Thoughts From One Never Alone

Who do you think I am? Jesus asked this question of His disciples in Matthew 16. After addressing the perspective of others, Peter declares, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (v16). Since that discussion, people of every generation have wrestled with this eternally significant question. Critics have worked to undermine the message of Christ. Proponents have worked to proclaim it. In the midst of these voices, however, it’s important to ask the question, ‘How did Jesus describe Himself?’ We can easily answer this by turning to the Gospel of John. Consider the following ways in which Jesus identified Himself:

• The Son of God – ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life’ (3:16).
• The Messiah/Christ – “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (4:25, 26).
• The Life Giver and Judge – ‘For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son’ (5:21, 22).
• The Bread of Life – ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst’ (6:35).
• The Light of the world – ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’ (8:12).
• The eternal God – “So the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM’” (8:57, 58).
• The Door through which we must pass for salvation – ‘I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved’ (10:9)
• The Good Shepherd – ‘I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (his people)’ (10:11)
• Equal with the Father – ‘I and the Father are one’ (10:30)
• The Resurrection and the Life – ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies’ (11:25).
• Lord – ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am’ (13:13).
• The only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life – ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’ (14:6)

Hank Hanegraaff correctly observes, ‘The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty human authors in three different languages, on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all.’ The Old Testament declares that one would come fitting these descriptions; the New Testament declares that one did come. Christ claimed to be the one.

At the end of the day, each of us must wrestle with Jesus’ claims regarding His identity. We don’t ultimately depend upon the description others provide. Either Christ was truthful or He was not. Scripture, history, and the Spirit of God testify to the truthfulness of Christ. Believing in the person of Christ and His message brings forgiveness and life. How do you answer Christ’s question?