Why This Question Matters More Than We Think

When Jesus first asked "Who do people say that I am?" the disciples rattled off various public opinions - John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. But then Jesus pressed deeper: "But what about you? Who do you say that I am?"

At some point, faith has to stop being about what the crowd thinks and become about what you personally believe. Our answer to who Jesus is will shape everything about who we become.

The Problem With Borrowed Faith

Your Answer Must Be Personal, Not Borrowed

Many of us are worshiping Jesus off of borrowed faith. We rely on our grandmother's testimony, our mother's faith, or our church's theology. While these can introduce us to Jesus, they cannot sustain us when life gets difficult.

You cannot live on your parents' belief, your church's theology, culture's opinion, or somebody else's experience. At some point, faith must become personal to you. Public opinion may inform you, but only personal conviction transforms you.

When Life Tests Your Faith

Eventually, life will ask you questions that somebody else's faith cannot answer for you. When you get wrongly reprimanded at your job, when your money is acting funny, when your marriage isn't in a good place, when you're tempted to lie, cheat, and steal - who do you say that Jesus is?

Your grandmother cannot believe for you. Your mother cannot trust for you. Your pastor cannot surrender for you. Borrowed faith may introduce you to Jesus, but only personal faith will sustain you when life gets hard.

The Difference Between Admiration and Adoration

It's Possible to Admire Without Adoring

Did you know it's entirely possible to admire Jesus without adoring him? You can like what he does and like what he says, but never fall in love with him. You can follow his ways without following Him.

Jesus didn't just ask for admiration - he asked for allegiance, obedience, and a love for him that pours over into love for our neighbors. Yet many of us say "You're my Lord" but then don't follow him when tough moments come.

When Teaching Gets Difficult

In John 6, after Jesus taught some difficult truths about being the bread of life, many disciples said "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" and they turned back and no longer followed him.

These weren't enemies of Jesus - they were followers who had been walking with him, listening to him, watching him, admiring him. But admiration only lasts until Jesus says something hard.

Admiration applauds the miracles, while adoration submits to the message. Admiration likes when Jesus feeds the crowd; adoration trusts Jesus even when the teaching is difficult.

How Identity Determines Response

Think about your phone. When it rings, the name on the screen determines how you respond. If it says "unknown number," you might hesitate. If it's "potential spam," you're probably not answering. But if it's your spouse or best friend, you answer with a completely different attitude.

Same phone, same ring, but different response. Why? Because identity determines response.

If Jesus is just a teacher, you might listen to him. If he's just a historical figure, you might study him. If he's simply a spiritual guide, you might admire him. But if he is the son of the living God, that changes your response every single time.

Clarity Leads to Commitment

The Moment Everything Changes

When Peter answered "You are the Messiah, the son of the living God," everything shifted. This moment becomes the hinge of the Gospel narrative. Once Jesus is revealed as Messiah, the cross becomes necessary, surrender becomes logical, and Easter becomes powerful.

In Acts, when Peter preached about Jesus being both Lord and Messiah, the people were "cut to the heart" and asked "What shall we do?" A response was demanded. They knew they either needed to walk away or follow.

No Middle Ground

Once we discover and accept who Jesus is, we either commit or we reject. There is no in between. When we see Jesus clearly, commitment is the only logical response.

CS Lewis, once a famous skeptic, realized that Jesus didn't leave room to simply admire him. Jesus had claimed authority to forgive sins, claimed to be the way to God, and accepted worship. Lewis wrote that he came to a crossroads and eventually "gave in and admitted that God was God."

The Daily Question

This question isn't asked of us just once - it's asked over and over again. Who do you say Jesus is on Monday when you face that difficult coworker? On Friday when bills exceed your paycheck? When you're with gossiping family members? When you read troubling news? When you're upset, frustrated, or depressed?

The answer isn't what's hard - it's the response to your answer that's challenging. When we admit that he is Lord and Savior, Messiah, son of the living God, how we respond must change.

Life Application

This week, honestly evaluate whether you're admiring Jesus or adoring him. If Jesus is truly your Lord and not just your inspiration, what needs to change in your life right now?

Consider these questions:

1. Am I living on borrowed faith from family or church, or do I have a personal relationship with Jesus?
2. Do I follow Jesus only when it's convenient, or do I trust him even when his teaching is difficult?
3. What areas of my life am I withholding from Jesus' lordship?
4. How does my daily response to challenges reflect who I say Jesus is?

The question "Who do you say that I am?" demands more than a Sunday morning answer - it requires a life transformed by the recognition that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Pastor Tim