Who is Jesus? What is his identity? As Jesus traveled around teaching and healing, people were talking. They wondered who he was, and they came to some interesting conclusions, as we can see in Luke 9.
Herod wondered who Jesus was and heard what people were saying. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Others thought he was Elijah. Still others thought he was another ancient prophet raised again. When Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, they responded with the same ideas – John, Elijah, an ancient prophet. All three options agree on the idea that he was a prophet. Curiously, all three ideas also agree that he was a dead prophet raised from the dead.
Today, people have their own ideas about who Jesus is. Some children presumably might think Jesus is simply a swear word, as that is the only time they have ever heard the name. Others think he was a great deceiver of the people. Most I suspect would simply say he was a good teacher, a moral person, a spiritual leader akin to the Dalia Lama and others. Who is Jesus?
His Claim (v20-22)
Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was. Closer to the source perhaps they had a better answer. As usual Peter takes the role of the spokesman and suggests that he is the Christ of God; that is, he is God’s Messiah, the one predicted in the Old Testament to be sent by God, the coming king. It is clear from parallel passages that Jesus agrees with Peter’s assessment…as far as it goes.
And yet the popular view of the Messiah at the time was that of a political leader who would free the Jewish people from their Roman oppressors. And so Jesus goes on to redefine for them who he was as the Messiah. He must suffer. He would be rejected by the Jewish leaders. He would be killed. And then he would be raised from the dead.
The Old Testament speaks of one who will in fact suffer, be rejected and killed, an even hints at a resurrection in various places. The clearest passage is surely Isaiah 53 which clearly predicts these things, as well as giving the reason – he will die to pay for sins. As Jesus seeks to broaden their understanding of the Messiah, he points to himself as not only the King but also the Savior.
Sorting the Options
This didn’t fit with their understanding. Indeed parallel passages tell us that Peter rebukes Jesus. This view of Jesus overall doesn’t fit today either. A good teacher is fine, but not the King and Savior of the world. And yet, suppose I claimed to be sent by God to reign over you as king and to save you from your sins. Would you call me a good teacher? A spiritual leader? No, you would think I was an egotistical nut. Such claims to be king and savior negate the idea of being a good teacher, unless those claims are true.
Who is Jesus? He is either the King and Savior as he claims or he is an egotistical nut, a fruitcake. And yet he doesn’t act like a nut. He is not at all like the mentally disturbed folks you might meet wandering around downtown cities claiming to be the Messiah. He speaks and acts with sanity, and indeed with power – casting out demons, calming storms, healing disease, and even raising the dead. The evidence, I suggest, points to him being who he claims to be – the King and Savior. Have you come to believe in him as your King and your Savior?
Brian J. Mikul 