By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Who Do You Say That I Am?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Jesus said to them, “Who do you say that I am?””
Matthew 16:15 English Standard Version

When Pastor Josh dressed up to play Jesus for a children’s message, his daughter Haley was confused.  “Why are you wearing this big white robe?”, she seems to be saying.  I am sure that she doesn’t think her dad is Jesus!

Jesus asked His disciples once, “Who do you say that I am?”  They had told Him who others thought Him to be; John the Baptist risen from the dead, or Moses, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.  Just as today, plenty of people have plenty of ideas about who Jesus is; a good teacher, a prophet, a tragic hero, or even a stern judge.

But Peter stated clearly who Jesus is.  He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus is the Son of God who chose to leave His heavenly throne to be conceived and born a human, to suffer, to be crucified, to die, and to be buried.  He offered Himself as a Sacrifice for our sins, He was punished for our iniquities, bruised for our transgressions. In His death on the cross our sins are paid for and we are redeemed.

And then on the third day He rose from the dead to show Himself victorious over sin and death and the devil.  In His resurrection He gave us eternal life and joy forever with Him.  After His  ascension He sent the Holy Spirit so that we might never be alone and might have faith in Him, even in the toughest circumstances.  And He promises to come again to judge the living and the dead, to raise all who believed in Him to eternal life with Him forever.

That is who Jesus is; He is the promised Messiah, the suffering Savior, the Friend of sinners, the victorious Lord of all creation, the eternal Son of God.  Just as Peter said, we also cry out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado