Use Your Keys: Finding Purpose in LifeSample

Who Is Jesus?

Jesus is sitting with His disciples and asks them an interesting question.

He says, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples answer with John the Baptist, which couldn’t be true because they were alive at the same time and John baptized Jesus, Elijah, and Jeremiah, which also couldn’t be true because these were Old Testament prophets.

Did you ever wonder why these were the answers given? Well, these were men who could do miracles, who spoke the Word of God, and who demanded repentance. They were bold and stood up to rulers. People compared Jesus to these men because Jesus did these same things. People are still doing this today. Many of the people you know believe Jesus existed. They believe He was a great man and even a true prophet who could do miracles. They, like the Jews, have trouble accepting that He was the Messiah—the Anointed One, the Promised One, the Deliverer, the Savior.

Yes, Jesus is all of those things the disciples listed, but in this moment, He wanted them to dig deeper, to know the truth about who He was. So, He asks, “Who do you think I am?”

Friends, He is asking you the same question. Who do you believe He is? Seriously, I cannot continue this message until we answer this question. Who is Jesus to you? Is He a guy you pray to once in a while? Is He someone you hear about on Sundays? Maybe you post a quote about Him on your social media page occasionally. Do you fully understand and recognize who Jesus is? This is the most important question you will ever answer because everything you believe and every single aspect of your life depends on your answer. In fact, it is the foundation of your very existence. Who do you say He is?

Well, Simon—impulsive, bold, reckless Simon—knew the answer to this question. He understood that Jesus was so much more than what they said. He wasn’t John the Baptist; He wasn’t Elijah or Jeremiah; and He wasn’t just a prophet, miracle worker, good guy, or political figure. He answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Christ was not a name. It was a title. It meant Messiah. What Simon was saying was, “You are Jesus, the Messiah.”

What he recognized, we all must recognize. We must believe it to the depths of our core. We can’t just SAY it … we must KNOW it.