Episode 57 - Who Is The Master

Once Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"  In this episode I bring some information from the life and teachings of Jesus to help us answer this critically important question for ourselves.  As His disciples, we certainly need to know who our Master is as we daily walk with Him.  

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Transcript

Hello friends, I'm your host Dave Laton and welcome to the podcast, Walking With Our Master, an outreach of the Prattville Church of Christ designed to inform, encourage, and teach as we daily walk with our Master. 

We are continuing our series on Applied Discipleship ~ More Than You Know.  We’re looking at different elements of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  

 When someone asks us the question, "Who are you?" there are several ways we can answer it.  One might be to simply state your name or family association.  Another might be to include your professional title or another title you might be known by.  Sometimes how we answer that question reflects how we view ourselves or value ourselves.  For example, someone might answer, "I'm not anybody special."  

We’re going to look at in this episode how answering the question of Who Jesus is, is certainly more than we know as we begin our service as disciples. 

Jesus asked his disciples one time of who men said He was.  He wanted to know what others were saying about who He was.  But he also wanted to take advantage of a teachable moment.  We'll look at this later.  This questions seems logical that if we are going to claim to be disciples of Jesus, then we need to understand who He is.  

 As a minimum, Jesus is the absolute foundation of our faith.  The Hebrews writer stated it perfectly in Hebrews 12:2.

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 Jesus is also described as the cornerstone of our faith (Psalm 118:22).  This was a prophetic statement about the role of Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb.  Paul reminds us of this expression in Ephesians 2:20 as he also describes Jesus as the cornerstone upon which the household of God is built. 

There are many sources about the history of Jesus both within scripture and from non-scriptural (secular) writings.  There are many who question the existence of God.  But relatively few doubt the existence of Jesus.  There is overwhelming historical evidence as well as scriptural accounts of His birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

 This chapter specifically focuses on some general information about Jesus.  A full study of the entire life of Jesus and His teachings takes a lifetime.  That should not discourage us from studying our Master.  A wonderful reality that we will discover is that as we continue to learn more about our Lord, our relationship with Him grows and our faith deepens.  This serves to strengthen our commitment as disciples.

Let’s look at how Jesus is shown in each of the gospels. 

 You probably already know that the meaning of the word gospel is "good news".  It is accepted to mean the teachings or revelation of Jesus Christ.  Each of the gospels record the life of Jesus from different views.  They are not in conflict with each other but differ because they were written to different readers to emphasize different elements and characteristics of Jesus, and to give us a more complete understanding of who He is.  

The gospel of Matthew gives us the record of the life and ministry of Jesus from a Jewish perspective with added emphasis on his genealogy.  He presents the details of Jesus' birth and explains how Jesus relates to prophecies and his relationship to symbolism from the Old Testament, such as the Passover, Pentecost, and the various sacrifices.  He portrays Jesus as the promised King, the Son of David who will sit on the throne forever (Matthew 9:27; 21:9). 

 Mark's gospel was written primarily to teach who Jesus was to non-Jews.  He starts with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth.   It portrays Jesus as a man of action and a miracle worker. Mark’s style of writing supports this view of action.  Mark also presents Jesus from a power perspective while preserving His role as a suffering servant that gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Luke’s gospel offers us a historical view as he begins the account of the life of Christ.  Luke is the only non-Jew writer of the gospels.  He explains in his opening comments that he is providing an orderly account (Luke 1:1-4). He tells us of prophecy about Jesus, the announcement to Mary about His upcoming birth, and significant details about His birth. As a historian, Luke shares the life and teachings of Jesus in a logical flow.  He wants us to come to believe at a personal level who Jesus is so that we develop a deeper love and appreciation for him.  

The gospel of John focuses on the ministry of Jesus as our Savior.  He begins with statements about Jesus as part of the Godhead from the very beginning (John 1:1-5).  John states his purpose towards the end of his gospel (John 20:30-31)

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”

From the four gospels and secular history, we know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small town south of Jerusalem.  Because there were threats to His life, Joseph moved the family to Egypt.  Later, the family returned and settled in the town of Nazareth where Jesus grew up, which is why He is sometimes called, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  Since Joseph was a carpenter, Jesus also worked as a carpenter as he was growing up (Mark 6:3). 

