"WHO is Jesus"
LUKE CHAPTER 9
INTRODUCTION
Our society as a whole and many people in our society are going through an identity crisis. The question many people are asking is who am I. And many in an effort to answer that question go on a journey to find themselves -- maybe a physical journey, a relationship or . Or they go to a psychologist who may help them answer this question as to their identity.
But I am convinced that this is the wrong question to be asking. Over 3,000 years ago an 80 year old men standing on a mountain in the Sinai desert ask them question.
Moses was standing before the burning bush -- his sandals were off because he was standing on holy ground. And God told Moses that he had been chosen to deliver God’s people from Egypt. "BUT MOSES SAID TO GOD, `WHO AM I THAT I SHOULD GO TO PHARAOH AND BRING THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT..’"
And God did not answer Moses question as to his identity, but rather told moses that the God who is will be with him. You see, man’s fundamental problem is not a "self identity crisis" -- it is a God identity crisis -- If we want to know who we are -- then we need to know who God is.... When we find out who God is -- then and only then will we know who we are...
The great year of Jesus’ popularity was drawing to a close. Jesus was now entering the 3rd and final year of His earthy ministry -- and even now as Luke chapter 9 opens up the dark storm clouds of opposition are clearly visible on the horizon... It was time form lines to be drawn and sides to be chosen. And the central question in the minds of every one from the adoring multitudes, the frightened religious aristocracy and the still struggling disciples - is WHO IS THIS MAN CALLED JESUS...
The title for our lesson today is the most important question ever to be asked -- this question was asked by Jesus 2,000 years ago -- and it is still be asked today WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
This question has to do with their identity of Jesus -- and it Luke chapter 9 -- we see 9 snap shots or scenes that point to the answer..
I. THE SENDING (9:1-6)
For 2 years the disciples had been soaking up the "class room" lectures of Jesus -- now they are being sent out on their first "field trip" all on their own. Now they are being called by Jesus to put into practice, without the close supervision of their teacher, the principles they had been taught... Jesus knew that their is no real way to learn to do evangelism but to simply do it! And so the 12 in groups of 2 went from village to village preaching the kingdom of God and healing people everywhere -- I bet that was pretty cool, don’t you?
But what does this first snap shot tell us about Jesus identity... Well if Jesus gave the 12 power and authority it must mean that Jesus has power and authority -- and that he has the ability to pass on it... Some of Jesus final words to His disciples were, "ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME...."
>>> WHO IS JESUS? THE ONE WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY...<<<
II. I’VE CALLED THE NEXT SNAP SHOT THE TRYING (7-9)
Herod had heard about all that was going on (and there was a lot going on -- dead raised, leprosy healed, blind eyes opened, lame legs walking and religious leaders humiliated). Apparently everyone was wondering about the identity of this man Jesus, just who is He? And Herod was no exception; "I BEHEADED JOHN. WHO THEN, IS THIS I HEAR SUCH THINGS ABOUT?"
And then Luke records 6 words that tell us something about the identity of Jesus... AND HE "TRIED" TO SEE HIM.
Did Herod see Jesus at this time? No, he tried -- but he could not. Why do you think Herod wanted to see Jesus? What do you think his motives were, were they pure? No I imagine he had the same reception planned for Jesus that he had given John, the edge of an axe...
Do you remember these words that Jesus spoke on the sermon on the mount? "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD..."
Herod’s motives and his heart kept him from seeing Jesus.
And Herod was not the last person to be unable to see Jesus -- some today like Herod have the wrong motives for wanting to se Jesus -- they view Jesus as a jennie in a lamb or a lucky rabbit’s foot and only want to see Him when they want some thing form Him -- and they will not see Him.
Others like Herod don’t see Jesus because their heart is impure -- they are living in sin.... And you can see Jesus, you can’t be in His presence with unrepentant sin in your life... Gods word read in II Cor 4:4; "THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED, THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS (WITH SIN) , SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD."
