More Than A Prophet

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:13–16, NIV 1984).

My Musings –  It really is the only plausible conclusion one can draw about this “son” of a carpenter (many said illegitimate son), from a small rural village (“can anything good come from Nazareth?”).  No formal education.  Never wrote a book.  Never raised an army or led a revolution, at least in the sense we think of a revolution. His teachings were rejected by most of the religious authorities.  So much so that they violated almost every judicial process there was to arrest, try, convict and condemn Him to death.  His ministry lasted a mere three years, yet resulted in such a following that what was perhaps the greatest world empire ever (in relative terms), tried unsuccessfully to exterminate it and yet eventually embraced it.  This one man drew a dividing line across history, separating the calendar between BC and AD.

How else could you explain Him becoming the most dominant and influential person in all of recorded history?  John the Baptist? Elijah?  Jeremiah?  One of the other prophets?  Insufficient to explain the miracles and the fulfillment of over 400 prophecies.  Then, of course, there is also the matter of the resurrection.  Attested to by over 500 witnesses and never refuted or disproven by those who had the most to gain by doing so.  He had to be more than a prophet.  Clearly more than a man.  The only logical conclusion is that He was and is exactly who He said He was.  “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, NIV 1984). 

My Advice – Who do you say He is?  This is the most important question you could ever answer.  When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39, NIV 1984).  It starts with this confession.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing