TEXT:
‘He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”’ (Matthew 16:15).
Questionnaires are at epidemic levels! Everyone wants to know how they performed, whether delivering a parcel or delivering healthcare, ordering online or answering a query. The world seems obsessed with feedback. Of course, they use it to drive future sales or hone services according to whether the feedback is negative or positive. If I responded to every request to participate in feedback, a large amount of my time would be taken up with it every day.
People had many questions for Jesus. Some were genuine, while others tried to catch Him out to discredit His ministry. Often Jesus responded to a question with one of His own. This usually caught off-guard those demanding an answer.
Today’s Teaching studies some of the questions Jesus asked under three headings – Salvation, Healing and Persecution. In this first study we will consider personal salvation.
Salvation – ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?’ (John 3:10)
Unfortunately, there are many church leaders who do not know the basics of salvation either. Consequently, many in their churches are in the dark too. They are blind leaders of the blind.
1. Valuation – ‘What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?’ (Matthew 18:12 TLB).
The question Jesus asked in this parable, reveals the importance He places on the value of just one person. This is how the Good Shepherd values His sheep. Why is it so hard to get church leaders to visit their flock, especially those who are missing the services? Perhaps they are sick, discouraged or straying but ministers don’t have a clue, unless they go and find out. More likely ministers are content that they still have 99 in church, although that figure will continue to decrease with poor pastoring, and eventually the minister leaves or the church disappears. How you value people determines what lengths you are prepared to go to get them back into the fold again.
Jesus prayed in anguish, ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46). The cross was the only way Jesus could bring us back to God. That’s how high a price He was willing to pay and that’s how much He valued you and me.
‘What profit is there if you gain the whole world—and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life?’ (Matthew 16:26 TLB). Whatever you add to your life, if God’s not included, you’ll always be the poorer for it.
2. Revelation – ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ (Matthew 16:13)
Jesus wanted to know what the general opinion was about Him. Then He asked His disciples, ‘But who do you say I am?’ (Matthew 16:15). When Peter responded, “You’re the Christ”, it thrilled Jesus and he explained that for Peter to respond in that way, meant he had received a revelation from God. This is the role of the Holy Spirit today, helping people to see they need Jesus.
‘The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit’ (John 3:8 NLT). Just because people need a revelation to be saved doesn’t mean we can just leave it to the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, ‘But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?’ (Romans 10:14 TLB). Through our witnessing and preaching, the Holy Spirit can convince people that what we’re saying is true and of their need to repent and receive Christ as their personal Saviour.
3. Compassion – ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ (Matthew 18:33)
In this parable, Jesus contrasted the debts owed. To the master, a vast amount far beyond his ability to repay it, but from his fellow-servant, just a small amount outstanding. It’s embarrassing when we expect God to forgive us everything but continue to hold grudges and unforgiveness against those who’ve hurt us. Many churches have been split by unforgiveness and bitterness. The one thing Jesus picked out of the Lord’s Prayer is the command to forgive (See Matthew 6:14-15).
In response to the question, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan. He made it clear who acted neighbourly and then said, ‘Go and do likewise!’ (Luke 10:25-37). We can ignore needs like the priest, show an interest like the Levite, or show compassion like the Samaritan.
4. Demonstration – ‘Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?’ (Mark 2:9).
Time and time again, salvation and healing went together. How could Jesus demonstrate to the critical onlookers that the paralysed man’s sins had been forgiven? By healing him! It’s easy to think people don’t deserve to be healed, but we need to remember, only the guilty need mercy and we all qualify!
This is why, when Jesus sent out the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone, the Bible says, ‘The Lord was with them and confirmed what they said by the miracles that followed their messages’ (Mark 16:20 TLB).
Pilate asked the crowds, “What shall I do with Jesus?” That’s the same question you need to ask yourself. Will you receive or reject Him?
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