>>>> WHO IS JESUS
<<<<
III. THE FEEDING (10-17)
10,11 -- returned from where? preaching healing
-- Mark tells us in His account that they got into a boat to get away from the crowds because the 12 needed to get some rest. SO THEY LEFT HEADING FOR A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD BE ALONE. But some people saw them leaving and recognized them and people then ran on foot from all the surrounding towns and they got there ahead of the boat. So when they landed there was a huge crowd gathered already -- and when Jesus saw them he had compassion on them because they were like lost sheep w/o a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
11 -- 12 - the 12 even after all they had seen Jesus do and say and even after all they themselves had done -- they still were confused about Jesus’ identity (remember they had just come back from going form village to village preaching the kingdom and healing diseases) -- but even after all of that they didn’t even consider that Jesus could possibly be the solution to the problem they were facing -- I imagine they thought that this problem was just too big even for Jesus (not unlike many people today).
13 - 17; Jesus took 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed over 5,000 people... And had 12 baskets full of leftovers.
WHAT DOES THIS EVENT TELL US ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF JESUS -- IT TELLS US MANY THINGS: WHO IS JESUS?
1) HE IS THE ONE WHO IS NEVER TO BUSY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE
2) HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS GRETA COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND WANDERING -- SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD.
3) AND JESUS IS THE ONE CAN DO GREAT THINGS EVEN WITH A VERY LITTLE AND EVEN IN A REMOTE PLACE... YOU SEE, IT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE OR WHERE WE ARE -- IT IS WHETHER WE HUMBLY MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE O HE KING...
IV. THE MISSING
In Luke’s account there are some things left out between verses 17 and 18...
Luke didn’t tell us (as a matter of fact only John does) that after Jesus preformed this great miracle of feeding 5,000 -- that people intended to come and make Jesus King by force -- and Jesus knowing there intentions withdrew to a mountain by himself...
And the next the 12 saw him it was dark -- a strong wind was blowing and the sea had become rough - and they were battling with their oars with all of their might to get to the other side... And suddenly they saw a figure walking on the water towards their boat. At first they were afraid, but when Jesus told them who it was they were willing to take him into the boat... And once Jesus was inside the boat as the word of God tells us in John 6, the boat immediately arrived at the shore the 12 were desperaTely trying to reach....
When they arrived the crowd that had ben fed just the other day found him -- and it was then that jesus preached that great sermon telling how he was the bread of life -- and how people must fed on him if they want eternal life -- it was a hard teaching and after it -- the multitudes left him and no longer followed him -- and Jesus turned to the 12 and said are you guys leaving too... To which Peter replied to who say we go -- you have the words of eternal life.. And we know you are the Holy one of God.
And from there Jesus had some heated encounters with the Jewish leaders they demanded a sign form Jesus to prove who he was -- but Jesus refused... and walked away from this confrontation, gets into a boat and heads across the Sea of Galilee Toward the northeast taking His disciples with Him...
What must have been going through the disciples minds -- they had seen so much in this two years -- Jesus had done many miraculous things -- the whole country is in an uproar trying to figure out just who He is... But if Jesus is the Messiah -- The King -- why did he refuse the crown from the 5,000 and why did he not give those Pharisees a sign -- why did he just walk away... It may have seemed to them that Jesus was retreating...
Jesus knew this was a critical point in Hi whole earthy ministry. Things were about to change -- from this point on Jesus’ popularity would be replaced with rejection and opposition. The road was abut to get tough and the 12 needed to understand just who Jesus is. Not what the tides of public opinion were saying but they need to know who He really was....
WHAT DOES THE MISSING TELLS US ABUT JESUS?
1) THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS INCREDIBLE POWER -- WALKING ON WATER -- TRANSPORTING A BOAT --
2) BUT IT ALSO TELLS US THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO IS NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE DETERMINE WHO HE IS -- NOT THE CROWDS AND NOT THE JEWISH LEADERS...
