Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
In a discussion with His disciples, Jesus asked them, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They gave him a variety of answers: John the Baptist; Elijah; Jeremiah; or a prophet. But Jesus was not concerned with what “people” say. He wanted to know His disciples say then and now. This is the most important question in the world.
In our contemporary culture today, the answer to this question will cover a range of categories:
- A good man
- A great prophet
- A first-century wise man
- A misguided guru
- A misunderstood teacher
- A mythical character of the early church
What the wisdom of the world will not say is what Peter said on behalf of all of the disciples, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). What we need to remember is what Jesus actually said about Himself. He said He was the promised Messiah. He said He came to save sinners. He said He and the Father are one. If what He said about Himself was not true, then Jesus could not be a good anything. He would be crazy. In the words of C. S. Lewis, Jesus would be a liar, or a lunatic, or the Devil of hell, or something worse. But if what He said was true, and it was, then our answer must be the same as Peter’s. There is no other option.
Both His message and His miracles backed up His claim to be God’s Son who came into this world to save us from our sins. He lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and was raised from the dead supernaturally . . . FOR YOU! So, what is your answer to this most important question in the world? Now I am not only asking for your verbal confession. What is even more important is the confession of your life. James was right when he said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).
To be sure, we are saved by faith alone, as the Reformers reminded us, but not a faith that is alone. True faith is always accompanied by good works because the grace that saves also sanctifies as we make our way into glory.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 