LXXII. Who Do You Say I AM? Part 1

This is a question we all will have to answer one day. Whether we want to admit it or not we already have asked ourselves this question because we all have an answer. But is it the right answer? Matthew 16:13-17

• 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
• 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; some Elijah; others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
• 15 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"
• 16 And Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
• 17 And Jesus responded, "Simon, son of Jonah, blessed are you, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father which is in heaven."

What are some of the answer we would get in today's time? Most Christians would repeat what Peter said and think they know it all. Many on the fence would say He was a great teacher with a lot of wisdom. Those on the other side of the fence would say He was just a man. Even yet, others would say He was not even real.

Was He real? Scholars will note that the only major writings we have of Him are from accounts dating after His death. No one in the history of mankind has changed shaped the human race, not even Rome itself. Never has there been so many writings to prove anyone else' existence or non-existence in this case in all history. But why not contemporaries?  They did not write about Him.  But the same could be said of other figures like Muhammad, Buddha, and many others in history.  It does not make them unreal. 

First of all, how many people could write in 30 AD to begin with?   None of His disciples were schooled men, except for maybe Levi (Matthew), and he did write a book.   Others like Peter had friends to do some of the writing like Silas and Mark who only learned of Jesus after His death.  The only ones who would have had the schooling in that area would have been Jewish Torah students. They would not have included something that they felt was blasphemous. Such as Saul.  But when Saul converted to following Christ then even He started to write things down at a later date.  Luke, a doctor, historian and friend of Paul investigated all circumstances.  Roman scholars would not written of such events because it was only a three year period of which they considered no threat to their authority. And if it was a threat to their authority do we think Rome would have included it? But later once Christianity became a force inside Rome writers started to investigate. But of course, they have been disregarded or "debunked" by anti-theists.  And yet, when Homer writes about history (one account) it is accepted as fact by the same people.  So, He was real.  Most historians (subjectively) would agree.

Then who was He?  Born sometime around 4 BC in the land of the Roman province of Judea to a woman named Mary and a man named Joseph, who was a carpenter by trade.  By tradition, Joseph would have trained him to be a carpenter as well.  As He grew He claimed to be more than just the son of the carpenter.  He claimed to be the Son of God.  He claimed to be God.  He taught in the streets of Judea.  He performed miracles.  He forgave sins.  He was tried by Judeans as blasphemous.  He was executed by Rome.  He was raised again by His Father.  He became the sacrificial lamb that took away our sins.  He now sits on His kingly throne, Ruler of the universe.

One day you will be asked, who do you say I AM?  The answer is what Peter said.  One day, At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Some will do it voluntarily because they know who Jesus is, others will be forced to do it because they have denied the truth