THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

Exodus 2:1-10; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

Who Do You Say I AM?

Introduction 

What would be your request if you meet someone today who gives you room to ask whatever you desire? The first time I placed this scenario before some youth during our youth interaction, one of them said, "Papa, before I answer, I would like to know who this person is. This will inform me of what to actually ask."

Yes! For instance, a request to a king will not be the same to a pastor. Knowing who Jesus is will surely inform you that He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20)

Who do you say I am? Jesus is asking. If you know who Jesus is, you would know your requests to Him.

Matthew 16:13-20

1. PERCEPTION BY SIGHT & HEARSAY

Jesus at Caesarea Philippi made an inquiry from the disciples. "Who do people say I am?" Vs. 13.

This generated some list of people's perceptions of Him in town.

John the Baptiser, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Vs. 14

It is always true that the way you perceive someone determines the relationship.

The talk of the town about Jesus was false. Jesus was trending for the many miracles being witnessed from Him but the people did not still know who He is.

In a similar way, Ghanaians today are looking for "Papa no", you and I must rather concern ourselves to look for who the Son of man is?

Due to the wrong understanding of Jesus, we lose our chances of what He is able to do for us.

Never perceive Jesus by sight and hearsay.

Who do people say Jesus is today? 

We may get answers like; 

- He is a guru or leader of religion just like all the others.

- He is a God who is slow in responding to needs so people add other gods who are deemed to be quick in response to requests.

- He is God of the poor and uninformed. The rich and the philosophers deny Him.

- Jesus is one who is needed in times of trouble only but denied when things ore ok.

Your answer to this question is basically how you relate to Him today. Therefore, I ask you, my dearest reader, Who do you say Jesus is?

2. REVELATION BY FAITH

Jesus went further to enquire from the disciples themselves, "Who do you say I am?"

I believe this brought a huge silence on them. Peter broke the silence by downloading from Heaven who Jesus is by saying "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Vs. 16

The confirmation response to Peter's answer by Jesus can be categorized as follows;

1. Divine Blessing: "Blessed are you". Knowing who Jesus is a blessing in itself. As theoretical it may seem to be, it is the preparatory grounds for greater things to come. Knowing the truth about Christ sets us free under His blessings.

2. Divine Revelation: "For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in Heaven". 

Our true knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ do not come by the study of philosophy and religions nor by fleshy perspective and analysis. It is out of divine revelation through faith.

For such divine revelations, it is the intentional consciousness "not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

It is our transcendence from the standards of this world with a renewed mind which reveals the perfect will of God to us.

3. Change of Status: "You are Peter," Jonah's name became Peter (which means, rock) from the day he was able to identify the Son of man.

Note: From the day Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed the serpent and said "you will eat dust all the days of your life" (Genesis 3:14). Meanwhile, He told Adam that "You will return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19).

This instantly made humanity the very food of the serpent. But Christ changed Peter's status from dust to rock which the serpent cannot eat. 

Knowing who Jesus is, change and empower you from being the ration or feed for the devil.

To know is to have knowledge of. True knowledge, is to be able to profess to understand.

4. Heavenly Charge: "On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hades will not overcome it."

The true declaration of who Jesus is, warranted the charge of Christ's church with divine protection from hades 

Jesus now finds a good foundation for His heavenly seat on earth out of the understanding of who He is. When we understand truthfully who Jesus is, it becomes the strength of His foundation in us.

This knowledge also comes with responsibility which must be protected.

5. Divine Authority: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Knowing who Christ Jesus is to exercise the authority of binding and loosing. You begin to command the heavens from here on earth.

In exercising this authority, Paul admonished us saying; "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." (Romans 12:3)

Conclusion 

Who do you say I am? Jesus is asking you today. Seek to know more of Christ in your life and be like Him for His divine blessings, revelations, new status, heavenly charge and divine authority.