V. THE CONFESSING (18-27)
18-20 -- MATTHEW ADDS THE FOLLOWING, "BLESSED ARE YOU SIMON SON OF JONAH, FOR THIS WAS NOT REVEALED TO YOU BY MAN, BUT BY MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. AND I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK (THIS TRUTH THAT I AM THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD) I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT OVERCOME IT..."
21-27
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT JESUS -- HOW DOES THIS EVENT HELP ANSWER THE QUESTION AS TO JESUS’ IDENTITY?
1) IT TELLS US THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST -- THE PROMISED ONE -- THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.... THAT HE IS GOD HIMSELF -- THE ONE WHO CREATE THIS WORLD WITH A WORD -- THE ONE WHO IS IN CONTROL AND WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER -- THE ONE WHO FORMED US IN THE WOMB WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT -- WHAT WE THINK WHAT WE SAY ND WHAT WE DO -- YES, JESUS IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US -- BUT YET, HE STILL LOVES US.
2) AND JESUS IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH -- THE CHURCH IS HIS IT IS NOT OURS -- IT IS NOT THE PREACHERS, THE ELDERS OR THE MEMBERS -- IT IS HIS -- IT IS HIS BODY... IT BELONGS TO HIM AND IT IS PRECIOUS TO HIM..... IT IS HIS BRIDE -- IT WAS BOUGHT WITH A PRICE -- A VERY HIGH PRICE... AND WE ARE SO BLESSED SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BE A APART OF THIS BODY -- TO BE A PART OF CHRIST -- LET’S NOT TAKE THIS PRIVILEGE FOR GRANTED OR TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY... JESUS IS THE CHURCH AND IT IS JESUS WHO WILL BUILD THIS CHURCH... IT IS NOT BUILT BY MAN’S MIGHT OR MAN,S ABILITY BUT BY GOD’S SPIRIT/POWER, AS HIS PEOPLE HUMBLY SUBMIT TO HIS LORDSHIP, AND DO HIS WILL.
3) AND NOT ONLY DOES THIS EVENT TELL US WHO JESUS IS -- BUT IT ALSO TELL US WHO WE ARE -- THAT IS IF WE ARE TRULY HIS FOLLOWERS.... YOU SEE, THOSE WHO CONFESS THAT JESUS IS "THE CHRIST" -- IF THEY REALLY WANT TO BE JESUS FOLLOWERS, MUST NOT MERELY CONFESS HE IS THE CHRIST WITH THEIR LIPS -- BUT THEY MUST CONFESS HE IS THE CHRIST WITH THEIR LIVES...
AND IF WE ARE FOLLOWERS --- WE ARE DEAD -- YOU SEE, WE HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... AND WE NO LONGER LIVE....
YES, THOSE WHO ARE TRULY JESUS FOLLOWERS WILL PICK UP THEIR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW HIM.... THEY WILL DAILY DIE TO SELF -- THEY WILL DENT THEMSELVES -- AND DIE TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO --- DIE TO THEIR DESIRES....
YES, THEY WILL DAILY CRUCIFY SELF ON THE CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS...
AND IT ONLY WHEN WE DO THIS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING JESUS -- WE CAN’T SERVE GOD AND SELF AT THE SAME TIME....
AND THOUGH HARD, THIS TEACHING IS TRUE -- BECAUSE IT IS THE TEACHING OF CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.....
WHO IS JESUS -- THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD
WHO IS JESUS -- THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH
WHO IS JESUS -- THE ONE WHO DEMANDS THAT HIS FOLLOWERS DIE TO SELF PICK UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM DAILY... CONFESS HIM WITH THEIR LIPS AND LIVES..
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?
DOES YOUR LIFE MATCH YOUR CONFESSION?
