I AM

In addition to teaching His disciples by word and actions, Jesus often asked questions to make them think for themselves … to “practice” for the types of questions they would hear after He had physically left them to join the Father in Heaven.

One such time is recorded in Matthew 16: 13:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah, but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

Hasn’t that been evidence of Satan’s great deception since Jesus' life, death and resurrection? Haven’t we all heard at some point in our lives something like this:

“Well, Jesus was certainly a great teacher, but Son of God…”

Or, “Jesus was all about love and peace. I rank him right up there with Gandhi and John Lennon.”

Or, as some cults suggest: “Jesus was a great man, but he was, after all, a created man, just like you and me.”

I am grateful that God Himself spoke to Peter when Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do YOU say that I am?”

Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

To that expression of the profound, beautiful truth, Jesus said to Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.”

And to those today who would make the blasphemous suggestion that Jesus himself did not claim to be the Christ, I recall first the hundreds of prophecies that were fulfilled in His life, death and resurrection.

I also share Matthew 27:11, when Roman Governor Pontius Pilate asked Jesus pointblank: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

And Jesus replied: “Yes, it is as you say.”

And John 10:30, when Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

And finally to John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except by me.”

Precious Jesus, we worship you and glorify your name: You are indeed the king … our redeemer king. The way … promising that with our surrender you will never leave us or forsake us. You are the life … taking all sin upon yourself so that we might be justified … welcomed into your loving arms with joy and peace in this life, and the awesome hope of eternal life in Heaven.