“Three Questions”
January 12, 2014
Matthew 16:13-20
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some says John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Isn’t this an awesome Scripture? I can imagine being in Jesus’ little band of believers, walking the dusty road to Caesarea Philippi, stopping for a little rest break, and Jesus, always taking an opportunity to disciple, turned to them and asks this question: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Do you see how Jesus purposely causes us to think and purposely initiates dialog? Jesus was often asking questions of people like:
“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)
“What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41)
“Have you understood these things?” (Matt 13:51)
“How many loaves do you have?” (Matt 15:34)
“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” (Matt 22:42)
Why do you think Jesus did that? Don’t you believe that He already KNEW the answers to those questions? Do you think it could be to wake us from our dullness and stupor and think – really THINK? We so often get into a rut (which is another name for a grave with the ends kicked out) and don’t think about the really important things in life. General Dwight D. Eisenhower said,
“The important is seldom urgent and the urgent is seldom important.”
We spend so much time thinking and doing things that aren’t really all that important in the grand scheme of things. We need to plan times to think and meditate of the things of God. We need to get into the Word of God and really think about what we read. We need to listen to the still small voice of God. If we do that – He will speak to us. He will communicate with us.
This morning I want to ask you to think about three questions Jesus asked – as recorded in the Bible. I think these are three questions that He asks us as well. Imagine with me that Jesus is looking into your eyes. He has your complete undivided attention and you have His. And He asks you these questions.
The first is this one. “Who do YOU say I am?”
When Jesus asked this of the disciples Peter responded,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus told him that he did not say this on his own. Flesh and blood did not give him this information. God had revealed this truth to Him. Peter came to this conclusion, not intellectually by studying the Scriptures or going to the Temple or going to the local seminary. God, the Holy Spirit had revealed this awesome truth to him.
I think God will reveal truth to us as well. As we seek; as we ask; as we knock upon heaven door – we will hear the voice of God. As we learn to gaze upon the face of God He will reveal His will to us. In the Truth Project we are learning that as we look at creation; as we look at the heavens and the things God has created – He speaks to us. He reveals Himself to us. Whether it is in microbiology as we study the cell and DNA and the flagellum motor and the irreducibly complex machines that construct our cells or as we gaze up to the heavens – God speaks. God reveals Himself and His nature. (Romans 1:20)
“Who do you say I am?” Some said John the Baptist; others said Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” They were wrong. They could have said that Jesus was the Messiah; He was God incarnate; God in the human form. They could have said He was the Creator. But those ideas were too big for them. Those truths have to be revealed by God Himself. And for God to reveal Himself we have to seek.
I want to challenge you to find a quiet spot this week and get alone with God and answer this question of Jesus’ “Who do you say I am?” Don’t give the answers I gave. Give your own unique answer. For instance, the first answer that came to my mind when I give this question serious thought was – “Life”. Jesus is life to me. That answer has much meaning for me. I can go back to when I first came to the Lord because I was searching for a purpose to life. I was living in death. He gave me physical life as well as spiritual life. He gave me a life worth living. Once I lived but had no love; no joy; no peace. When Jesus came He brought it all. My life is filled with love and joy. I have a peace that the world can’t understand. I have a smile on my face and a song in my heart.
Who do ‘I’ say Jesus is? I say He is life itself. Who do YOU say He is?
Here is another question Jesus asked; 2. Do you understand what I have done?” Here is the background.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. John 13:1-12
I’m sure they didn’t. Jesus went on to explain that He did it to leave them an example. He did it to teach them to humble themselves and put others before themselves. But they didn’t get it probably until they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
I wonder how many things we don’t get. I wonder how many things we don’t see. I wonder how much we just don’t understand.
As I was meditating on this question this week I was awed by how little I didn’t get about life. Think about the incarnation and salvation and the great theological questions. But more importantly think about why God allowed certain things in your life or why He didn’t allow certain things. Medicate on why Jesus didn’t answer a particular prayer or why He allowed you to go through some trial. And try to answer His question, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”
Jesus is doing for us all the time. Every day He is at work in our lives. We are so unaware and unappreciative. Try to see His hand at work in your life and try to understand what He is doing. It should fill your heart with praise. Thanksgiving should well up within your soul. There are many reasons Jesus does what He does. For the disciples He did what He did for an example. Sometimes He does things for us to teach us something. Maybe to teach us to trust Him or teach us patience. Sometimes Jesus does something in our lives simply to bless us. He loves us and wants to see His children laugh and full of joy. There will be painful times and challenging times, but sometimes He does what He does simply to bless you.
I want to challenge you, in your quiet time, to think about what Jesus has done for you. Identify different things that Jesus has done in your life and then try to understand why He did them. When Jesus asks you if you understand what He has done, like me, you may have to say, “No, I don’t. But I want to. Teach me. Explain your purpose to me.” I think He will.
There is one last important question Jesus asks. It is: “Do you love me.” Let’s look at the context of this question.
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Do you remember the context of this event? Jesus had been crucified. Peter had denied He even knew Jesus even after vowing he would die before denying Him. But He failed. When the rooster crowed for the third time and Jesus looked at Peter, Peter wept bitterly. He must have been so ashamed.
When the women claimed that Jesus was risen from the dead, Peter was one of the first to run to the cemetery to check. When Jesus appeared to the disciples behind locked doors, Peter was there.
What must have been going through Peter’s mind? I think he felt embarrassed and ashamed. I think he was humiliated. He may have felt he had no right to follow the Lord – because He stopped. He went back to fishing. That was what he knew. That was his life.
But Jesus hunted him down for the sole purpose of restoring Him to his calling. Three times Jesus gave Him his assignment and then, once again, said, “Follow me”. (John 21:19) And Peter did. He became that rock that Jesus said he was. And I think it was because he realized that Jesus loved him. He returned that love by serving Him for the rest of his life.
How would you answer Jesus if He asked you that question? Picture Jesus looking into your eyes and tenderly asking you, “Do you love me?”
It is easy to say we do – but too many of us are making fishing our top priority instead of feeding the sheep. Do you understand what I’m saying? When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He has a purpose for us; He has a mission for us; He has a job for us. Do you know what yours is? Are you living a life of love for Jesus?
How do you respond to Jesus when He asks if you love Him? True love changes lives. When you met the guy or gal of your dreams it changed your life, didn’t it. You might have had to move from the place you lived your whole life. You may have had to quit your job or school. When you had that little bundle of joy – it changed you life – a LOT! You couldn’t do what you wanted, when you wanted, with who you wanted. You had responsibilities – because you were in love. You had commitments – because you were in love.
This week, gaze into the eyes of Jesus and respond to His query. Tell Him. Think about how you are expressing your love – or how He wants you to express your love for Him. In fact, take the time to answer these three questions of Jesus’.
1. Who do you say I am?
2. Do you understand what I have done?
3. Do you love me?
May this process cause you to draw closer to Him and love Him even more.
SONG:
