We read in Matthew 16:13, Now after coming into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples, saying, "Who do men declare Me, the Son of man, to be?" (AFV)
The above was the question that Jesus asked His disciples. Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs and wonders amongst the people, and therefore wanted to find out what people’s perception of Him was.
This is a crucial question, and one that every person should be able to answer for themselves. So many people have missed out on numerous blessings in their lives, simply because they have not comprehended who Jesus truly is.
Who is this Jesus?
I hope that by the end of this sermon, you would have been able to receive an appropriate answer to this question.
The perception of the people
The question Jesus posed to His disciples was, “Who do men declare Me, the Son of man, to be?”
This was the reply the disciples gave Jesus in Matthew 16:14, And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." (AFV)
Among the people there was a wide spread belief that Jesus was one of the prophets. If this was so, then like all other prophets, Jesus too would have been born, lived on earth and died. His life would have ended, just like any one of those prophets. As human beings everyone has a birth date and a death date, which signifies the length of our life span here on earth.
Jesus then asked a further question to his disciples in Matthew 16:15, He said to them, "But you, who do you declare Me to be?" (AFV)
The disciples of Jesus had been with Him, observed His life closely on a daily basis, experienced all the wonderful miracles He performed, and therefore the question was now posed to them as to who they thought Jesus really was. There are many leaders who have dichotomous lives and can never tell their followers to live as they do. However, Jesus was totally open with His disciples, and there was nothing that was hidden from them, for He lived a life of total holiness.
The confession of Peter
This was the reply that Peter gave to Jesus as recorded in Matthew 16:16, Then Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (AFV)
When Jesus asked the disciples about people’s opinion of Him, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man. However, in this response to Jesus, Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus was born on this earth as the Son of God.
If we were to compare Jesus with every other human being who was born in the past, present or future, Jesus is transcendent and unmatched. Peter not only said Jesus was the Son of the Living God, He also referred to Jesus as the Christ, which meant ‘anointed one.’ In those days when a man was chosen to be king, they had a tradition of anointing the person with oil, and thereby declared him to be a king. Jesus was born a king, was a king even before He came down to the earth and will always be a king.
Jesus was born a King
When Jesus was born, there were some wise men who came seeking after Him, and this was the question they asked in Matthew 2:2, They asked people, "Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him." (ERV)
Jesus was a king whose birth was announced by a star that shone in the east. Those astronomers who studied the stars in the sky, understood that a king was born. They travelled a long distance just to find this child and worship Him.
King Herod was agitated
Interestingly, when King Herod heard about the birth of Jesus this was how he reacted.
We read in Matthew 2:3, When King Herod heard about this, it upset him as well as everyone else in Jerusalem. (ERV)
King Herod who was on the throne at that time was agitated and upset. Herod must have strived hard to get to the throne, and he could not comprehend the fact that someone would be born a king. Not only was Jesus a king at birth, his kingship was evident even in His teachings. There were many teachers who taught in the days of Jesus, but Jesus was outstanding in his teachings in that He taught with authority.
Not only did He teach, Jesus also adhered to all that He taught others. Those who were struck with incurable diseases were healed instantly by Jesus. Jesus calmed the raging storm with just a word from His mouth. Jesus also drove out the demons that tormented people, with the authority of His word. He fed and satisfied more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Everything that the kings of the earth could never accomplish, Jesus did with just the power of His words.
The religious leaders who observed this were envious of Him. They could find no fault in Jesus. Jesus was completely humble and sinless. Nonetheless, these religious leaders made false allegations, and had Jesus arrested and brought before the Roman Governor Pilate for trial. This was the interesting question that Pilate asked Jesus.
This is recorded in John 18:33, Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He called for Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" (ERV)
Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this earth
When Pilate asked this question to Jesus, here was the response that Jesus gave to him.
We read in John 18:36-37, Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom is not an earthly one." Pilate said, "So you are a king." Jesus answered, "You are right to say that I am a king. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me." (ERV)
Jesus acknowledged to Pilate that He was indeed a king. Jesus was born a King, but His kingdom did not belong to this world. Jesus was explicit to Pilate that since His kingdom was not an earthly one, therefore his servants did not fight to have Him delivered from the hands of the Jewish leaders. Pilate however, could not comprehend Jesus’ claim, but He was somehow was certain that Jesus’ claims were true. No wonder then that that Pilate clarified to Jesus again by saying to Him, ‘So you are a king’? The kingdom of Jesus was not an earthly one, and that is why He could accomplish those impossible things that no earthly king or kingdom could.
We read in John 19:10, Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified." (GNB)
As the conversation between Pilate and Jesus continued, Pilate was confounded by Jesus’s silence for all the accusations made against him. Pilate wanting to show off his authority spoke harshly to Jesus when Jesus did not respond to his queries. Pilate was establishing the fact that Jesus was a Jew who was under the Roman rule, and that he had the authority to sentence him to death or to set him free.
God reigns over all
Look at this astonishing reply Jesus gave in John 19:11, Jesus answered, "You have authority over me only because it was given to you by God. So the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a worse sin." (GNB)
Jesus had to let Pilate know that his kingdom was insignificant compared to the heavenly kingdom that Jesus came from. Jesus was king over-all, and every authority on earth is subject to that heavenly kingdom where the Lord rules and reigns as King of Kings.
