Can Others See Who We Say Jesus Is?

Have you been associated with someone that represents themselves one way, you buy it, and they end up being totally different? Many, many moons ago, (back when my hair color was my hair color…) I had a coworker that was really not working with our team. They represented pretty well in the beginning, we were excited to be working with someone with such vision.  Then it all went crazy. We found out a lot of things that were supposed to be done were not being done and things that should definitely not have been done were done. 

Our team had a number of activities that we were obligated for to some pretty high ranking military officials. Those guys are not the ones you want to fail in front of. Every person on the team had to fulfill their tasks for us to be successful. This person totally let us down on the biggest day of our project. It just happened that the rest of the team had worked hard enough to squeak by at the last minute. The official we presented to was less than impressed, but we had fulfilled the obligation, barely.

If someone would have asked, in the first eight to nine months that we worked together, “Who would you say this person is?” we would have likely given a different answer than at the end.  Because as it turned out, this person’s words and the way they lived out their life did not match. 

Matthew 16:13-16, tells us about a conversation Jesus has with His disciples. Earlier though Jesus had been dealing with the Pharisees and the Sadducees around the Sea of Galilee (Mt.16:1-3). Jesus never shied away from showing the world who He was. After they left the Sea of Galilee He and His disciples came to the coastline of Caesarea Philippi. As they were talking there, Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man,  and asked the disciples who people were saying that He was.  They told Him that people had all kinds of opinions on that. Some of those listed were: John the Baptist. Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

Jesus then got to the point and asked them right out, “So who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter, the one who never seemed to be at a loss for words, stated, “You are the Christ. You are the Son of the Living God.” 

If Jesus would ask you today who you think He is, how would you respond?  Would you respond with, “He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”? When Simon answered correctly Jesus called him blessed. He told Peter that this knowledge was not something that he had gained within his human, flesh and blood self; but Jesus’ Father in heaven had given this knowledge to him.  

This is how we come to the realization of who Christ is. God draws us to Him and when we make the decision to follow Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit to help us as we grow in the knowledge of Christ and come to the full realization who He is.  As we live for Him each day, He is revealed more and more in how we live out our lives. That is why it is so important that our actions reflect the words we speak about Christ. Can others see Who you say Jesus is within your life?

The challenge and application of this passage are wrapped up together. We need to challenge ourselves to consistently proclaim who Jesus is. He is the Christ. the only Son of the Living God. But before we can proclaim this we must first come to believe within our hearts that it is Truth and apply that Truth to our hearts. Then we must live our lives so that they visibly declare this Truth… even without words. 

What this means to my faith is joy—knowing that the Father in heaven thought of me and cared enough for me to send His Son, Jesus, to make a way that I could spend eternity with Him… with them!

Father. God, It is beyond my earthly, flesh and blood, comprehension how you could love this flawed humanity as you do. I know it is hard for me to love it at times. Thank You for Your willingness to give Your Son and then Your Spirit to us. Thank You Jesus for Your willingness. Please help me to live my Life in a way  that others will see that You are Who I say You are—the Christ, the only Son of the Living God.

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“13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17 — (KJV)

“And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” Luke 9:18 (KJV)

“The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?” John 12:34 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.  

Do you know the God of grace? He created a perfect world. He loved His creation. Then, through the disobedience of man, God’s created beings, sin came into that perfect world. God, as the Creator, was the only One that could redeem His creation. Over two thousand years ago, a season in time came to be when Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, God in the flesh, was born as a tiny babe. (Christianity.com has a very good article about how Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies of the much looked for Messiah. Of course the better place to read this is in the Bible itself.) He lived a sinless life. At the age of about thirty, He began His earthly ministry. Jesus was abandoned by His followers, tortured and crucified to death. This He did deliberately, giving up His life freely. He was buried in a borrowed tomb that was heavily guarded by Roman soldiers. Then, as He had promised His followers, He arose from that grave on the third day. “Why,” you ask, “would He do this, go through this?” Ah, the reason… Love…Grace. He did it for you, His beloved creation! He did it for me also, of which I am eternally thankful. The thing is, He gave His life as redemption for the sin of the whole world. This same Jesus will come into your life. God is Spirit. You come to Him in spirit. Confess to Him that you realize you are a sinner. Tell Him that you believe that Jesus is His Son-His only Son, that He came to this earth to redeem you. Tell Him that you will turn away from a sinful life and follow the teachings of Jesus. Then find a local, Bible-believing church and become involved with the fellowship of the Church.

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making Jesus Christ YOUR best Friend! PeaceWithGod.net

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