Who do YOU say I am?

18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

(Luke 9:18-20)

It is easy for us to repeat facts about the Bible, Jesus, or God. Facts are impersonal bits of information we an use to sway someone's opinion or prove someone wrong with. That is not at all what God desires for us. Look at the passage above again.

Jesus makes things really personal. "Who do you say I am?"

I believe Jesus is constantly asking you that question. He wants you to know the truth about who he really is.

He also asks, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

You need to be able to distinguish between what everyone else is saying and what you know is true. And we know that God's Word is true. The crowds say that Jesus is...

Just a man

An angry God

Not real

The cause of your problems

Self -seeking

But Jesus proclaims himself as "Savior". This idea of a Savior encompasses every aspect of life. "I came to give you life, real, eternal life." (John 10:10)

"Who do you say I am?"

Is Jesus kind to you? Does he love you? Is he ashamed of you?

"We must pay more careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrew 2:1)

Don't just listen to anyone. Listen to the truth of Jesus' grace.

Jesus says, "I do not condemn you."

Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus says, "You are healed."

Jesus says, "I am not ashamed to call you my brothers and sisters."

Please realize how personal Jesus is. Good things happen to people who know that Jesus loves them.