When Jesus arrived in the village of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
Matthew 16:13 – The Message
Who remembers the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? A question was asked for which there were four possible answers and yet only one was correct. If answered correctly it could win you thousands of pounds. Today my question is who is Jesus to you?
It was a question Jesus asked about himself to the disciples. Who do people say the Son of Man is? Jesus wanted to know what the disciples personally thought about Jesus.
Why is it important for Jesus to ask that?
I believe it is important because of who Jesus claims to be. He claims to be the Reason To Believe, the way, true and life and that is a bold statement.
Did the disciples agree? As I said yesterday Luke did his own private investigation to answer that. and Jesus wanted the disciples to do the same.
Today there are probably more than four options than the choice given in the quiz who wants to be a millionaire to answer the question who is Jesus?
So today let me continue with an incident that is not too unfamiliar with today’s society. The incident took place when a man called Paul was visiting Athens.
Today it is the capital of Greece and has a population exceeding 600,000. This is how the event started. As Paul walked down the street in Athens he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere throughout the city. The place was full of people who were obviously concerned about religion. They spent time daily discussing religion. Today it is no different. Religion is still a hotly debated topic. Which religion is correct? Does religion have any value today?
There however was something more that troubled Paul as he says “as I made my way here and looked at your shrines I noticed one altar (one of a number in Athens) on which were inscribed the words, TO GOD THE UNKNOWN.” Paul explained why he was so troubled (see 1 Cor. 10:20).
Paul tells them who he believes this unknown God is. It is not about religion but about a person, and in particular about Jesus the God who made the world. Jesus is not carved out of stone or confined to any temple, He is someone who controls the times and places where people live. Paul was not being critical or calling them stupid for Paul knew there was no Bible. It had not come into existence. No! They were just not aware of who Jesus is. This ignorance exists today. Paul begins to inform them by proclaiming:
1. Jesus is the true God for He is the Creator and therefore beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience: simply put Jesus is above His creation (Acts 17 vv. 24, 25).
2. He proclaims that this Jesus is sovereignly involved in the affairs of men (Acts 17 v. 26). In fact, Jesus the true God is near them, within the reach of those who seek Him (Acts 17 v 27, 28)
For Paul and myself the reason we believe in Jesus is Jesus is who He proclaimed to be and the Gospel of John backs that up.
John states Jesus is the starting point of Creation The gospel of John begins. telling us Jesus although He came to earth as a human being, yet actually, Jesus has no beginning or ending, in fact, Jesus is before the beginning of time, space, the universe, eternity, and history, He was already there! He is eternal! That is what Paul told these people and that is what I am saying today.
Do you want to know what is on the mind of God? Then look at Jesus!
Do you want to know the will of God? Then look at Jesus!
So if I was asked on the game show of who wants to be a millionaire on who is Jesus I would answer a) Jesus is the exact revelation of what is on the mind and heart of God. And for me, it is THE REASON TO BELIEVE
Stay Safe and Blessed