This is arguably the most important question man can ask, and all must give an answer; everyone must come to their own conclusion on this matter. No one gets an exemption; no one gets to ignore the question. You can delay; you can postpone; you can pretend you did not hear, but sooner or later you must answer.
Who is Jesus Christ? And what difference does it make in my life?
Visit any Internet chat room labelled religion and you will find a variety of answers to the question, Who is Jesus Christ? Some will say a teacher, a prophet, a miracle worker, a religious leader. Others will say He was good man, a wise man, a kind of loving man. Still others will declare Him to be the Son of God, the Messiah, Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And there are those who would call Him a rebel, a deluded religious fanatic or a fabrication of the early church.
2000 years have passed since Jesus walked on this earth and still the debate continues.
After inquiring what the people were saying about Him, Jesus turned His disciples and said, But what about you… who do you say that I am? In the end, each of us faces the same question and I wonder how would you respond?
Thankfully, we haven’t been left to figure it out on our own. God has given us His Word, the Bible, in which we find a clear, authoritative answer to the question, who is Jesus Christ? There is one text, just six verses in Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi that comprise a short course in Christology. All the truth you need to know, to come to your own conclusion about Christ, is found in these verses.
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
One day, every one of us will bow before Jesus; even the most stubborn of men who arrogantly declare, I don’t need God in my life, will, on that day, bow before Him and declare with all of creation, He is Lord! For some it will be a moment of deep, unfathomable regret; ‘Jesus was who He said He was, I knew better, I heard the truth and I did not have the guts to embrace it’. But then it will be too late; they will bow before being dismissed to an eternity without Christ. But for those who know Him, it will be a moment of worship and humble thanksgiving; a moment of great joy and wonder and awe, as we acknowledge who He is and all He means to us!
The choice is before you. Sooner or later every knee will bow before Him and confess that He is the Lord. You can bow before Him today as your Savior and Lord or you can face him one day as your Judge, but you cannot escape Him.
Jesus’ simple invitation as always been, “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28) My friends at Valley, He invites you to come. How will respond? I ask you to ask yourself the same question Pilate asked 2000 years ago: What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? (Matthew 27:22)