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“But who do you say that I am?”
– Jesus, to the disciples (Mark 8:29)

When Jesus asked the disciples who other people thought He was, the answers were as numerous as they are today. Although other opinions are worth noting, studying, affirming, or combating (depending on the case), Jesus’ more important question follows: “But who do you say that I am?” No more crucial question can ever be put to a person.

Peter’s reply became the founding testimony of the church. “You are the Messiah! The Son of the Living God.” For the disciples, the signs had all pointed to Christ’s messianic identity. From the symbolic miracles to authoritative teaching, everything seemed to enhance the view that this Man was more than just a prophet, in fact more than just a Man. Even though Peter’s answer was correct in its vocabulary, he still hadn’t come to grips with the type of Messiah Jesus was, or the atoning death that lay in His future.

Christians all over the world unite behind Peter’s affirmation – that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Unfortunately, many affirm statements regarding the Person of Jesus Christ, without actually understanding what they mean and how they affect our life today. Jesus then becomes little more than a “good friend,” a “best buddy” or a “gentleman” who is always patient, tolerant, never-angered, and undemanding. People ask “What would Jesus do” without ever bothering to find out what Jesus actually did!

Jesus was not a pale-faced European sitting on the hillside spitting out timeless platitudes. He was a Man with a mission for the God-appointed hour, calling His fellow Jews to repentance before the coming judgment. His controversial miracles and teaching led to His dreadful death on a Roman cross for the sins of the world, after which He arose triumphantly from the grave.

Who do you say that He is? We can only find the answer by studying the biblical texts honestly and without fear of letting our preconceived notions actually be challenged by the One we worship as God in the flesh.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

Related Articles:
Who Do People Say that I Am?
Why the Search for the Historical Jesus Matters 1
Why the Search for the Historical Jesus Matters 2

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