Of the questions raised in the Bible, none may be as poignant as the question that Jesus posed to Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15 ESV)
Of course Peter’s answer is as succinct as it is profound as he replied with "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16, ESV). These words echo the truth of Jesus Christ found throughout Scripture.
This question, and the reply to it, while certainly fitting in this season that we celebrate His birth, resounds through all of human history and existence.
Each individual in all of humanity answers this question - “Who do I say that Jesus Christ is?”
The proclamation from the angel following the birth of Jesus further answers this question. The angel proclaimed. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11).
When it comes to answering this question, we can so easily manufacture our own God, our own self made Jesus. A god that is comfortable and convenient but not convicting. A god that fits in the construct of our mind and does not transcend ourselves. A god that bows at the whims of our appetites and affections. So do we see Jesus merely as…
An idyllic moral person
A religious figure
A source of happiness
An affirming friend
Or a social advocate
Or do we believe what the angel proclaimed on the first Christmas and echoed throughout Scripture that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, is both Saviour and Lord?
So who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus is given many names and titles through Scripture to provide the breadth and gravity of who He is.
Jesus is described in Isaiah 9:6-7 as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Paul in his letter to the Colossians exalts the power of Christ by saying, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:13-20, ESV)
The Hebrew writer speaks to the supremacy of Christ in His works. He says “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." (Hebrews 1:1-4, ESV)
The Apostle John conveys that Jesus is indeed God and the creator of all things. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5 ESV)
Jesus himself said “...I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 ESV)
And again Jesus proclaims , "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8, ESV)
Jesus Christ is Prophet, Priest and King. He is the Word, the Lord and the Creator, He is Judge and Preeminent over all things.
And Jesus Christ is Saviour. It is in Him we receive salvation, the forgiveness of sins, so that we may be justified and reconciled before a holy God.
Why does this question matter?
Our answer to who Jesus is has profound implications in the temporal and eternal. Scripture is clear that ultimately “Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”.
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
In response to the One whose name is above all names, every knee will bow either as friend or foe, children or enemies. We will bow either in adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, or in fear, dread and trembling.
Ultimately we all answer this question whether in our words and thoughts, in our attitudes and actions, in our desires and wants, with our time and talent, in our dreams and priorities.
Our heart manifested in our words and life reveals if we truly believe in Jesus Christ or a god of our own making.
Thomas Watson stated that, “A sound confession of Christ with the mouth must be joined with subjection to Him in the life.”. In other words, a true confession that Christ is Lord and Saviour involves submission of the mind and the will, and not merely an empty verbal acknowledgement.
So whether we have answered this question before, or perhaps considering it for the first time, how do we respond to the question posed by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?”
Can we answer as Peter did?, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.", and truly confess as the angel declared that, "For unto you [us] is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".
