I have been struck in recent days by the fact that there seems to be a rash of books and movies that have as their theme, "Exposing the controversies of the Bible," or "The Secret Truth about Jesus,"or "The Da Vinci Code." I remember that Jesus warned that in the last days, there would be 'many' false Christs. There would also be rumors about where and how He could be found. "He's out here." "He's over there."

One day Jesus asked His own disciples a strange question. "Who do the people say that I am?" They answered as best they could. "Some say you are John the Baptist come back from the dead? Others say that you are Elijah one of the Prophets." Jesus then asked them, "But you, Who do you say that I am?"

How you answer that question is the most important thing in the world. It is not merely a matter of reciting some rote response from a book. Frankly, Satan had the right answer. He knows exactly who Jesus is. When Pilate asked Jesus who he was and where he had come from, he became terrified after Jesus responded.

Like children whistling in the dark in a storm, many are running to and fro trying to find some comfort....some evidence that there is something or Someone who can help them make sense of this craziness.

It was Peter who answered the question that Jesus posed. "Thou art the
Christ, the son of the living God." Immediately Jesus replied, "Blessed are you Simon, son of John, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in heaven. I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."

I want this morning for us to look at his passage of Scripture because once again, people in the culture are talking about who Jesus is. Once again Jesus is asking His disciples, "but you, Who do you say that I am?" For the Church to prevail against the gates of Hell, we had better be sure of our answer.

Amen?

Pastor Jim
May 21, 2006