Sermon Central
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Who Do You Say I Am
Contributed by John Daniel Johnson on Aug 19, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: We’ll be looking at the most important question that had ever been asked of mankind. This question causes us to look into the mirror of our understanding. My prayer is we’ll examine our life and discover every flaw or defect and fix those problems, if any exist, before it’s too late.
3) Some thought that Jesus was Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. They thought of Him just as another teacher of God. Another miracle worker. Another one they would kill just like they had done all the other prophets before.
What about you and me today? Jesus didn’t just ask this question to the disciples of his day, He asks it to the disciples of this day. The question rings down through the ages and echoes in our ears this morning…”Who do you say I am?” This morning I pose this question to you, “Who do you say Jesus is?” I pray your answer is like that of Peter. I pray that you will say, “Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Even though Peter may have answered the LORD’s question, he was given the answer many months earlier. Scripture says…
One of the two who heard John [the Baptist] speak and followed [Jesus], was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon [Peter] and said to him, “We have found the Messiah”
(John 1:40-41)
We might can answer the LORD’s question like them, but do we really know what it means to know that Jesus is the Messiah? Not being Jewish, do we as Western Christian know truly what that terminology means? We may honestly say that we know that Jesus is the Messiah, but do we actually understand what it means to be the Messiah? Just answering that Jesus is our Messiah, might be just the textbook answer.
We all know what the textbook answer is right? It the answer that is written in stone or ink; straight from the book. Being a parent, like many of you, I know children learn from asking questions. Some of those questions that we are repeatedly ask are, “Are we there yet?” or “Where do babies come from?”or “Can I play on your phone or watch my shows?” or the #1 question children ask is “Why?”
The textbook answer to the “Why” question is often, “Because I said so.” But honestly, do we truly know what the term Messiah means? Our text contains what may be the most important question Jesus ever asked His disciples. It is a question each of us must answer before we can make a decision to give our lives to Jesus; “Who is Jesus?”
The word “Messiah” literally means “to smear or spread on.” It is used throughout the Old Testament as a symbol of smearing oil or anointing the person that was chosen by God to lead, govern, to be dedicated, or minister to the people. The Hebrew word is “messiah,” but the Greek word is “Christ.” So when we say, “Jesus is the Christ,” it literally means that Jesus is the Messiah.
In the Old Testament, three types of people were “messiah” or “anointed.”
KINGS WERE ANOINTED
“Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on [Saul’s] head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?”
(1 Samuel 10:1)
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.
(1 Samuel 16:13)
Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
