart.

So here’s the question for you? It’s a question that could change your direction. Are you a Christian?

Did you notice I did not ask you if you:

*regularly attend church

*if you have been baptized. Baptism is something you do after you are a Christian as an act of obedience to Jesus’ command. (By the way, if you are a Christian and have never been baptized, we are having a baptism ceremony next Sunday at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church.)

*had ever walked an aisle, signed a card, or raised your hand.

*if you were religious. Hell will be full of religious people.

I asked if you are a Christian.

The reason I put it this way is because I had done each of those things. I had attended church. I had raised my hand, walked an aisle, and been baptized on Easter morning when I was 14 years old. But I was not a Christian.

Many of you know that I walked into an armed robbery when I was twenty years old and had a very big gun pointed towards me. I thought for sure I was about to die. It was in that moment that I also knew for sure I was not a Christian.

I had walked through the hoops but nothing had happened in my heart. I had never surrendered my life to Jesus.

Have you

*admitted you are a sinner? We are sinners. That means to miss the mark. Romans 3:23 says that “we all fall short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 59:2 tells us that our sin separates us from God. There is a gulf between us that we can not cross. Some people try to build a bridge by doing good deeds. But you can not never hop high enough for God’s glory. In reality, you are totally hopeless. More than that, sin has to be paid for and you can’t pay the debt. Romans 6:23: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

*confessed Christ as your Savior? While we could not reach Him, and we were enemies of God, He reached down to us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This is an amazing gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) that we did not deserve. Jesus died for you in your place to pay the penalty for your sin.

*Surrendered everything to Him? Romans 12:1 tells us the ultimate act of worship is to be a “living sacrifice.” This is a complete surrender of our goals, dreams, and hopes to God. It is an attitude of “God, You have control of me. Use me in whatever way would bring You the most glory.” I John 1:12 tells us that “to all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus was on a rescue mission, not to deliver the Israelites from bondage to the Romans, but to free the entire human race from the bondage of sin and death.

I can not make you become a Christian. Even Jesus tells Peter that his confession was something that he did not come up with on His own:

“...Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)

It is only by the Holy Spirit opening your spiritual ears you can hear the voice of God calling to you to be saved.(1 Cor 2:10-15) All I can do is share with you the greatest news ever told and pray that God does the rest.

[Prayer]

Please Tell Me

My second challenge is for those of us who have answered the question already.

If you are a Christ-Follower this morning, then here’s my challenge.

Are you sharing your faith in Jesus with your friends, family, and co-workers? Are you reaching out to them, loving them, listening to them, serving them?

We are commanded to share our love for Jesus. Jesus never commands his disciples to pray or worship. He commands us to Dare to Share!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

People are watching us and they are waiting for you to tell them. Don’t take my word for it. Listen to her.

Video - Evangelism

Looking for Hope at Christmas

On December 23, we are having a Christmas outreach at Pontiac Township High School Auditorium. It is your opportunity to invite your non-Christian friend, family member, or co-worker to a service designed specifically for them. It’s call “Finding Hope at Christmas.” The morning will have drama, music, and a message of hope.

Here’s the challenge. We are going to print 8,000 of these door hanger invitations and we want to hang one on every door of Livingston County! Is that a big goal? Yes. Can PBC do it? Yes!

Why? Because people far from God matter to Him and they should matter to us!

In your bulletin, there is a card that I’m going to ask you to fill out. Think about a friend, a family member, a co-worker that you can invite to this service. Then leave the last line blank. “GTP” stands for God Thing Person - a person you may not even know yet but God will direct them into your path for an invitation.

As you fill these out, I’m going to ask Lena, Jessi, and Alli to come up. These three students are songwriters and have formed a band called “Reality.” At the fall retreat, they came to me and told me that they had written a song in response to the question, “Who do you say that I am?” When they shared it with the group, we were blown away. I’ve asked them end our service with this song. As they sing, use it as a time to think about the question, “Who do you say that I am?”