VI. THE TRANSFIGURING (28-35)
8 DAYS EARLIER THE 12 HAD MADE THE GRETA CONFESSION AS TO THE IDENTITY OF JESUS -- THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING JESUS SAID AT THAT TIME THAT MUST HAVE CONFUSED THE DISCIPLES -- HE SAID THAT HE MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS -- BE REJECTED AND THEN KILLED....
THOUGH JESUS SAID THOSE WORDS I DON’T THINK THEY REALLY HEARD THEM -- IT WASN’T WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR...
FOR THE 12 TO SEE JESUS AS THE CHRIST -- AND THEN TO ALSO SEE THE OPPOSITION, REJECTION AND SUFFERING THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BRING COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THE 12 TO THINK THEY WERE WRONG... IT WOULDN’T MAKE SENSE FROM THEIR HUMAN VANTAGE POINT.
SO JESUS TOOK JAMES, JOHN AND PETER UP ON A MOUNTAIN AND ON THAT MOUNTAIN THEY SAW HIS GLORY AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD FROM WITHIN A CLOUD THAT HAD ENVELOPED THEM SAY "THIS IS MY SON LISTEN TO HIM.." HIS WORDS ARE TRUE... HIS PLAN IS MY PLAN.
BY THIS EVENT WAS NOT JUST FOR THE DISCIPLES -- IT WAS ALSO FOR JESUS....
Though Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God -- we must never forget that Jesus was also 100% man. And the Transfiguration was event designed to encourage Jesus... Does this mean that Jesus was discouraged. To picture Jesus is this way is uncomfortable... But Jesus knew what was ahead... He knew what he must endure -- and it was not easy for Him. He did not simply skip and hum His favorite tune during those events -- he suffered....
Listen to
PSALM 22: 1-2, 6-7, 12-17
ISAIAH 53: 3-10a
How do you think Jesus felt when he read those passages...
How do you think he felt when he saw a lamb
being led to the temple for sacrifice/when He celebrated the passover knowing that he was the true passover lamb? What thoughts went through His mind when in the carpenters shop, he found himself driving large nails into a piece of wood? What did Jesus feel when he washed those feet and hands that He knew would one day be so brutally pierced?
Because Jesus was God, He knew all to well what he was about to go through, and because He was a man Jesus suffered....
So God sent 2 great man to encourage Him, men who knew the anguish of discouragement, but who also knew the blessings of glory... Moses and Elijah met Jesus on the mountain and they spoke with Jesus about what was going to happen to Him/His departure.
And not only did they encourage Jesus, but God encouraged Jesus as well with His words, "THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE, WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED... LISTEN TO HIM!"
The Father’s affirmation of His pleasure in His son, would warm the heart of Jesus and encourage Him during His lonely mission among cruel, unfaithful and unsympathetic men..."
Someone has compared this encouragement by God in this way... Suppose you are an expert pilot flying through a storm tossed night.... your instruments are not working to well, you can see no visible landmarks... And then suddenly a voice comes over the radio -- we’ve picked you up on radar friend -- and you are right on course..."
What does this event reveal to us about the identity of Jesus?
1) WHO IS JESUS -- HE IS THE SON -- THE ONE WHOM THE FATHER LOVES AND IS WELL PLEASED -- HE IS THE ONE WE ARE TO LISTEN TO.
2) WHO IS JESUS -- THOUGH 100% GOD >> HE WAS ALSO 100% MAN -- HE IS GOD -- AND GOD CAME NEAR... HE LIVED AMONG US... HE GOT TIRED, AND AT TIMES HIS HEAD ACHED AND HIS STOMACH HURT... JESUS FELT THE HEARTACHE OF BEING LET DOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN -- BY THOSE WHO HE CARED SO MUCH ABOUT. JESUS KNEW PAIN, DISAPPOINTMENT, DISCOURAGEMENT, HE WEPT AT HIS FRIENDS FUNERAL -- AND HE SUFFERED. WHO IS JESUS? HE IS SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH -- HE’S BEEN THERE... HE HAS EXPERIENCED IT... YES, GOD CAME NEAR.... HE WAS HERE... HE KNOWS.... HE UNDERSTANDS....
