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Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say I am?”
Jesus used questions to help listeners understand their own hearts. He used questions to teach, test, rebuke and praise. This devotional attempts to do the same using His questions.
If we asked several people who Jesus is, we will likely hear conflicting answers. We might hear that Jesus was a prophet from long ago, a very religious man, or a good man with high morals.
In three of the four Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied with people’s different beliefs, like John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or other prophets.
At the same time, they could have also added the names that others ascribed to Him, like culturally defiant, liar, or heretic.
Jesus cared what others thought of Him. He didn’t care in a people-pleasing way, but because their salvation depended on their view of Him.
His disciples witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard His teachings. They were among large crowds, hearing and observing their reactions to Jesus’ words and actions. But at the same time, these 12 men were deciding for themselves who this kind and powerful person was.
People we come in contact with can shape our opinions and may also cause us to doubt what we know of God. Consider social media, where we face strong opinions and sometimes conflicting messages. Jesus knew the disciples heard mixed messages, and He knows that we do too.
It is wise to guard our hearts against false teachings that go against what the Bible says about Jesus. It’s also wise to attempt to guard others from false teachings as well. Believing false notions about who Jesus is could delay someone coming to a personal faith in the one true God.
In the end, we will give an account to God for our lives and the opinions of others will not matter. We can compare what we hear and read to Scripture so we understand His heart.
In reflection, what are the beliefs others have about Jesus? Have the views of others affected your belief in God?
Zvinechekuita neHurongwa uhu
Jesus was and is divine, always aware of the thoughts of others. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus used questions to help listeners understand their own hearts. This video-based reading plan helps you dive into the basic beliefs of the gospel to understand the core beliefs of Jesus Christ, and answer the questions He asked.
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