Life's Biggest Question
Introduction: Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to discuss here in service what it meant to be the bride of Christ as we examined what we called engagement gifts that He has given to each of His us as disciples of Christ. And we concluded that the greatest of the gifts that Jesus gave to us is that we now have the ability and the authority to identify with Him.
Now if you are joining us for the first time or perhaps catching up, for the past month or so we have been tackling the idea of identity. It seems to be the greatest cultural question of our day and the truth is that it always has been. Am I man? Am I a girl? Am I homosexual, heterosexual, or both? Do black lives matter? Do blue lives matter? Do all lives matter? Am I republican, democrat, green party, tea party, or independent? Who am I? Why am I here? Is what they say about me true? etc. etc.
Every decision society makes hinges on the issue of identity. And it really makes sense. As the line of morality is blurred more and more we have lost the security we once had in absolute truth and as Christians we are far too often left shaken, uncertain of who we are, what it means to follow Jesus, why we’re here, and even doubting what love really is.
Life is filled with many questions. More than you or I can ever answer. In fact, as I examined my own life and found question after question, curiosity took hold and I spent a number of hours googling what life’s biggest questions are? What exactly is life’s biggest question? At first it was the endless philosophical debate one would expect:
How did I get here?
What is the meaning of life?
Is God real? Who is He?
Did we evolve from apes?
Is life really just a matrix?
Is truth relevant or absolute? And on and on and on.
But then I stumbled upon something that probably more accurately reflects the greatest questions of our day. Apparently using algorithms Google keeps a record each year of the most common questions. In 2014 the top question concerning love was, “What is love” and it was searched five times more than “what is science” and “how do I kiss” was searched more than any other activity including ‘how to survive.’
Remember the apostle Paul said, “if I have not love, I have nothing.” What Google essentially reveals is that people would rather die than to live without love. We were made to belong to someone. We were made to have a relationship with our heavenly Father; to love and be loved by Him.
Now concerning time, the most common question was ‘when is Easter’, which is a bit understanding, followed by another I couldn’t help but shake my head at; ‘when is Halloween?’
Pay attention to this part especially, as it is by far the most revealing. Among all the questions of how, who, what, why, and when searched in 2014, ‘how’ took first place appearing 8x times more than who.
Here’s a thought: Could it be that the reason we struggle so much with identity is that we spend far too much time asking ‘how’ when we should be asking ‘who’?
If you know me, you know I’m a movie buff; perhaps more than I should be and what makes a movie great to me is when it starts off on a climax, builds up to a cliffhanger and then gives you the backstory before revealing the ending. That’s how we’ll tackle today’s scripture.
Scripture: In Matthew 16, Jesus is having a conversation about His identity with His disciples, and Jesus asked every one of them an all-important question:
(Matthew 16:13-15 NASB) "13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?""
"Who do you say I am?" Spoiler alert! Simon Peter answered and he got it right.
Jesus didn’t ask the question because He was self-conscience about what people thought or because He was on the verge of some mid-life crisis struggling to find Himself. I’m sure the jeers of society probably hurt, but He didn’t ask for His ego to be boosted, or even to be comforted. He asked them for the same reason He asks us. He desires to reveal His glory to us, He desires to reveal His truth to us, He desires to give us life.
Getting this question right is both the quintessence of salvation and the starting point for a lifelong journey. You are saved when you come to know and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but that is only the beginning of your relationship with Him.
Who do you say I am? What would you say to that? Before you respond think of what preceded the question.
The disciples had been walking with Jesus for years by now, they had seen Him perform miracles, but also witnessed the weakness of His humanity though He did not sin. They saw Him get hungry, they saw Him get thirsty, they saw Him get tired. They saw His humanity.
John the Baptist who was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb who proclaimed the coming of the Lord, who had baptized Jesus and heard the voice of God proclaim “This is my son in whom I am well pleased” sent an inquiry from prison before being beheaded that essentially said, “Jesus of Nazareth! Are you really the Messiah, the Chosen One sent by God, or have I just thrown my life away for the wrong guy?”
Jesus said there was none greater than John, that He was the second coming of Elijah. And John doubted. So what is your answer now?
1. Is Jesus just a miracle worker?
(Matthew 16:1-4 NASB) "1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away."
a. How many times must He prove Himself to you?
i. I once heard it said that requests give direction for love and demands stop the flow of love.
1. Jesus owes us nothing. He’s already given it all
b. As Christians we can take this a step further. If He were to ask the question again, He may say “how is it you can read My word, decipher it’s meaning, go to church, hear the testimonies and still doubt me? Why is it you demand another miracle before you’ll give up the things I’m asking you to get rid of so you can become who you ought to be? Is it because you doubt me? Do you understand what is at stake? Do you understand the magnitude of my power and my grace? Who am I to you? Who do you say I am?”
