” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” – Mark 8:29
The belief that Jesus of Nazareth is both fully God and fully man has invited indifference, intrigue, debate, speculation, mockery, and confusion for roughly two thousand years. However, this belief has also invited worship, devotion, and rejoicing all over the world. But even among those who worship and adore Christ, there remains a great deal of ignorance, misunderstanding, and error concerning His identity. There are many less-than-precise views of Jesus.
In Mark 8 Jesus asked Peter, “But who do you say I am?” This has to be the most important question in a person’s life. In Matthew 8:29. we read that the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God: “They began screaming at him, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?’ James 2:19 reads, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter rightly answered Jesus’ question with, “You are the Messiah.”When Peter said that Jesus was the Messiah, there was a weight to the words. The Christ was the One who had been expected for thousands of years by the Jewish people. The Deliverer sent by God to redeem His people. The anointed One. The Chosen One. Son of God. The Very Word of God. Prince of Peace. Wonderful Counselor. The Way. The Truth. The Life. The Messiah. And He still is today. Jesus is all those things because He loves us. He loved us enough to give His life for us.
This is important because not understanding who Jesus is eventually leads to a life of wandering. If we don’t believe that Jesus is truly God it will result in lukewarm prayers and halfhearted trust that He can work things out for you and your loved ones. On the other hand, a vibrant faith that Jesus is truly God leads to bold, confident prayers, passionate service, and complete peace with what happens after earthly death.
Take some time this week to get to know Jesus. Read the red words in the bible, the words of Jesus. Hear what He has to say, read of His miracles, and travel along with Him until you recognize Him for who He is and live with the knowledge of who He really is in the forefront of our minds. He died for us; let’s live for Him in gratitude and devotion that is a constant presence in our lives.
Discussion Questions:
- Who do you say Jesus is? What difference does this make in how you live each day? How does this affect how you pray and how you live your life?
- Spend time with God pondering all that you know about Him. Ask Him to show you new things. See if this doesn’t lead you to praise Him for who He is and what He can accomplish.