Who Is Jesus

Who Is Jesus?

Text: Luke 9:18-20 (NIV)

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

19They 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, “The Christ of God.”

I.        Introduction:

II.      Jesus Is Identified in the Court of Public Opinion: The Rumors of Ignorance

A.      A Question Concerning Others: A Second Hand Question

1.       Measuring The Disciple's Understanding Of Others

2.       Measuring Other's Understanding Of Jesus

B.      A Question With Many Answers: A Multiple Choice Question

1.       Multiple Persons

a)       John the Baptist

b)       Elijah

c)       A Nameless Prophet

2.       Multiple Traits

a)       People Who Were Famous

b)       People Who  Cheated Death

(1)     Raised From The Dead

(2)     Eluding Death

c)       People Who Worked Miracles

III.   Jesus Is Identified in the Confession of Personal Experience: The Reality of Identity

A.      A  Question That Has To Be Answered Personally

1.       Focusing On The Individual

2.       Focusing On Jesus

B.      A Question That Has To Be Answered Correctly

1.       A Correct Belief In The Christ: The Reality of the Confession

2.       A Correct Identification Of The Christ: The Reality of the Person

a)       Identified As Being The Christ

b)       Identified As Being Of God

Conclusion: What we believe about Jesus does not change who He is, but it does make a difference in us.

Peter, after confessing who Jesus was, when the flow of public opinion was against Jesus, denied ever knowing Him.

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