Whom Do You Say I Am

Jesus asked His disciples the above question in Luke 9:20. Of course Peter, the bold one of the group was the first to answer and said … "the Christ of God."

What would your answer be? Who is He? Is He God? A part of God? The Word of God? The Son of God? I want to look at just a small portion of what's said about Him in the Scriptures.

After Peter answered the question correctly, Luke says that Jesus ... "commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day." (Luke 9:21-22)

Peter said Jesus was the Christ, which was true, but to the Jews that would also be the same as saying He was the Messiah. Maybe that was why He told them not to tell anyone yet, because it wasn't time for Him to reveal who He truly was.

But notice who Jesus said He was … The Son of man. By using this term, Jesus was also identifying with His humanity. He had been after all, born of Mary and had taken on the covering of human flesh.

The Apostle Paul, speaking of Jesus, said in Colossians 1:15 … "He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, the visible representation of the invisible …"

The image that is seen of Jesus therefore is that of ... the Son of God. He is the perfect and complete eternal image of God His Father; more than a shadow or a representation, more than just a visible likeness; this "image" includes the same nature and perfections as the Father, but with His own personality and distinction as the Son, even while He was in the flesh as … the Son of man.

As the Son of man, was Jesus God? The Apostle John had no reservation at all in declaring Jesus, "the Word of God" and then with the same breath states that Jesus … "was God."

John 1:1-2 ... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

The Apostle John proves that he is speaking about Jesus when he says ... "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us …" (John 1:14)

In John 1:34 & 36, John the Baptist adds a new dimension or description of Jesus when he says ... "And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. And looking upon Jesus ... he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

Why was Jesus said to be (the Word) in Heaven and not the Son of God? In Hebrews 1:5 we find a quote from God about Jesus ... "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee …" This shows a particular place in time (this day, today) the day Jesus was born.

Jesus did not become the Son of God until He was born of Mary, and became human flesh. Until He became the Son by birth, He was "the Word of God" … or as I like to say … He was the words spoken by the Father.

As the "Word of God," Paul states that Jesus was equal with God.

Philippians 2:6-11 ... "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

This gives us a hint of just how much Jesus gave up to become the Son of man. Being equal with God and in the form of God … Jesus stripped Himself of all that was God … in that He became like men and became flesh, even unto death.

I'm going to try and paint you a word picture using two illustrations, both faint shadows as to why John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God."

I want to take you back in time to Genesis 4:1-10 and the story of two brothers. We find Abel killing a lamb for a blood offering for his sin which God accepted. His brother Cain also presented a sin offering, but it came from his own works, the fruit of his own labor which wasn't accepted by God. Therefore we have Cain angry and dejected, killing Abel after taking him to his field, which is a shadow and type of the world.

So what’s in this picture? This is the first look at both ... a man and a lamb ... together bleeding in man's field of sin. This first illustration is a shadow and type of what was to come 4,000 years later … Jesus, the son of man dying as the Lamb of God in man’s field of sin after being sent into the world.

The next picture of Jesus is found in Genesis 22:1-14 where Abraham is told by God to offer Isaac, his only son as a burnt offering. Abraham takes the wood and lays it on Isaac’s shoulders for him to carry up the mount. Years later, Jesus also had to carry the wood, His cross, up the very same hill. When Isaac asked where the the lamb was, Abraham said, "God will provide himself a lamb," which is exactly what John the Baptist said of Jesus, "… behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." Another shadow of what was to come.

Jesus came to show us who "God" really was and what He was really like.

Hebrews 1:3 … "He is the sole expression of the glory of God, and He is the perfect imprint and the very image of God's nature …"

One day Jesus had been talking to His disciples about God the Father when Philip asks Him to show them the Father. Jesus responds with this question in …

John 14:9 ... "Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." (Amplified)

I don't teach "Jesus Only" as some do. I believe in the Trinity … Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe each one is a separate being. I also believe that all three are ... ONE … and that all three are equally God. No, I can't explain it … but that doesn't mean it's not true.

Follow these questions and the answer I give to each one ...

Who is the creator? Jesus. Who is the Lamb of God? Jesus. Who died on the cross? Jesus. Who is the Healer? Jesus. Who is seated on the Mercy Seat? Jesus. Who is coming back for His church? Jesus. Who has been given all power both in Heaven and in Earth? Jesus. Who is the same yesterday, today and forever? Jesus. Who ever lives to make intercession for you? Jesus. Who is Lord? Jesus.

Do I see only "Jesus" most of the time? Yes … I admit I do.

I started with the question Jesus asked His disciples … "Whom do you say I am?" What is your answer now? It should be … God.



Comments welcome.