Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
Jesus traveled with the disciples to Caesarea Philippi and sat down to ask the disciples an important question. Describing this conversation, Matthew wrote,
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:13-15 ESV
Jesus asked the question to determine His disciples’ faith in Him. He wanted to know more about who they thought He was than He was interested in what the crowds thought.
The question Jesus asked the disciples is the most important question we will ever answer in our lifetimes.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Jesus claimed to be God (John 8:58-59). He told the disciples that He would be killed and raise from the dead (Matthew 17:22-23). The Bible claims that He resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10).
He does not allow us to address Him as a prophet or teacher. He claimed to be God.
Who do you say that Jesus is?
It is not enough that your parents believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He wants to know if you have faith in Him. Is He your Lord and Savior?
Have you ever come to a point in your life where you turned from your self and your sin to follow Jesus?
Like Peter, have you confessed Him as Lord of your life? Does He have control of your life? Are you trusting in Him and following Him?
He wants you to surrender your life to Him. He wants you to accept His free gift of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
The only way that can happen is if you, like Peter, confess Him as Lord of your life.
If you want to know more about what that means, send me a message. I’d love to talk with you about it.
Blessings!
Tim McKnight is the founder and President of McKnight Ministries©, the nonprofit parent of Engage Every Generation. He is an Associate Professor of Missions and Youth Ministry and Director of the Great Commission Center at Anderson University. Tim is on the speaking team for Clayton King Ministries. Also, he is the lead pastor and planter of a new church plant, Mosaic Church of Anderson. Tim is the author of No Better Gospel (2017), Engaging Generation Z (Kregel 2021), and editor of Navigating Youth Ministry (B&H Academic 2022).
Tim started ministry in 1991 and has served churches in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina as a youth pastor, associate pastor, and lead pastor. He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bluefield College, and a M.Div. and Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His primary field of study for the Ph.D. was in evangelism, with additional studies in missions and church history. His dissertation was on The Theology and Methodology of Evangelism of George Whitefield.
He served as a US Army Chaplain in the Kentucky Army National Guard, deploying on Operation Noble Eagle (2001) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2002). He is a recipient of the Kentucky Army National Guard Distinguished Service Medal.
He is a husband to Angela, father to Micah, Noah, Karissa, and MaryAnna. The most important thing he would want you to know about himself is that he is a follower of Jesus Christ.