"THEREFORE WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE HAVE ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY JUST AS WE ARE -- YET WITHOUT SIN... LET US THEN APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, SO THAT WE AMY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED..." 3) WHO IS JESUS -- HE IS THE ONE THAT IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON COURSE, AND IF WE FLY WITH HIM WE WILL BE ON COURSE AS WELL.
VII. THE PARADOX (46-48)
Let’s put this event in it’s context; in the preceding verses we see Jesus healing a young boy who had an evil spirit. And while the crowd that was gathered marveled at this miracle, Jesus turned to the 12 and said, "LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU THE SON OF MAN IS GOING TO BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN." JESUS TOLD THEM OF SOON COMING DEATH...
AND FROM THERE THEY TRAVELED TO CAPERNAUM... AND WHILE ON THE ROAD THE DISCIPLES STARTED TO ARGUE AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST. AND IT WAS THEIR DESIRE TO BE THE GREATEST THAT KEPT THEM FROM SEEING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM, AND FROM UNDERSTANDING WHAT JESUS HAD JUST SAID ABOUT HIS DEATH.
You see, The 12 still had false conceptions about the Kingdom of God -- And since they believed it to be a physical Kingdom of Christ’s rule on earth they began jockeying for position... They were interested in power, position and prestige.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts -- when they arrived at the house asked them, "WHAT WERE YOU GUYS ARGUING ABOUT ON THE ROAD?" AND MARK TELLS THEY DIDN’T ANSWER -- BUT KEPT QUIET BECAUSE ON THE WAY THEY HAD ARGUED ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST.."
So Jesus took a small child and had that child stand beside him... AND SAID, "WHOEVER WELCOMES THIS LITTLE CHILD IN MY NAME WELCOMES ME -- AND WHOEVER WELCOMES ME WELCOMES THE ONE WHO SENT ME. FOR HE WHO IS LEAST AMONG YOU ALL -- HE IS THE GREATEST..."
Now, Serving a child may not seem like the way to climb to the halls of greatness... What power does a child have -- what boost could a child possibly give to one’s climb up the ladder of prestige and position.. Serving a King would make sense -- He could lift you up -- but serving a child, what value does that have?
But You see, those who serve children are not after power an prestige -- they are true servants --- they are not serving to get but rather they are serving to give....
WHO IS JESUS >> HE IS THE ONE WHO DESIRES HUMBLE SERVANTS -- THOSE WHO SERVE TO GIVE AND NOT TO GET!! THOSE WHO WOULD WELCOME & SERVE CHILDREN.
VIII. THE RESOLUTION (51)
The time was approaching -- the end was near. For 32 years Jesus had known this time would come. It all began in the womb of a virgin girl named Mary... and now Jesus knows it is time for him to head to Jerusalem, and JESUS is well aware of what awaited Him... rejections, beatings, and death. But Nevertheless Jesus resolutely sets out for Jerusalem... The literal translation of the greek is more powerful and would read like this, HE SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM...
THIS is a powerful moment, an emotional event, as He turns his face for the final steps in His divine journey and His destiny on Calvary... Jesus with fierce determination resolved to stand up against all opposition -- in order to see His task through to the very bitter and cruel end...
No one made Jesus go -- He set His own face towards that city/cross/death...
Jesus made what we could say was a resolution.... He resolved to go to Jerusalem... And he went! Was the road to Jerusalem easy... No it was not.... Did he get tired? Was he ever afraid? Did he feel lonely? Did the cross he was called to bear ever feel like it was beyond His own strength to carry? yes, yes, yes and yes!
What an example Jesus sets here for us -- about keeping our resolutions/word.... How many times have we resolved to serve God -- to really do His work.... to really spend time with Him --- but when the going gets tough/requires more time and effort then we are willing to give far too many simply quit/just drop their cross in the dust and go home -- and they do not do, what they said they would.....
