Perhaps the greatest question put to mankind is “Who do you say Jesus is?”

This question has been asked and answered numerous times over the past 2,000 years. The answer is the key to salvation and eternal life.

In Chapter 9 of Luke’s account of the Gospel, Herod (tetrarch over Galilee) heard reports of Jesus’ teaching, preaching, and miracles, and asked his servants who Jesus was. He had heard rumors that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead, or that the prophet Elijah had appeared, or one of the old prophets was risen again (Luke 9:7-9).

Earlier in that chapter Luke recorded that Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs, granting them power to heal and cast out demons. They went about the countryside preaching as they did so (verses 1-6). Afterwards they returned to Jesus (v. 10) and Jesus fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish (v.11-17). After this, when they were alone, Jesus asked the disciples who people said that He was (v. 18). The answer was the same that was reported to Herod: John the Baptist risen, or Elijah returned, or a prophet of old (v. 19). Jesus then asked the disciples who they would say that He is (v. 20). Peter spoke for the group saying “The Christ of God” (v. 20) and Jesus confirms this by telling the disciples to not tell anyone at that time (v. 21) and goes on to explain why.

Many today reject that answer and that designation. They want to take a middle-of-the-road stance that they believe is non-controversial by stating that He was simply a good teacher. Unfortunately, that answer is as controversial as any, because Jesus Himself doesn’t allow for that position. If we are going to hold that Jesus was a good teacher, then we need to understand what He taught about Himself – Who does Jesus say that Jesus is?

In John 14:6 He states that He is the way, the truth and the Life, and that no one could come to God the Father except by Him. In John 4, He taught the Samaritan woman at the well the He is the Living Water, and specifically Christ the Messiah (v. 26). In Revelation He claimed to be the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End and “the Almighty” (1:8). Perhaps the clearest statement was His response to the Pharisees in John 8:58. He didn’t say “before Abraham was, I was,” He said “before Abraham was, I AM.” I AM is the answer God gave to Moses on Mt Sinai, when he asked God what he should tell the Hebrews what His name was – “Tell them I AM sent you (Exodus 3:14).” For those that may be unsure that this was Jesus’ claim, we can tell that the Pharisees knew that this was exactly what Jesus was saying – they immediately sought to stone Him for heresy.

So, we are faced then with a dilemma – how can we say Jesus is a great teacher if we don’t believe what He taught about Himself? Again, Jesus does not give us that middle-of-the-road answer. He is either

Emmanuel – God WITH us, or he was a liar, a heretic, or a fraud. Those are the only options to choose from. If He lied about Himself, then the “good teacher” option is gone. If He told the truth about Himself, then He is so much more than a “good teacher.”

Servant of Christ