Beyond His birth and presentation at the Temple, the only biblical account of Jesus is as a young boy of about 12 (Luke 2:41-52).  He and the family traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.  Afterwards, as the family begins to return home to Nazareth, they notice Jesus is not with them.  They find Him in the temple talking with the teachers.  It is recorded that they were amazed at His understanding.  This is the first recording of Jesus' awareness of His role as our Savior.  He states in verse 49,  

“And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”  

The passage concludes with a description of Jesus growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men.

The history of Jesus then moves forward to the period when Jesus was about thirty years old.  He begins His earthly ministry with His interaction and baptism by John the Baptist.  This was a very important event since it not only marked the beginning of His ministry, but also a strong statement of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah or deliverer.  In the Apostle John's gospel, John the Baptist clearly states in John 1:32-34, 

"I saw the Spirit descend from Heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

This affirmation of Jesus marked the beginning of His ministry that would span the next three years as He taught and performed miracles to prove He was who He claimed, the Son of God.  Also, during this period many believed who He was and became disciples.

Who Do Men Say I Am?

We briefly touched on the question of who men said Jesus was.  But it is a critical point we need to understand.  As prophesied through man's history, a savior would come to bring us back into a relationship with God that was first destroyed in the garden with Adam and Eve.  As history unfolded, this concept of a long-awaited messiah or redeemer, changed from a spiritual understanding to a political one.  During His ministry, Jesus brought us back to the spiritual understanding through His teachings and examples. In doing so, He showed us what He meant when He described His Kingdom as everlasting. A political Kingdom is not eternal.  But a spiritual Kingdom is eternal.

In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, we see how our Lord was born and how He was to be named.  In Matthew chapter 1, we see that He was to be called Jesus.  This was an important name.  The Hebrew name for Jesus is "Yeshua," which translated into English is the name Joshua.  Joshua means, "Yahweh Saves."  Naming our Savior as such was a reminder of the salvation he brought.

Both Joshua of the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament fulfilled the role of delivering God's people.  Joshua was appointed by Moses to lead the Hebrew nation into occupying the holy land after the years of wandering in the desert.  Our Lord Jesus delivers us into the promised land of God's Kingdom and into eternity. 

Also, in Matthew chapter 1, we read that Jesus is to be called, Immanuel.  This name means God with us. This is important since it establishes the role of Jesus as the Son of God, sent to teach us and to ultimately give us the opportunity to reestablish our relationship with God through His crucifixion as a sacrifice for our sins.  

Matthew records in chapter 16:13-20 an event that further established the identity of Jesus.   As we read about the event, we see that Jesus is traveling with His apostles in the region of Caesarea Philippi.  This area was one of the centers of Roman power and the associated influence of various pagan gods, specifically the Greek god, Pan.  There was a famous temple and spring located there that was used in pagan rites associated with fertility.  The cave from which the spring flowed was known as "The Gates of Hell."  People would offer sacrifices there and engage in various other pagan rites to try to influence their gods to provide a plentiful harvest.  Jesus used this as a backdrop for His question.  

 First Jesus asked the apostles who people thought He was.  They responded by saying that some believe Jesus was just another prophet.  Some thought He was John the Baptist come back to life, or the prophet Elijah reborn, or other well-known spiritual and historical figures.  But to those that follow Jesus today and believe what He taught, He is the true and living Son of God.  He is the savior of mankind first promised by God in Genesis 3:15.

 Jesus changed the focus of the question by asking who the apostles say He is.  Peter quickly answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30) Jesus praised Peter for this response stating that it was revealed to Peter by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus confirmed this as His true identify and the foundation for His church (His followers).  He stated that "even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it  We can almost see Him pointing to the cave with all the idolatry and other pagan activities as a backdrop as He states this.  It seems to say that man's false gods and their ingrained beliefs in no way compares to the eternal truth of who He is and His Kingdom.

This passage from Matthew 16 is important since it clearly establishes Jesus as the Messiah or Savior of mankind.  This is what the word Christ means. Frequently He is referred to with Christ as part of His name.   

There are also many titles used to describe Jesus.  These show Him in His role, His character, and His relationship with God the Father.  Here are some examples:

Our Advocate – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1

The Bread of Life – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

The Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17

Your Holy Servant – “…and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30

The Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11  

Our Author and Foundation of our Faith – “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

 In the gospels we read about John the Baptist as he preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand.  Following His baptism, Jesus also teaches about the Kingdom of God but goes further by teaching us what it means to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom.  A significant element of the teachings of Jesus is that He taught things that were different than what the people of the time had come to know.  This is seen throughout what is known as the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5 – 7). 

