WHO IS JESUS? Kay Keith Peebles 9/6/2019 19.30
“Who do you say that I am” is the profound question Jesus asked His disciples. Matthew 16:15-17. He began the discussion by first asking “Who do men say I am”. His disciples answered, “some say John the Baptist, and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” The world is filled with man’s opinion of Jesus. Today many would say He was a good man or a prophet, who He is, but He is so much more. Faith is personal, and it mattered to the Lord that His disciples understood who He is. Jesus shifted His question directly to them, probing deeper to discover their own personal revelation of who they thought He is. He asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter boldly declared the true answer, “Thou art the Christ (Messiah, Anointed One), the Son of the living God (supreme Divinity).” Matthew 16:16. Jesus rejoiced at Peter’s answer by telling him that his response did not come out of his intellect or from man’s opinion, but it was revelation from His Father in heaven.
There are more books, articles, messages and information published on Jesus than anyone else who has lived on earth. His life and ministry so powerfully affected the world the calendar was forever changed after His death and resurrection to mark the years before his coming (BC) and after His death (AD). The God/Man Jesus is the most influential person in the entire history of the earth. The Bible, which is the logos or written word of God, is the most purchased book in the world and yet there is still confusion, even among “Christians”, about who Jesus is. “Who do men say that I am” is not a relevant question when standing before God at the Judgement seat. It is our answer to the question “Who do you say that I am” that will determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell.
This series on “Who Is Jesus?” will not be completely in-depth, but I pray it will be enlightening. The Bible is my only source of inspiration because it is the history of the Jewish people, Christianity and the revelation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. His story starts at the very beginning of Genesis Chapter I.
JESUS IS OUR CREATOR:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3. Emphasis mine. The Hebrew word for God used here is Elohiym which is plural. Elohiym (supreme) created the heavens, the earth and all life forms upon the earth. Both the Jew and the Christian believe in the one true God. Christians believe that Elohiym, the one true God, has a triune function: Father (Jehovah), Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Biblical scripture (Old and New Testament) confirms that belief.
“And God (Elohiym) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him: male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:26-27. Emphasis mine.
“For the LORD (Jehovah), your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says this: I am the LORD, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens; Who spreads out the earth by Myself.” Isaiah 45:24. “For the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker says this, Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and give Me orders concerning the work of My hands. I made the earth and created man upon it. My hands, stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” Isaiah 45:11-12; 48:13.
Through the Genesis passages we recognize that God (Elohiym) and the Holy Spirit were present and active at creation. The Isaiah passage specifically includes the Redeemer’s involvement in creation. The book of John confirms that Jesus was also present and active at creation. It even goes further to say that “all things were made by Him”.
“In the beginning was the Word (logos, Christ-Messiah), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not…And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14. Emphasis mine.
Who is the Word of God? The Book of Revelation combined with the Old and New Testaments is the full revelation of who Jesus is. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no man knew, but He himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:11-13. Emphasis mine.
The Old and New Testaments confirm God (Elohiym) is the Creator. The world and everything that we know has been created by God: Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. God existed before creation and is eternal. He is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.
“I am Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13; Isaiah 44:6.
“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself” Isaiah 44:24.
How does knowing that Jesus is our Creator give us significance and value?
- We are created in the image of God. We are not an accident caused by a freak event of nature. We are a spirit being, created by God, who knew us before we were born. The time and place in which we were born is a part of His Divine plan. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5. “Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.” Isaiah 44:2.
- Our life has significance. We are precious to God and we have a destiny to impact the world. “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance and in Thy book they were all written; the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:13-16.
- God wants us to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” Isaiah 49:16. “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart, and I will be found by you declares the LORD…” Jeremiah 29:11-14.
- God is our help in our time of need. “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great an mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you…” Matthew 7:7-8. “In the day of trouble I shall call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me. There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Thine.” Psalm 86:7-8.
Life takes on great meaning and significance when we know that God exists, He created us in His image, and He has a purpose for our existence. Through a deep and abiding relationship with a very real and personal God, we become secure in who we are and who we are to become. We feel loved by God and therefore we are able to trust in His plan for our lives.
We cannot answer the question Jesus posed to His disciples “Who do you say that I am” until we discover fully who we are in relation to who He is and why He created us. Our assurance and security in life is deeply intertwined with our revelation of “Who do you say that I am”?
