Introduction

Hey there, friends! I'm so glad you're here with us today. We're about to get into something really special. I've got three big ideas to share with you, and they all revolve around one central question: Who is Jesus?

But before we get into that, I want to share a quote with you. It's from A.W. Tozer, a pretty well-known Christian author. He once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

That's a pretty weighty statement, isn't it? It tells us that our understanding of God, and by extension, our understanding of Jesus, is crucial to our identity, our faith, and our relationship with God. So, with that in mind, let's read our Scripture passage for today.

It's from Matthew 16:13-17, and it goes like this:

"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 say 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.'"

That's a pretty powerful passage, isn't it? Jesus is asking His disciples, and by extension us, who we think He is. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about today. We're going to look at understanding who Jesus is, acknowledging the existence of God, and truly knowing Him.

But before we get into all that, let's start with a prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together today. We ask that You open our hearts and minds as we seek to understand more about who You are. Help us to see Jesus as He truly is: our Messiah, the Son of the living God. Guide our conversation, Lord, and let everything we say and do bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Alright, friends. Let's get into it!

Understanding Who Jesus Is

Jesus, the Son of Man, as He often referred to Himself, is a figure of great complexity and depth. He is not just a character in a story, but a living, breathing person who walked this earth. He laughed, He cried, He felt pain and joy. He was fully human. Yet, He was also fully divine. This is a mystery that we may never fully comprehend, but it's a truth that we must accept if we are to truly understand who Jesus is.

The book of Matthew: Jesus is often seen asking questions. He's not asking because He doesn't know the answers. He's asking to provoke thought, to challenge assumptions, to inspire reflection. When He asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" He's not looking for information. He's looking for a confession of faith.

The disciples' response to Jesus' question: This reveals a lot about their understanding of who He is. Some say He is John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. These were all respected figures in Jewish history, but they were not the Messiah. They were not the Son of the living God.

Simon Peter: He recognizes Jesus for who He truly is. He declares, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." This is a bold statement, a statement of faith. It's a statement that sets Peter apart from the rest. It's a statement that earns him the praise of Jesus, who says, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."

Reveals a truth about understanding who Jesus is: It's not something that can be figured out through human reasoning or logic. It's not something that can be learned from a book or a lecture. It's a truth that is revealed by God Himself. It's a truth that requires faith.

Rquires us to understand His mission: Jesus didn't come to earth to be a great teacher or a moral example. He came to save us from our sins. He came to reconcile us to God. He came to bring us into a relationship with the Father. He came to give us eternal life. This is the good news of the gospel. This is the message that Jesus came to proclaim.

Respond to Him in faith: We must confess, like Peter, that He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We must believe in Him, trust in Him, and follow Him. We must make Him the Lord of our lives.

Acknowledging the Existence of God

In the same way that we recognize Jesus as the Son of the living God, we also acknowledge the existence of God Himself ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO