Life’s Most Important Question!

Life is full of questions. However, none is more important than the question Jesus asked His disciples as they were walking in the area of Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Philippi is a beautiful area located about twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee. A major feature of the location is a massive rock face from which flows one of the streams that form the Jordan River. This stream has created an oasis like area where the worship of pagan gods has taken place for centuries. Indents were carved out of the rock face and statues of pagan gods occupied those carved out spaces. It was here, while walking with His disciples, in the presence of these false gods, that Jesus asked his disciples a very important question.

In the Gospel of Mark 8:27-28 we read: "Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."

In this area, surrounded by the busts of the gods of the nations, Jesus asked His disciples: "Who do people say that I am?"

What an interesting question! Jesus is about six months to live before being crucified and He is interested in what His disciples have heard people say about Him. Notice their answers: "John the Baptist; Elijah; Jeremiah; One of the prophets". Interestingly, among the first century population, there seems to be no question as to whether or not Jesus did miracles. There was no question as to whether or not He was used of God. They questioned whether or not He was the promised Messiah, the Christ.

I was curious to see how people today would answer the question; "Who do men say that Jesus is?" I did a Google search asking that question and got over 3 million hits!
Many of the hits, and I obviously did not read them all, proclaimed Jesus as Savior and Messiah.
However, it was interesting to see how some people today answered that question.

• One fellow believes that Jesus was a myth. "From the standpoint of the supposed facts, the account of the Crucifixion of Christ is as impossible as is the raising of Lazarus from the standpoint of nature. The simple truth is that the four Gospels are historically worthless. They abound in contradictions, in the unreasonable, the miraculous and the monstrous. There is not a thing in them that can be depended upon as true, while there is much in them that we certainly know to be false."
  

  
  

• Islam holds that Jesus was a prophet but not God. "The (Qumran) revelation not only affirms Jesus' prophet hood, but it also clearly denies Jesus' divinity. In (the Qumran), God points out that Jesus ate food, which is a human act, obviously not befitting to God."
  

  
  

• Another individual surmises that: "Jesus was probably a sort of "communist" philosopher, preaching that all humans are equal, and that is what the Romans killed him for. He was probably killed with no trial, just like many other "rebels" of the time that Rome did not deem worthy of any bureaucracy. That is the reason why nobody knows where his tomb is: the Romans did not bother to bury him or return his body."
  

  
  

• And from one of our current day philosophers and self-proclaimed spiritual experts:
  "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. God's Name is holy, but no holier than yours. To call upon His Name is to call upon your own."
  There is no sin. The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol ... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray. Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross." Oprah Winfrey
  

• And as recently as 2008 the news media reported that: "Modern science has found no evidence of God, and so it's stupid to think God exist. Science has failed to find natural evidence of God. Natural evidence is all there is. No God. Case closed."
  

  
  

So some of the answers that Jesus would get today if He asked: "Who do men say that I am?" would be: "a myth; a prophet but not God; a communist philosopher; a pathetic symbol for the many names of god, and a scientifically non-existent entity."

Over the years I have had conversations with people who question Jesus and the Bible. They often ask me why I take any credence in a book which, according to them, was written by men. I usually answer their question with a question for them. "What is the standard on which you base your moral, ethical, and life actions and direction? I use the Bible, what do you use?" The answer is usually something like, "I am my own standard. I determine what is right and wrong for me." Further discussion with them will usually leave them wondering how the world can avoid mass chaos if everyone follows doing what is right in their own eyes.

So, why do you think that Jesus asked His disciples that particular question? Throughout history the debate has raged on – who is this Jesus? "Who do men say that I am?" Is He really who He said He was or was He just another egotistical fake who perpetrated a fraud that has plagued man for centuries? You and I will never end the debate on the question, Who do men say that I am? Only when the skeptics and unbelievers face Jesus upon their death will they understand the true answer to that question once and for all, and then it will be too late.

