The question Jesus asked we all must answer is presented in Matthew 16:13-16. Do you know how you will answer it?
The question Jesus asked we all must answer was presented to his disciples
Jesus did not directly and publicly announce he was the Messiah. The Son of God. He was subtle and indirect, but when you examine scripture, he makes it clear that’s exactly who he was. And he carried himself in a confident manner that demonstrated he was fully aware of his identity and his mission. The one we celebrate on Easter.
How we answer his question is significant. And it’s important to understand the importance of the question and its answer.
Jesus asked it when he and the disciples appeared to be hanging out. A casual question in a relaxed, informal moment. But it was pointed and direct. Not rhetorical or philosophical. He wanted a specific answer with a complete commitment. The future of each disciple’s ministry and the future of the Kingdom of God depended on it.
The question Jesus asked we all must answer has one correct answer
However, Jesus wanted more than the glib answer to a Sunday school question you’ve answered a thousand times. He wanted gut check honesty from the heart. So he didn’t ask a leading question that contained the answer in it. Or provide a clue. Perhaps that’s why he referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” They had to come up with “God” on their own.
So, the disciples played it cool and offered a variety of answers. They named off John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. All religious Hall of Famers and therefore, safe, Sunday School answers.
People today play it cool too. Ask, “Who do you say Jesus is?” and answers include things like a…
Good man
Spiritual leader
Prophet
Moral teacher
And yet, none are sufficient. It’s like comparing Jesus to Mother Teresa or Billy Graham. Both are considered Hall of Famers among Christians today. But they were still sinners and didn’t come close to the perfect life of Jesus. Or his crowning achievement–resurrection from the dead.
And while people today will admit there is something special about Jesus. Something remarkably undeniable. They stop short of declaring him the Son of God. And are especially uncomfortable on how he himself presses for the answer. And demands exclusive allegiance in John 14:6.
Still, it’s a simple question. True or false. Yes or no. Right or wrong. And we all have a 50% chance of getting it right.
The question Jesus asked we all must answer will determine our eternal destination
Contrary to a popular belief, Jesus doesn’t meet you at the Pearly Gates with a spiritual weight scale to weigh all your good deeds against your bad deeds. And when the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds you get in.
Entrance into heaven is based on who you know. Specifically, do you know Jesus?
And it has to be more than head knowledge. Like how you know about Abraham Lincoln. You have to know Jesus like someone you actually care about and spend time with. Jesus himself said in Matthew 7:21-23 there are people in for an unpleasant surprise because they never understood the difference between the two. And never formed a real relationship with him. Even though that’s exactly what he wants with you and me.
Can you imagine the horror? The utter despair? You thought you had it all figured out. The highest expectations for eternal bliss. Only to find out you got it all wrong?
So you can ignore the question. Pretend he didn’t ask it. Or simply blow it off. But you can’t avoid it. Because one day we will all face him and have to answer when he asks: WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
The Prodigal Son Bible Parable On Lost and Found is recorded in Luke 15:11-32. Here are three lessons it teaches.
The Prodigal Son Bible Parable on lost and found teaches God let’s you decide for yourself
The story involves a father and son and illustrates the relationship God desires with you and me. He is a heavenly Father that wants a personal relationship with each one of us. In the story however, the son thinks only of himself. He demands his inheritance in order to leave home, live independently, and pursue his own desires.
It reveals the truth of our sinful, selfish, human nature that puts “me” first. And the lustful desires and passions that lure us away from our heavenly Father’s love and care.
The father in the story was under no obligation to grant the son an inheritance before his death. But did so out of love. Why? Because he wanted his son to willingly choose a relationship with him. It is the same with you and me. God won’t force himself on us. We all choose to accept or reject a relationship with him. And to ignore him or say that’s a decision you will make later is to reject him.
The Prodigal Son Bible parable on lost and found teaches you must recognize your sinful condition
When the son leaves, the story focuses exclusively on him and the father is out of the picture. But is he?
Now the son follows his passions without restraint. But the pursuit of hedonistic pleasure has consequences. He eventually runs out of money and has to find work, although he is still hungry and miserable. And it makes you wonder. What if the supply of money hadn’t run out? Would the son have returned home or simply lived a party lifestyle the rest of his life?
The same question applies today. How long will people chase the illusion of hedonistic pleasure? Yes, it seems great at first. Because as long as you can keep the fun going–one pleasurable moment followed by another–you can numb the pain and ignore the emptiness. But it eventually catches up with you. And grows stale like old cigar smoke.