 Perhaps the most important thing Jesus did was to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Because the teachings of Jesus frequently went against what the Jewish leaders of the time taught and because so many were following Jesus, these Jewish leaders became jealous and felt their position and influence was threatened, causing them to oppose Him.  They eventually had Jesus arrested, tortured, and crucified, although He was not guilty of any crime or sin. This is why Jesus is also referred to as the sacrificial lamb, or lamb of God.  He was sacrificed for our sins just as countless lambs were ceremonially sacrificed for sins over the history of the Jews.  These symbolic sacrifices began in Exodus 12 when the blood of a lamb was splashed over the door of the Jews so that God would spare their lives during the judgment against Egypt.

 Then three days after the burial of Jesus, the next important event occurred.  Jesus rose from the dead. Then He was seen by many as He spent the next 40 days teaching.  At the end of that period, He took His apostles to the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem where He rose back to heaven, just as He said He would.  Immediately following this event, two men, thought to be angels, appeared to the apostles and told them that Jesus would return just as they have seen Him leave (Acts 1:10-11).   

 Let’s look now at what Jesus for us as disciples.

Jesus presents us before God. After His ascension into heaven following His resurrection, Jesus sits on the right-hand side of God.  That’s found in many different verses throughout the New Testament as the Apostles proclaimed the good news of Jesus. Sitting on the right side represents not only a position of authority and respect, but also a direct access to God the Father.  In this role, Jesus intercedes on our behalf before God.  Hebrews 8:1 refers to Jesus in this role as our “High Priest”. Under Mosaical law, the High Priest would offer sacrifices on behalf of the people to gain God’s forgiveness of their sins.  Jesus was the sacrifice that gives Him the authority to perform this role.

Jesus also serves as our judge. Jesus will return and bring judgment upon all.  Jesus clearly describes this in Matthew 25 as he explains the final judgement scene.  He presents three teachings.

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus teaches us to be ready - 

In Mathew 25:14-30 Jesus teaches us to use what God has given us in His service and for His glory. 

And finally, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus gives us a clear understanding of what will be that standard of judgment.  As you read this passage, you see that what God asks of us is something each of us can do.  We are to show love and mercy.

Everyone will face judgment before Jesus one day. To those who are not His faithful disciples, it will be the worst day in their life for all of eternity.  But for those who are faithful disciples, it will be the most wonderful day, far beyond our ability at this time to know.  As Jesus stated in Matthew 25, we long to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant."

We have only touched on some of the highlights about the life, teachings, and role of Jesus. Who Jesus truly is can easily be answered by reading the four gospels.  Each gives different views of His birth, life, ministry, and purpose, but all tell a unified story.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, grew up in Nazareth, taught and performed miracles throughout the region to show us that He is the long-promised deliverer.  He died for our sins and was raised from the dead, showing us that He had paid the price as a sacrifice for our sins and conquered death.    

 A more important question is like what Jesus asked His apostles in Matthew 16, “Who do you say that I am?”  That is the ultimate question each of us must answer for ourselves.  

 As we study the life of Jesus, we should come to a clear understanding of who He is in relation to our life and our hope for eternity.  Jesus is the Son of God.  He was the sacrifice offered for our sins so that we can return to a pure relationship with God.  There is no other way to enter that relationship except through Jesus (John 14:6). 

 As the cornerstone of our faith, Jesus forms the foundation for our hope of life eternal in the presence of our loving heavenly Father.  As stated in Hebrews 12:2, Jesus is the founder and perfecter of our faith.  As we grow in our faith and knowledge of Jesus, so too does our commitment as His disciples.

 As I begin to wrap up this episode.  I want to offer some questions to think who Jesus is.

 Why is it beneficial to have different writers offer different views of who Jesus is?

 What is significant about the names Immanuel and Christ as applied to Jesus? 

 What are some other ways Jesus describes Himself?

 Who do you say Jesus is? 

In our next episode we will look at The Holy Spirit and Discipleship.

 I'm your host Dave Laton.  Thank you for joining me in this podcast.  I hope you will continue to do so. If you wish to share with me something from your walk with our Master or you would like to learn more, please email me at: walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com.

 I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.  And until next time, remember, we give all glory to God the Father.