May we all be like Jesus and --- may we really set our face to a real and deeper relationship with Him... May we be willing to follow in His footsteps and pick up our cross daily and follow Him.... until the time for our own departure, comes...
WHO IS JESUS?
1) THE ONE WHO SET HIS FACE TOWARDS HIS CROSS AND WAS OBEDIENT EVEN UNTO DEATH
2) THE ONE WHO TEACHES AND CHALLENGES US TO SET OUR FACE TOWARDS OUR CROSS -- TO KEEP OUR RESOLUTIONS.
IX THE PLOW (57-62)
(REDEMPTION COST JESUS HIS LIFE -- AND JESUS IS HERE MAKING IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT DISCIPLESHIP HAS A COST AS WELL)
The first man they encountered on the road -- was very self confident -- Jesus I will follow you where ever you go... But he was not even aware of where Jesus was going.... He did not realize that Jesus had just set His face to Jerusalem.. And was not on any sight seeing tour; Jesus was headed for a cross of shame! Thus in light of where Jesus was going this young volunteer must examine himself/count the cost... Does he wish to go to the cross with Jesus? Jesus came into this world to gain disciples. But he would only invite those who knew the cost and who would freely take the cross as their calling -- and deny self. Jesus is telling the man yes I want you to follow me -- but you need to know that you can not follow me where I am going and avoid the cross/inconvenience/commitment!
The second man was invited but wanted to bury his father first -- now his father was not dead he meant that he needed to care for him until he did die. In essence he is saying, "I want to follow you but I have a prior social obligation." And Jesus taught him and us that to follow Jesus He and His kingdom must be our first - #1 - primary obligation.
The 3rd man was distracted....
And Jesus said to him -- "NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD..."
CLINGING TO HUMAN TIES OR EARTHLY ASSOCIATIONS OR LOOKING BACK AND LONGING FOR THEM, UNTIL THEY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, MAKES A MAN UNFIT FOR DISCIPLESHIP...
THOSE WHO WISH CITIZENSHIP IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD -- MUST COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP AND accept THE FACT OF JESUS’ LORDSHIP. THEY MUST LEARN TO SURRENDER ALL THOUGHTS, BODIES, FAMILIES, POSSESSIONS TO HIS COMMAND. IMPULSIVE DISCIPLESHIP BASED ON EMOTIONS IS UNCONTROLLED UNSATISFACTORY, AND PUTTING ANYTHING OR ANYONE ON A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE TO JESUS IS IRREVERENCE AND SIN. AND JESUS WILL HAVE NONE OF THAT.
WHY? BECAUSE DIVIDE LOYALTY SAVES NO MAN’S SOUL. SALVATION IS AFFORDED ONLY TO THOSE WHO COMPLETELY TRUST IN CHRIST.
WHO IS JESUS? HE IS THE ONE THE DEMANDS HIS FOLLOWERS GO WHEREVER HE LEADS, PICKING UP THEIR CROSS AND NOT LOOKING BACK...
IF JESUS WAS HERE TODAY IN THE FLESH HE MIGHT ASK WHO DO THE CROWDS SAY THAT I AM?
AND WE MIGHT ANSWER;
1) SOME SAY YOU ARE JUST A GREAT TEACHER?
2) SOME SAY YOUR NO MORE THAN A JEENIE IN A LAMP CATERING TO THEIR EVERY NEED.
3) OTHERS SAY THAT YOU CAME TO FREELY SAVE US FROM SIN BUT THAT YOU REQUIRE NOTHING FROM US.....
4) AND STILL OTHERS SAY THAT YOU ARE A REAL NICE EASY GOING GUY WHO LET’S PEOPLE GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING AS LONG AS THEY ARE HAPPY...
AND THEN HE MIGHT TURN AND LOOK RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES... HIS STARE READING YOUR VERY HEART..
"BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM..."