And only when you reach rock bottom physically, emotionally or spiritually do you see the reality of your condition. God is the last resort when you are all out of options. Which is what happens in the story. The son finally comes to his senses as he suffers the most deplorable conditions and turns back to his father.
The Prodigal Son Bible story teaches God waits eagerly for your return
When the father sees his son returning in the distance, he rushes to meet him. He doesn’t condemn or chastise him for leaving. Say “I told you so.” Or even wait for the son to finish his full apology. Because he is filled with unbelievable joy that the son has returned.
Have you left God and now wonder if it was a good idea? Wonder if God still loves you? If he will still take you back? Then let this story answer your question. YES!
God is waiting for you. Eager for your return. But it has to be your choice. And you must do so in humility and with a repentant heart. When you do, he will rush to meet you. And there will be a heavenly celebration.
Three parables Jesus taught about lost and found are recorded in Luke 15. They include a lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. Here are lessons they teach us.
Three parables Jesus taught about lost and found includes a lost sheep
Sheep have no natural protection from predators and rely completely on the care and protection of shepherds. They know their shepherd and recognize his voice, but graze with head down following one clump of grass to the next. So it’s easy for them to wander slowly away from the flock and become lost.
We have a similar problem. We mean to follow Jesus who is our good shepherd. But don’t consistently listen to his voice and wander away from his loving care pursuing one tempting morsel after another.
And what does the shepherd in the parable do when he realizes a sheep is missing? He leaves the whole flock to rescue the one.
It demonstrates the depth of God’s love for of us. When we wander off, he immediately sets out to bring each one back.
A story Jesus taught is about a lost coin
A coin, however, is an inanimate object. It lacks self-awareness, doesn’t know if it’s lost or found, or care either way. But the woman in the story cared a great deal. She made it a priority to search and was thrilled when she found it.
Likewise, many people today have no idea they are spiritually lost. Or understand what it means. They don’t attend church, read the Bible, or follow any religion. They may have a vague and perhaps unsettling sense that something is not right. And occasionally reflect on life’s ultimate meaning. but don’t dwell on it and quickly move on to other matters.
But our awareness or lack of awareness doesn’t matter. Lostness is a human condition because of sin. And God is on a search and rescue mission for our souls.
The question is…do you want God to find you?
Jesus told a story about a lost son
This parable differs from the other two because it involves an existing relationship between father and son. And the son doesn’t just wander off. He leaves in complete awareness and open rebellion towards the father. Rather than protest, the father gives the son what he wants and lets him go.
And the father does not search for the son. Why? Because the son willingly chose to leave and had to willingly return.
The parable demonstrates the allure but unsatisfying nature of sensual pleasure. The son discovered this when he ran out of money and ended up living in squalor And when he finally reached rock bottom, he returned to his father in humility, acknowledging his sin, and seeking forgiveness.
And the father, who waited patiently, ran to meet his son and celebrated his return. The story illustrates God’s desire for a relationship with each one of us. But he lets us choose. And he celebrates it when we choose him.
So what’s your story? Are you the coin, the sheep, or the son? The good news is that it doesn’t matter. God is looking for you. Waiting for you. And anxious to celebrate your return. But it’s your choice and the next step is up to you.
When God’s people pray He does crazy, amazing things, This was impressed on me when I attended Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Here’s my story.
When God’s people pray He does crazy, amazing things. Especially when we pray in agreement.
I was a first semester seminary student in a Survey of the New Testament class. The professor was about to start class with a prayer and asked if anyone had a prayer request. A woman raised her hand and requested prayer for a friend. Her friend was married to a man who graduated last year and they had moved to California to plant a church.
The woman said he turned down the opportunity to pastor an established church in Texas to follow this calling and didn’t even have support from the Home Mission Board or other parachurch organizations. His plan was simply to canvass neighborhoods, knock on doors, and build a church from the ground up.
So the woman asked us as a class of future ministry workers to pray. She didn’t say it, but it was written all over her face. The guy was crazy.
When God’s people pray He does crazy, amazing things. Especially when we follow His leading
I related to the guy and was living it myself. A midwestern boy from Cincinnati, Ohio who had traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to attend seminary. When I felt God calling me to ministry I met with my Southern Baptist church pastor who advised me that seminary was the appropriate step for me to take. Southern Seminary was just down the road in Louisville, Kentucky, but I sensed God leading me to Southwestern.
