THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, August 18, 2023

Lord, for a couple thousand years, people have had mixed beliefs answering who you are. Matthew 16:13–15 records the conversation when you asked your disciples, “Who do people say the ‘Son of Man’ is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

The question is still asked today: who is the Son of Man? Your title ‘Son of Man’ is another way of saying “God as a human.” How we view you, Jesus, determines how we view everything in our life, our problems, our challenges, even our pains and losses. Are you divine or just a mortal?

The Old Testament points to your coming as the Messiah, who would rescue your people from their oppressors. The New Testament describe your life and purpose: to be the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, to pay sin’s penalty for us, and to defeat the power of the enemy of your people, the devil.

For those who believe you Jesus were just a good moral teacher, but in no way was God, what good is following you if you were just a mere man like we are and unable to redeem us from our sins? They dismiss your miracles as nothing more than urban legends. They say you were unjustly murdered by crucifixion by the Romans. Your resurrection from the dead is only a myth.

For Christ followers, our answers should be you are the unique Son of God, fully God and fully human, the Savior of the world who came from Heaven to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. You were buried, and God raised you to life again on Easter Sunday. Only you, Lord Jesus, could change our heart, rebirth us to new life on the inside, give our souls hope in this insane world.  

I’m saying you, Jesus. are the only Son of God, who can save us our oppressor, the devil. Amen.