What Do You Believe About Jesus
Jesus Makes the Headlines
Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13
“They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Matthew 16:14
“’But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am?’” Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
FOUR truths about knowing Jesus:
1. It is possible to be CLOSE but WRONG.
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 (NKJV)
2. There is a RIGHT and WRONG answer.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 (NLV)
3. It is GOD the FATHER who gives you the understanding.
“Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.” Matthew 16:17 (MSG)
4. Your belief can CHANGE and EMPOWER your life.
“And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” Matthew 16:18 (MSG)
Who is Jesus Christ and what it means to us:
• SON OF MAN
“… The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NIV)
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 (NIV)
SINCE JESUS IS FULLY HUMAN, HE TRULY UNDERSTANDS US.
“He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (MSG)
• SON OF GOD
“… My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason [the Jews] tried all the [harder] to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:17-18 (NIV)
“Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.” Colossians 2:9 (MSG)
“… My Lord and my God!” John 20:28 (NIV)
“This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words! After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God…” Hebrews 1:3 (MSG)
SINCE JESUS IS FULLY GOD, HE REVEALS GOD TO US.
“… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’?” John 14:9 (NIV)
• OUR MEDIATOR
Why does Jesus have to be human?
“… there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6 (MSG)
SINCE JESUS IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN, HE IS THE ONLY ONE QUALIFIED TO BRING US INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.