THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

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

Introduction

"Who do you say I am?" is one of the most profound questions Jesus ever posed to His disciples which is still relevant to us today. This is very fundamental to every relationship. Your knowledge of others determines or directs the connection you build.

Theology, which is basically our study and knowledge of God is shaped by this question. Your knowledge of God shapes your way of life with or without Him. It is also the determining factor of how you relate with Him.

There is an adage that goes, "You are addressed by the way you are dressed". People relate to you, the way they perceive or know you to be. This mostly fails us because "You must not judge a book by its cover". All relationships are not at the same level due to our different understanding of each other.

How do You See Christ to be?

Our understanding of who God is determines how we actually relate with Him. How we answer this question today affects how we live out our faith and lifestyle.

For instance, if all that you know Christ to be is your healer, you will live your life away from Him and only run to Him when you are sick like we relate with the hospital. If you see Him as only your miracle worker, then you only come to Him when you need a miracle.

Let us dig deeper into this discussion. What you believe about God affects all sorts of things you do including your prayer life, study of the Word, giving to the church, etc. When you believe God is an old man sitting somewhere and simply watching people on earth with little or no control or influence on us, your approach to Him will reflect the same. You would not spend time seeking His intervention in your life situations.

Who do You Say God is?

Prior to dropping this question which becomes "the problem of the day" to be solved, Jesus Christ had cautioned His disciples on the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He said, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6). They later understood the 'leaven' as the teachings (Matt. 16:12). It is the wrong teachings that grow to kill their faith in Him and more importantly negatively affecting their relationship with Him.

Christ first issued the simplest form of the question, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). It was easy for the disciples to answer because it is what others say about Him.

It is evident in the life of Jesus that many people crowded around Him because they believed He was the great prophet Elijah, Jeremiah, or maybe John the Baptist. Meanwhile, when Jesus was teaching His followers who He is and how to relate with Him, many of His followers began to leave. "So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69 (ESV)

If you do not come to know Jesus Christ as the Saviour of your soul from Satan's hellfire, you will always leave His presence to miss Heaven.

God is the Promise Keeper

One key statement I want to share with you in this message about who Jesus Christ is is that He is the promise keeper.

From the Exodus reading, Pharoah planned with his people to prevent the birth of Israel's freedom. "Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens." Exodus 1:11. Even in oppression, they were multiplying and spreading up.

Pharoah had another plan so he called the midwives and ordered, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” Exodus 1:16. This one also failed.

"Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”" Exodus 1:22. Meanwhile, this was the time the one to deliver the people was to be born. Serendipity, God turns the gory situations into a glorious one for His children.

Moses was born and kept in the house of the one who sought his life. The beauty of it is that his mother began to nurse him and also get paid from Pharoah's treasury. All things, all things, I mean all things work together for good to them who love the Lord.

Beloved in Christ, did this distort the plans of God concerning His promise? Never. God still kept His promise by keeping safe the boy Moses. What do people say God is to your hearing? 

Listen to what He says about Himself, "The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:26-27) Absolutely nothing.

The people of Israel studied the Torah. They are so much aware of the great and mighty works of God especially when delivering them from Egypt. They have grown to know God's mighty power behind His prophets. So they quickly associated the great works of Jesus with being a great prophet. That is what they know.

Therefore, coming to verse 15 of Matthew 16, Jesus reframed the question making it the problem of the day, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This question must not be answered in a hurry. Peter had to download the answer from the mainframe of Heaven to say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 (ESV)

Precious one, so Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We all know this including Satan himself. Is this the answer Jesus Christ seeks from you today? No! I believe He desires more. Because, giving this very answer today is like saying, 'Peter says You are the Messiah the son of the living God.' Therefore, who do you say Christ is? Christ seeks an answer not from your mind but that which is from your heart.

A sincere answer from you today will set the course of your life to know Christ better. It matters more than anything else in life. What have you believed about Jesus? How do you know Jesus the Christ? If your knowledge of Christ is only how others have encountered Him, then there is one more thing you need to do, have a personal encounter with Him.

From today, in every situation you find yourself, remember the question, who do you say Jesus is? Keep asking yourself when on the hospital bed not just in the comfort of your home. When bereaved and grieving in the funeral home not just at the party house. Ask, during the time of sleepless nights, going through rejection, loss, failure, persecution, torture, etc. That is when this question matters since it brings you to the real being of Jesus the Christ. It will surely bring to you the full assurance of His abilities and willingness to intervene in your particular situation.

The Church, Who do you say Christ is?

Going back to Peter's perfect answer which solved the problem of the day, Jesus blessed him and declared that upon this rock, 'Petros', He will build His Church.

This is the first time Christ mentioned the word 'ekklessia' (Church) in the Bible which is very significant. Upon the exhibited faith of Peter out of his knowledge about Christ, the church is founded.

This means that the church holds the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is also a caution to us that, the church will never get theology right without dispensing the unadulterated Word and knowledge of Christ. The Quoran of the Moslems even directs them to the Church for the understanding of God. The Church must really position itself to know Christ and make Him better known.

Conclusion

Precious one, your knowledge of God matters so much to build your Christian faith. In the midst of all that you are going through in life, who is Jesus Christ to you? 

Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls from death to eternal life. For this reason, unto Him I surrender my soul, mind, heart, and my whole being. The promise keeper who can never fail no matter the planning schemes of the enemy. I know the One whose promises calm my storms and offer me peace that surpasses human understanding always. Job says, "For I know that my Redeemer lives." Job 19:25. I know my Jesus Christ lives. He has begun your redemption which will surely come to pass. Amen!

Shalom aleichem...