He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Matthew 16:15
This is the second in a set of questions that the Lord Jesus asked on this occasion. His first question was to see whether the disciples had been listening to what people were saying about Him. Yes, they had noticed that some people thought that Jesus was John Baptist or one of the Old Testament prophets. If that had been true, it would have been a miraculous thing, and the people would have been justified in being amazed and impressed. In his second question, today’s text, the Lord Jesus gets much more personal. He wants to know what decision the disciples have come to regarding Himself. In His question is the implied query whether they agree with the people. But in His question is also the opportunity to make most important acknowledgment in our entire life. Because, our eternal welfare depends on knowing and accepting Who the Lord Jesus truly is.
When we look back to the day we were saved, we appreciate how we were brought to understand that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Our faith was placed in the only begotten Son of God as our Saviour. It was precious to us that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, Who had died for our sins. It was also precious to us that Jesus is Lord. And the preciousness of His lordship has grown since we first believed, as we have come to know Him and His word. We have appreciated the value of His lordship in our family and work lives, in our Assembly lives, in our testimonies for Him. That Jesus is both Christ and Lord is the most important truth in our entire experience.
But what of those around us? Do they know that Jesus is the Christ, or do they consider Him to be a mere prophet or teacher? Or do they even consider Him at all. Just as the disciples found few who knew who Jesus was, so we will find few who can do more than parrot pious expressions from their religious training, or shrug in indifference. In an age when there are more Bibles printed and distributed than ever before in history, Jesus Christ is an unknown to the world. Is that our fault for being so sluggish in getting the message out about Him? Maybe so. Is it the fault of the age of apathy, immorality, and selfishness in which we live? Probably so. Regardless of the reason, the world doesn’t know what we have learned, and that leaves us with the responsibility of telling – and showing – the world who Jesus is.
The Sunday School chorus tells us that everybody ought to know who Jesus is. To know Who He is is the most wonderful and most necessary knowledge on the planet. -Jim MacIntosh