THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
LUKE 9:18-20 NKJV
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19 So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again." 20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
I have noticed some people pride themselves on their ability to ask deep questions. Jesus asked simple questions, but the answers were quite profound.
Jesus was praying when His disciples came to join Him. He asked a simple question regarding what the crowds said about Him.
The answers were puzzling. John the Baptist was an answer. But John has been present during Jesus' ministry, so that one is a stretch. It was obvious that Jesus was not John.
But neither were the other answers more reasonable. Elijah, or one of the old prophets had risen from the dead. Talk about a bizarre answer.
Jesus did not even address the crowd's answers. His next question was much more important. "But who do you say that I am?"
It is one thing to hear from the crowd. And their answers remind us of how often the crowd is wrong. But Jesus wanted to know what His disciples said.
Peter had the best answer. The Christ of God. Peter had a revelation that Jesus was not what the crowds thought. Peter had a revelation that Jesus was God's answer. He may have not realized all that being the Christ entailed, but Peter knew Jesus was from God.
APPLICATION:
Answering this most important question is still very vital today.
The crowds today have many answers as to who Jesus is, from myth to moral teacher. From a good man to one of many religious figures, the crowd's answers can vary.
The most important answer comes from the most important question. Who do you say that Jesus is?
The Son of God is a correct answer, but don't stop there. The Savior of the world is also correct, but you need to take it further.
My Savior is the best answer. It is the answer that our eternity hinges on. Start right there, and then you can expand your answer to include His ministry and involvement in your life. He is my Lord, my Shepherd, my Healer, and the strength of my life. And that's just the start. Who do you say Jesus is to you?