2. Is Jesus a guilt-tripper?
(Matthew 16:5-14 NASB) "5 And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, "He said that because we did not bring any bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 "Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? 10 "Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? 11 "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.""
a. We worry about the wrong stuff
i. The reason we often live in shame is because we allow our short-comings to distort the reality of what Jesus is trying to do in our lives
1. We think He’s trying to shame us when He’s trying to protect us
(Romans 8:15-17 NASB) "15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."
1. Jesus was not talking about bread, He was talking about guarding the truth and protecting a royal inheritance
2. We view Him as our boss or our judge when He’s actually our friend; in fact, He calls us brother
(Hebrews 2:11-12 NASB) "11 … both He who sanctifies and those who are (being) sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,"I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.""
3. We jump to conclusions and we argue when we should be listening.
a. We argue about stuff, we argue about responsibilities, we even argue about Jesus; and we miss the warning because in our insecurities we choose condemnation over grace. All the while, Jesus just looks and says, “Hey, I’m not the accuser of the brethren. That’s Satan. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
(Matthew 16:15 NASB) "15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?""
Back to the climactic moment where we began. Jesus has just asked the biggest question any of us will ever have to answer. Peter has witnessed the brief doubt of John the Baptist; one of those “I believe, but help my unbelief moments.” The cynical remarks of the respected religious leaders of his day are fresh in his ears. The disciples after arguing about bread have just been rebuked and are beside themselves as to how to answer the question. Perhaps afraid of being wrong twice in a row they elect to remain silent.
Picture Peter, author of foot-in-mouth syndrome, as he quietly processes the words of Jesus spoken first to the religious leaders and then his peers. Doubt in that moment, fear even, would have been understandable. But Peter had been silent when no one else was and here stands Jesus, grace and love in His eyes, demanding an answer from those He has devoted His life to, and Peter does what God requires of us all. He humbles himself. He chooses to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ even when so many elements of his life deem him unqualified to even stand in His presence. He answers the question.
3. Is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
(Matthew 16:16-19 NASB) "16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.""
a. When we identify who Jesus is, more than a man, more than a prophet or a teacher, more than just a savior, more than just a lord, it becomes abundantly clear we need Him. There is no life without Him. Without Him we are lost.
When Simon correctly identified who Jesus was, Jesus identified who Simon was.
When Simon first encountered Jesus, Jesus said, “you shall be called rock.”
But when Simon finally gets it, when he finally identifies who Jesus is, Jesus says, “You ARE rock!”
He said, "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." From then on, Simon was known as Rock. That's what petros, or Peter, means in Greek.
What changed in that moment wasn't who Peter was but rather his view of who he was. Jesus had told Peter long ago who he really was, but when Peter correctly identified who Jesus was, he finally grabbed hold of his God-given identity. Jesus said he was a rock. Suddenly Peter could see the man he really was. And when he did Jesus promised him the keys to the kingdom. The power of the Holy Spirit.
True to His nature, God has been speaking to each of you trying to tell you the truth of who you really are. Maybe you’ve never walked with Him before or maybe you have been walking with Him a long time.
Closing:
So who do you say Jesus is? It's life's biggest question. Knowing God is paramount to finding out why He made you and who He means for you to be.
God wants to give you a revelation of who you are too. He wants to show you your value now, and He wants to open your eyes to who you can become in Him. He wants to give you the keys to His kingdom.
Google is right, at least about me. I spend for more time asking questions of how:
1. How can you love me?
2. How can you accept me?
3. How could you forgive me?
4. How am I supposed to change?
5. How could you let this happen?
6. How could You choose me?
7. How do I escape my pain?
8. How can I actually expect to be holy?
Really the only question that matters is who do you say I am God? Because He is the one who establishes my identity. So each day I awake, despite the blessed assurance He has given me, I require a new measure of grace and I have to respond to the voice of my Lord that asks with every trial, every doubt, and every lie I have heard spoken over my life, “Who do you say I am?”
Because I have to know who He is first, or I’ll never be able to trust in the power of His promises and His love.
So Stop talking about who you are not and what you cannot do, and start listening to what God says about your life. Stop labeling yourself, and start letting God do whatever He wants in, through, and with you. It's time to take the fullness of Christ into account when you think of yourself. It’s time to stop asking God how you can fix yourself, how you can be good enough and take a step of faith in proclaiming who He is. Let Him transform your life. He wants to reveal Himself to you today. It doesn’t matter who others say He is. It matters who you say He is.