So why did Jesus ask His disciples, "Who do men say that I am? I think He was setting the stage to ask the next very interesting question which, along with Peter's amazing answer, we read in Mark 8: 29: "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Notice that this question was directed to each of them individually: "Who do you say that I am?
Jesus deals with individuals. His sacrificial death was for whosoever – you and me. So He asks: "Who do you say that I am?"
This is arguably the most important question that Jesus ever asked and it is a question He asks of everyone -- including each of us! How do you answer His question? Your answer is critical – it will determine your eternal future. "Who do you say that Jesus is?"

Some people have never thought much about this question, and some may never have heard it before. That doesn't change the importance of your answer. The significance of your answer is found in the fact that there is no other way to get to the Father, and an eternity in heaven, except by believing that Jesus is who He said He was.

• John 14:6 – "No one comes to the Father except through Me."
  

  
  

• Acts 4:12 – "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
  

  
  

• 1 Tim. 2:5 – "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ."
  

  
  

Salvation, an eternity with God in heaven, forgiveness of sins, and a right relationship with God while on this earth, comes only, only, only through belief in Jesus Christ. A belief that accepts Him for who He says He is and a belief that places Him on the throne in your life as your personal Lord and Savior.

We cannot earn eternal salvation. It does not come by doing good things while here on earth, or by believing in Allah, Buddha, yourself or any of the New Age gods. When you die and stand before your Maker, He will know how you answered the question: "Who do you say that I am?" And, during that encounter, according the Bible, you will not be given a second chance.

So I ask you again: "Who do you say Jesus Christ is?" Do you believe that He is who He says He is? Do you believe, as Peter stated, that He is the Christ? Do you believe that "God so loved the world – that's you and me – that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life?"

Many have answered Jesus' question as Peter did: "You are the Christ." Those of us who have answered this way believe that Jesus is who He said He is and that He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We believe in Him and have accepted Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

But our text in Mark does not end there; look at verses 34 – 38:

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Believing in your head that Jesus is the Christ is not enough – you must believe in your heart of hearts! Why? Because believing in Jesus Christ is more than a religion – it's a relationship. A relationship in which Jesus can pour out His love for you and you can reciprocate with love and adoration for Him and others. If we truly believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we have a responsibility; a responsibility to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

So the question that Jesus asks: "Who do you say that I am?" Begs several more questions:

• If you believe that He is the Christ, have you taken up your cross and denied yourself for Him?
  

  
  

• If you believe that He is the Christ, is He truly the most important person in your life? Remember, He is the One who purchased you with His shed blood!
  

  
  

• If you believe that He is the Christ, can others see in your life that Jesus is your primary reason for living? Can they see that you have taken up your cross and are following Him?
  

  
  

• If you have a relationship with Jesus, is it too much for Him to ask that you spend time with Him and talk with Him? That you try to learn, through study of the Bible, what it means "to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him"?
  

  
  

  
  

There is more, so much more, than words to your answer to the question: "Who do you say that I am?" There are actions that demonstrate that you really understand what He is asking, who He is, what He has done for you, and that He is your Lord. These actions include daily time in prayer and Bible study, talking with Him and listening to Him. They include being a living witness that testifies of His presence in you and with you. They include a desire to love and be with His people for encouragement, support, ministry, and fellowship. A desire to be in worship services in S.S., and in Small Group Bible studies. These actions demonstrate your commitment to a relationship with Jesus.

If you have never responded to Jesus before, there is no better time then right now, right where you are. Now is the time for you to answer Jesus' question – "Who do you say that I am?" – and then, if you truly believe and accept Him as your Savior, tell someone and seek out a mature believer who can mentor you as you grow in the Lord.

If you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, there is also no better time than right now to examine yourselves honestly to see if you are walking in a way that truly demonstrates that you know who He is. If you have not taken up His cross and denied yourself, now is the time to confess your sin and to commit to change your behavior. In 1 John 1:9 we read that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Take time right now to examine your heart and honestly answer Jesus. He is asking you right now: Who do you say that I am?