“…[W]hom say ye that I am?”

 

First (1st) note this is a personal question, “Whom do ye…?” or Whom do you say that I am?  The person being asked this question is, well, …..YOU, Reader.  You, personally, are being asked this question.  Who is He that asks this question?  Well. that is the question isn’t it?  Who is He that asks you this question?  Of course, It is Jesus Christ that is asking this question, but Who is Jesus Christ or should we ask, Who was Jesus Christ?  Is or was? which is it?  That depends upon Whom you say Christ is or was.

Before we address the above and begin to answer this question, let us look at a question He asked prior.  “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?”  The disciples answered thus, “Some say that [T]hou art John the Baptist: some, Elias: and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”  Persons thought Christ was a risen John the Baptist, or Elijah or Jeremiah or some other prophet of old sent from above.

Why John Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah, specifically? Methinks because Christ, preaching reminded everyone of the past prophets.  John Baptist was a fiery prophetwho called all men to repent. Elijah was a prophet that was of a strong personality, he was fearsome in his appearance and preaching. Elijah was a preacher that could call fire from Heaven and he saw the LORD rage against the apostate king and queen. Jeremiah saw many of his prophecies come to pass in his lifetime and he was a prophet with much love in his heart, so much so, he was called the “weeping prophet.” These characteristics must have been present in the Lord. These characteristics should be present in all of Christ’s ministers.

Back to you, Reader.  After the disciples answered Christ’s question, He asked them, “Whom do ye say that I am?”  His question went from general to particular and specific. Therefore, Reader, Whom do you say Christ is?  Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the [L]iving God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” That is the proper answer, Christ is the Son of the Living God. That was Peter’s answer.

How does John answer? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Wprd was with God, and the Word was God.”  John further states that this “Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John attributes allmof Chreation to this Word, WHO became flesh and dwelt among us.  This Word that is God is none other than Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Revelation 5 reveals that all things were made by Him and all things are made FOR Him, Revelation 19 specifies and testifies to Christ’s identity as the Word.  Colossians 1 also testifies that all things were made by the Christ. John testifies that Christ is Jehovah God as do others in Holy Writ.

What about Paul?  What does Paul have to say to the identity of Jesus Christ?  Paul states Christ is, “Lord both of the dead and the living.”  He also calls Christ “Lord of all.”  “Lord and Saviour,” in that order, is another way Paul refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.

How does the Lord Jesus, Himself identify Himself?
* “I Am” in John 8. This is a term exclusive to Jehovah God, Exodus 3.
* “Ye call me, Lord and Master and and ye say well.” John 13.
* When asked about the Father showing Himself bodily, Christ said, “Have I been so long with you, and yet, you ask to see the Father?  If you have seen [M]e, ye have seen the Father.”  Christ confesses Himself to be One with the Father…He claims Godhood and Deity. see John 14.
* When asked by His enemies if He were in fact, the Christ of God, One with the Father, He answered, “I am.”
* In Matthew 28, Christ claims, “All power is given unto [M]e in heaven and in earth.” Again, Christ claims Godhood, Sovereign Godhood.

All of the above speak to the great power and the great Person of the Lord Jesus.  However, He also speaks of Himself as being the [R]ansom for sinners.  He said, He did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister. Christ tells us that He came to, voluntarily, lay down His sinless life in the stead or in the place of sinners, Christ did this so that those who will be brought to belief, or appropriate Him to be their personal Sacrifice as the, One and Only, payment for their own personal sin and sins. In this action Christ’s persons can and will be saved, redeemed, and ransomed.

But….However….Therefore, Reader, Who do you say that Christ is? Was He a “good man?” or a “good teacher?”  Was He a great patriot and part of the rebellion against Rome’s occupation? Was He a great leader?  Is He only one of the most well known names in the world for whatever?

OR Reader, Is He the Son of Living God?  Is He Lord of both the dead and the living?  Is He Lord of all?  Is He Lord and Saviour? Is He the great and Holy, I Am?  Is He Lord and Master?  Is He One with the Father?

Peter also said, “There is none other [N]ame under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  Christ also said of Himself, “I am the [only] Way, the [only] Truth, and the [only] Life, NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME” (onlyies and capitals are mine).  Paul also tells us that the person that does not love the Lord Jesus, that person is condemned to hell.

So again, I ask you Reader, Whom do you say that Christ is? This is the question that will effect your eternity.

Godspeed.