So here I was staying with the friend of a friend. An outsider in this foreign land of Texas where common wardrobe included cowboy boots and hats. And a new language that called long distance a “fur piece” and a crowd of people “Y’all.”
I think my family and friends thought I was a bit crazy too.
But I’ve learned since then that trusting God and exercising faith often appear that way. Just consider Joshua and the Israelites marching around the walls of Jericho for seven days and Gideon taking on a Midianite army of thousands with 300 men carrying torches and blowing trumpets.
What crazy ways to wage war!
Joshua and Gideon both probably felt a little foolish following God’s direction, but they obeyed anyway. And God amazingly delivered on His promise. If this man was truly following God’s will in this church plant, then I believed God would provide. So I joined with everyone else in the class and prayed for him.
When Christians pray God unleashes His power
It was several years later after I graduated from seminary and began working in church ministry that I heard about a growing church in California that was gaining attention in the Southern Baptist Convention. And the name of the pastor was the guy we prayed for in that seminary class.
The church he planted was thriving and growing like…well, crazy.
I was still in Texas and serving at a church too. Nothing sensational like his ministry, But he had followed God’s leading and so had I and that was the important thing. We both went beyond our comfort zone and responded to God in obedience.
I celebrated what God was doing in his ministry. And I smiled to myself as I remembered the distress in the woman’s voice in that seminary class sharing her prayer request.
I’m sure our class prayer was only one of thousands that was lifted up to God on his behalf.
And I remember how the professor smiled at the woman with love and wisdom. That said he also knew we served an Almighty God.
“What’s your friend’s name?” he asked.
“Her name is Kay,” the woman replied. “And her husband’s name is Rick Warren.”
In case you don’t know, Rick planted Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, California and later authored the best seller The Purpose Driven Life. He pastored Saddleback until he retired in 2022. Today it averages over 20,000 people in weekly attendance.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It’s a story found in Luke 8:43-48 that demonstrates the compassion and care God has for every person.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It was a story within a story.
When Jesus healed a women’s blood disorder, he was actually on his way to heal someone else. He was responding to Jairus who was identified as a ruler of the temple. Jairus implored Jesus to go with him and heal his seriously ill daughter who was at home.
Jesus agreed and followed Jairus, pressed in closely by a crowd. And within that crowd was a woman with an incurable, blood flow condition. Down to her last penny. Her last hope. And final choice. Jesus had healed so many other people, surely he could heal her too.
Her blood flow made her ceremonially unclean. A social outcast. And she shouldn’t even be among people in a public setting. But she was desperate. Probably trying to keep a low profile and avoid calling attention to herself and blend into the crowd. But if only…if only she could get close enough…reach far enough…and just touch his clothes. That was all it would take.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It demonstrated that Jesus gives us his full attention
He felt the power leave him
Likely, Jairus and Jesus were in a hurry. But still, Jesus paused. He felt his divine, healing power flow out of him and wanted to know whose touch caused it. And it raises a question because in such close quarters, many people must have brushed against him. What made this touch different? In other words, why did his healing power not flow out on every random touch?
Of course, the mystery of why God miraculously heals some and not others still puzzles us today. But what is clear from the story is how deeply God individually cares about every person. He didn’t let the social status of Jairus take priority over the woman’s need. He stopped and gave her his full attention.
And it demonstrated something else. Jesus cared about her physical need, but even more about her spiritual need. Because physical healing lasts only for this life while spiritual healing lasts for eternity. So our spiritual need is always God’s greatest priority.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It demonstrated the power of faith
Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace
Jesus says what made the touch different. The woman’s action demonstrated her faith. The Bible has much to say about faith. Especially the importance of putting our faith in action. And the woman did so in a bold and risky manner. Of course, faith doesn’t guarantee a miraculous physical healing in every case. But it does guarantee a spiritual healing.
And notice that Jesus called her “daughter.” A term of endearment. Of intimate, personal relationship. And of complete acceptance and unconditional love.
The word for “peace” is the Greek eirene and primarily communicates the idea of a lack of conflict and hostility. However, the Hebrew word for peace is Shalom and carries the idea of wellbeing and a right relationship. And specifically, a right relationship with God. In other words, peace with God means you are in a right relationship with God.
That is the essence of Biblical faith. The woman’s faith in this story didn’t just heal her physically, but also spiritually in her relationship with God. And is where you experience the most complete sense of peace.
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