As we read this verse we realize the great plan of salvation that God prepared, simply to deliver man from the grips of sin. Jesus became the supreme sacrifice for the sins of all mankind as humanity was helpless, and unable to deliver themselves from the clutches of sin. Moreover, the word of God declares that the wages of sin is death. However, it is also a fact that there is life after death, and a day of judgement awaiting all of us, when we have to give an account to God. For those who have rejected this great gift of salvation that Jesus offers, they will have to face eternal separation from God, and be cast into hell forever, while the ones who believe have the hope of life eternal with the Lord in the heavens.
Jesus had to reinforce to Pilate that Pilate’s authority as Governor was nothing when compared to God’s authority, who is the supreme, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Only if God permits and grants authority can anyone on earth be able to exercise their own authority over others.
Pilate understood and was afraid
It seemed that Pilate actually perceived that Jesus was indeed a king. For suddenly, he was fearful, and this is what he did. While King Herod was upset when he heard about the birth of Jesus, we see that the Roman Governor Pilate was fearful of Jesus, before He sentenced Him to death.
We read in John 19:12, “When Pilate heard this, he tried to find a way to set Jesus free.” (GNB)
Pilate realized that the reason Jesus was being accused by the religious leaders was sheer envy. Pilate therefore tried his best to set Jesus free. This was also why Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowds, and declared that he was innocent of the blood of Jesus.
Pilate declared that Jesus was the King of the Jews
We also read in John 19:19, Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross. "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," is what he wrote. (GNB)
This was the inscription that Pilate ordered be written, and placed above the cross where Jesus was crucified, it read ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ This declaration was made by Pilate who was the Roman Governor, after his trial of Jesus. The religious leaders who accused Jesus, and had him handed over to the Roman authorities were totally flustered that Pilate had made this open declaration for all to see, and tried hard to have it changed, but to no avail.
Along with Jesus there were two other criminals who were also crucified on either side of His cross. In those final moments, this was the response of one of those criminals who hung on one side of Jesus mocked Him and said, in Luke23:39 “If you are the Son of God save yourself and us.” Here was a man who was being punished for his sins, who was looking for a miracle from Jesus even in those final moments.
The criminal who recognized a king
The other criminal responded this way in Luke 23:40-41, But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”(ESV)
In Luke 23:42 we read, Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (NKJV)
In general all people in this world can be categorized into these two groups. Those who like the first criminal are unable to accept their sins, and are seeking the Lord for personal gain, and those who like the second man, can recognize their own sins, and acknowledge Jesus is the Lord.
There were many who followed after Jesus, believed in Him, and were even His disciples when He was here on earth. However, the faith of this man who hung on that cross is astounding. He too was nailed to the cross, but somehow was able to recognize who Jesus was, and called out to Him saying ‘Lord.’ In those final moments, he was asking Jesus to remember him, when He came in His Kingdom.
We need to check ourselves to see which group we belong to. There are still many who are seeking the Lord only to receive their miracles, healings, and for the Lord to provide them with things pertaining to their life here on earth.
Here was a man who recognized who Jesus was, and therefore, he believed that Jesus would come in glory, and he hoped that Jesus would give him a place.
This was the words of assurance he received from Jesus as recorded in Luke 23:43, “And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”(ERV)
Death is the greatest leveler for there is no discrimination between the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated or a king and a pauper, for everyone will be equalized in death. Nonetheless, death could not hold Jesus down for Jesus triumphed over death.
We read in Acts 2:24, But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.(GNB)
Death could not hold Jesus down as prisoner, for He was the King of Kings. If we compare Jesus to the kings of the earth, all of their pomp, splendor, wealth, authority and majesty will vanish when they die, for death will all succumb to death. There were many who lived like kings, even they too passed away. Some of these kings might be remembered and studied in history, but all of them have birth and death dates, and there will be no way they can exercise their authority once they are dead.
Jesus however died, was buried, but because He was the sinless Son of God over whom death could not prevail, He arose bodily on the third day from the grave.
Those who went seeking for Jesus at His tomb were told this good news by the angels that “He was not there”. They went in to find that the tomb that they had laid Jesus in was empty. There is no one else who died, and rose from the dead like Jesus in the history of the entire world. This risen Lord and Saviour will heed the cry of all those who call upon Him by faith.
Let me conclude with the words of Jesus as found in John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (NKJV)
Jesus affirms that He is the resurrection and the life. No one who lived on this earth talked about their death, burial and resurrection like Jesus did, way before it all transpired. Jesus tasted death, and rose again on the third day. The assurance that Jesus gives to all those who believe in Him is that though we may die, we will surely life unto eternity. Jesus had redeemed us so that we should be saved from the torment of hell, and be found with Him for all eternity.
This was why Jesus came into this world as the Son of Man and Son of God, by whose blood our sins can be cleaned. If we believe on this resurrected Jesus, He will reign in our lives as King of Kings, and He will resurrect back to life all those things that seem to be dead in our lives. This could be our families, our future, and all those situations that seem to be hopeless in our lives. May the resurrected Jesus remain with us, remove the fear of death, and fill our lives with hope and confidence, for now and eternity.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
