Who Is Jesus?

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:15–16 (KJV)

Moody met some people who liked Jesus but didn’t believe he was God. They thought he was a great teacher or a very good man. Moody had once thought the same.

He says that when he was a boy, he thought Jesus was a good man like Moses, Joseph or Abraham, maybe the best man who ever lived. But then he noticed that Jesus claimed much more. Jesus said things like, “Before Abraham was, I am.” He claimed to have come from heaven and to be one with God.

That left Moody with a problem:

“I did not know where to place Christ, or what to do with Him, if He were not divine.”

He came to the conclusion that Jesus is either a deceiver, or he is God come in human flesh. Moody argued that if Jesus was just a man, he couldn’t even be called a good man, because he claimed an honour that wasn’t his. And if he truly believed he was God but wasn’t, he would have been deluded. Moody couldn’t accept either of those. Everything about Jesus’ life, teaching and character shows that he was neither a liar nor confused.

Moody also points out that Christians around the world worship Jesus. If he is not God, that would be breaking the first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” But if he is God, worshipping him is exactly right.

He looks at Jesus’ trial too. When the high priest asked him directly, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus answered, “I am.” That was why they condemned him to death. Jesus died because he claimed to be God.

This is the most important question you will ever answer. Jesus asked his disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Everyone has to answer that question for themselves.

You might not have a full answer yet, and that is OK. Keep looking at Jesus in the Gospels. Read what he said and did. Moody believed that anyone who honestly looks will find that Jesus is who he said he was.

One thing to do this week: read Mark’s Gospel this month, one chapter a day. As you read, keep a note of every time Jesus says or does something that only God could say or do. At the end, answer Jesus’ question for yourself: “Whom say ye that I am?”