Defining Jesus

It is one of the most important questions any of us can ever answer. "Who do YOU say that I am?" How we reconcile Jesus is so incredibly important to our eternity. Who exactly is He? And most importantly, who do WE believe that He is?

Jesus posed two questions to His disciples concerning His identity. It's important to note the differences. Here they are:

"And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” - Mark 8:27-29

The first question is kind of odd really. "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus already knew the answer to this question, but He wanted to hear the answer from His disciples. The second question though is the most important. "Who do YOU say that I am?"

I think Jesus emphasized the word YOU when He asked that question.

People had various opinions about who Jesus was. A prophet, a demon-possessed man, Elijah, the carpenter's son, John The Baptists, etc.

Even today there are different ideas concerning Jesus. The Mormon faith for example teaches that Jesus was actually Adam's son, born into this world. The Christian faith says that Jesus is fully God and always existed. There are two different versions of Jesus being worshipped here. Which one is right?

The Jewish people believe Jesus was just a man, not the Son of God. Islam teaches pretty much the same thing - a human, a prophet.

That brings us back to Jesus' second question. Who do YOU say that I am?

If we think that Jesus was simply human, a prophet perhaps, Jesus will have an eternal home prepared just for us. If we think that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of the Living God, Jesus will offer us a different eternity.

So, who do YOU say that Jesus is?