Discovering Identity: Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound question of identity, both in the context of our faith and our personal lives. We began with a story about Jay Leno and a Harley Davidson motorcycle supposedly owned by Elvis Presley. Although the story is fictional, it serves as a metaphor for recognizing the value of what we possess, particularly the gift of the church given to us by the King of Kings. This gift demands our dedication and energy to advance His kingdom, regardless of our circumstances.
We then delved into the biblical narrative from Matthew 16, where Jesus, nearing the cross, asks His disciples a pivotal question: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" This question, posed in the religiously significant region of Caesarea Philippi, highlights the confusion and varied opinions about Jesus' identity. Despite being surrounded by numerous temples and false gods, Jesus seeks to clarify His true identity to His disciples.
The disciples' responses reflect a common misunderstanding, likening Jesus to prophets like John the Baptist or Elijah. However, Jesus shifts the focus to a more personal inquiry: "But who do you say that I am?" This question challenges us to move beyond hearsay and develop a personal understanding of who Jesus is. It is a question that demands an answer, both in this life and in eternity.
Peter's declaration, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," underscores the Messianic nature of Jesus' identity. This acknowledgment is not just a statement of belief but a recognition of Jesus' divine authority and mission. It invites us to reflect on our own understanding of Jesus and how it shapes our lives.
In sharing a personal testimony about the loss of a loved one, we are reminded of the hope we have in Christ. The assurance of eternal life and reunion with those who have gone before us is a source of comfort and strength. Our faith in Jesus as the ultimate healer and redeemer gives us hope beyond the temporal struggles of this world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Value of the Church: The church, a gift from the King of Kings, demands our dedication and energy to advance His kingdom. It is not just a place of worship but a community that requires our commitment, even when life is challenging. [07:36]
2. Understanding Jesus' Identity: Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" challenges us to develop a personal understanding of His identity. This is not just about knowing facts but experiencing a relationship with Him that transforms our lives. [15:30]
3. The Importance of Personal Revelation: Like Peter, we must come to a personal revelation of who Jesus is. This understanding is foundational to our faith and influences how we live and interact with the world. [21:51]
4. Hope in Eternal Life: The assurance of eternal life in Christ provides comfort in the face of loss. Our hope is not just in this life but in the promise of a future reunion with our loved ones in the presence of God. [20:43]
5. Living with Purpose: Recognizing Jesus as the Christ compels us to live with purpose and dedication. Our lives should reflect His love and truth, impacting those around us and advancing His kingdom. [22:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:44] - The Legend of Jay Leno's Harley
- [06:55] - The Gift of the Church
- [09:30] - Jesus' Question in Caesarea Philippi
- [12:09] - The Messianic Narrative
- [15:30] - The Critical Question
- [17:04] - Who is Jesus?
- [19:04] - Personal Testimony of Loss
- [21:18] - Hope in Christ
- [21:51] - Peter's Declaration
- [23:14] - Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 16:13-20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" What are some of the responses given by the disciples? How do these responses reflect the general perception of Jesus at that time? [12:53]
2. What is the significance of the location, Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asks His disciples about His identity? How does this setting contribute to the narrative? [09:53]
3. How does Peter's declaration in Matthew 16:16, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," differ from the other responses given by the disciples? What does this reveal about Peter's understanding of Jesus? [21:51]
4. The sermon mentions a fictional story about Jay Leno and a Harley Davidson. How does this story serve as a metaphor for the value of the church? [06:55]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus choose to ask His disciples about His identity in a place surrounded by temples and false gods? What message might this convey about His authority and mission? [10:18]
2. How does Peter's personal revelation of Jesus as the Christ serve as a foundation for the church's mission and purpose? In what ways does this understanding influence the church's role in the world? [21:51]
3. The sermon discusses the hope of eternal life in Christ. How does this hope provide comfort in the face of loss, and how might it shape a believer's perspective on life and death? [20:43]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of moving beyond hearsay to develop a personal understanding of Jesus' identity? How might this personal revelation impact one's faith journey? [15:30]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal understanding of Jesus' identity. How has this understanding shaped your life and faith journey? Are there areas where you feel challenged to deepen your relationship with Him? [15:30]
2. The sermon emphasizes the value of the church as a gift from the King of Kings. How can you contribute to advancing His kingdom through your local church, even when life is challenging? [07:36]
3. Consider a time when you experienced loss. How did your faith in the hope of eternal life provide comfort during that period? How can you offer this hope to others who are grieving? [20:43]
4. Peter's declaration of Jesus as the Christ was a pivotal moment. What steps can you take to ensure that your understanding of Jesus is based on personal revelation rather than hearsay? [21:51]
5. The sermon challenges us to live with purpose and dedication, recognizing Jesus as the Christ. What specific actions can you take this week to reflect His love and truth in your interactions with others? [22:13]
6. How can you create opportunities to discuss Jesus' identity with others, especially those who may have misconceptions about Him? What approach might you take to engage in meaningful conversations about faith? [15:30]
7. The sermon uses a fictional story to illustrate a point. How can you use stories or metaphors in your own life to communicate spiritual truths to others effectively? [06:55]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Divine Gift
The church is not merely a building or a gathering place; it is a divine gift from the King of Kings, entrusted to us to advance His kingdom. This gift requires our dedication and energy, even when life presents challenges. The church is a community where believers come together to worship, support one another, and grow in faith. It is a place where we can find strength and encouragement to live out our calling as followers of Christ. Recognizing the value of the church compels us to invest our time, talents, and resources to further God's work on earth. [07:36]
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community this week, using your unique gifts and talents to serve others?
Day 2: Personal Understanding of Jesus
Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" invites us to move beyond secondhand knowledge and develop a personal understanding of His identity. This is not just about knowing facts or doctrines but experiencing a transformative relationship with Him. In a world filled with diverse opinions and beliefs, it is crucial to seek a personal revelation of who Jesus is. This understanding shapes our faith and influences how we live our lives, guiding us in our daily decisions and interactions with others. [15:30]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus and gain a clearer understanding of His identity?
Day 3: The Power of Personal Revelation
Like Peter, we are called to come to a personal revelation of who Jesus is. This understanding is foundational to our faith and influences how we live and interact with the world. It is not enough to rely on the opinions of others; we must seek our own encounter with Christ. This revelation empowers us to live with conviction and purpose, knowing that our faith is grounded in a personal relationship with the living God. [21:51]
"But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone." (Galatians 1:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you experienced a personal revelation of Jesus. How did it impact your faith journey, and how can you seek more of these moments?
Day 4: Hope Beyond This Life
The assurance of eternal life in Christ provides comfort and hope in the face of loss. Our faith in Jesus as the ultimate healer and redeemer gives us strength to endure the temporal struggles of this world. The promise of a future reunion with our loved ones in the presence of God is a source of great comfort. This hope encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us. [20:43]
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)
Reflection: How does the promise of eternal life influence your perspective on current challenges or losses you are facing?
Day 5: Living with Purpose
Recognizing Jesus as the Christ compels us to live with purpose and dedication. Our lives should reflect His love and truth, impacting those around us and advancing His kingdom. This recognition calls us to align our actions and decisions with His teachings, living in a way that honors Him. As we embrace our identity in Christ, we are empowered to make a difference in the world, sharing His love and truth with others. [22:13]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to live with purpose and reflect Christ's love and truth in your daily interactions?
Quotes
We have the King of Kings who has gifted us with his church. I believe, ladies and gentlemen, the church demands our life, blood, our life's energy so that our King and his kingdom will continue to advance in the world. Are y'all with me here? This church, this local church has the responsibility of lifting the name of Jesus not when we feel like it but even when we don't feel like it, when we're happy, when we're sad, when we are going through the upheavals of life. We have a king that is worthy of our honor. [00:07:30]
Jesus is drawing close to the Cross. He's ebing toward the reason he came to the Earth. Days are fastly approaching. So you know whenever you see red writing, you know the boss man is talking. Jesus says, according to the Evangelist Matthew, verse 13 says according to ESV, now when Jesus came into the District of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the son of man is? [00:09:02]
Notice that list in verse 14 is a Pantheon of prophets. They know that Jesus is somebody, but they're vague, they're foggy, they are in the proverbial dark as it relates to his true identity. You know, don't you feel a kind of way when the people that you eat with, that you sleep with, that you laugh with, that you cry with, don't it make you feel a kind of way when you can hear it in their conversation they really don't know who you are? [00:13:11]
But who do you say that I am? Y'all feel the shift? He starts out with a general question, now he moves to a critical question. Not what they say, but what do you say? You got that look on your face. Maybe I need to take this time to ask you, do you know who Jesus is? Come on now, don't make me read your body language. Some of us not sitting like we know who he is. [00:15:30]
Do you know who Jesus is? That is the critical question of the text. You're going to have to answer that question in time or in eternity. Trust me, this question is coming up again. Who is, not was, who is? Oh, bless his name. Not used to be, who is? Who's Jesus? I hear you, I hear you. Some say he's my doctor, he's my lawyer, he's my 4-day traveler, he's my bread when I'm hungry, my water when I'm thirsty. [00:16:24]
He is a bridge over troubled water. He is shelter in a time of storm. He is my Rose of Sharon, he's my Lily in the valley, he's my bright and Morning Star. Do you know him? He's a doctor that has never lost a patient. Well, Reverend, I lost my loved one. I'm arguing that he's a doctor that never lost a patient. Prayerfully consider if he would have raised your loved one from their sickness in time, they eventually would have died. [00:17:04]
But the great physician decided to give them the ultimate Deliverance. Y'all not with me, and he decided I'm going to raise him from that sick bed, and I am going to gather them home to myself to where they are absent from the body, but they will be present with me forevermore. Can I give you, Lord, hold my mind, can I give you a little slither of my own testimony? [00:18:19]
My grandmother who raised me till I met my wife, she was my best friend. Telepathically, before I knew how to say that word, we had a way of communicating with one another without words. All we had to do is look at each other. Oh, she was my girl, but when God called her home, he carried her home after having a series of strokes. [00:19:04]
I'll never forget it. I was driving home from my office in LA traffic, trying to make it home, and I had one thought in my mind: boy, when I get home, I'm calling that woman. I'm four numbers in, and the Holy Spirit says she's not there, she's with me. Thank God I was at home by myself. I told my house up, just wanted to hear that silky voice one more time. [00:19:52]
If I could have had a conversation with her, I would have emotionally felt like everything was okay. But as I pondered, I said to myself, I wouldn't want her back if it meant she came back and she was still in a wheelchair. That was a shell of who my grandmother was. I wouldn't want her back if she was walking and had a limp. I wanted her back in her fullness. [00:20:43]
I would rather her stay with God and God ultimately one day call me home to where we will have a reunion again. She's in a place, Lord help me, where there are no more tears, no more sadness, no more sickness, no more medication, no more high blood pressure, no more pain, no more hearses wheels that are rolling, no more ambulance that are howling. She is in a place far better than we are. [00:21:18]
Simon Peter replied, verse 16, you are, I told you this is a Messianic narrative, you are the Christ, watch this, the son of the Living God. Read it devotionally when you get an opportunity this week. Notice the narrative starts out when he says who do men say that I, watch this, the son of man is. But now, Peter, Big Mouth, y'all know everybody know a Peter or a Petes. [00:21:51]
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