April 9, 2006

Seven Questions

Who Do Men Say I Am?

Matthew 16:13-20

Opening Words: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at dawn on Easter. Not counting Sundays, which are mini Easters, Lent lasts forty days. The number forty is reserved in the Bible for sacred time periods. In the story of Noah it rained for forty days and nights. The Jews wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted for forty days before being tempted by Satan. Jesus walked the face of this world for forty days in his resurrected state after Easter. For forty days we will join the Christian world and strive to live lives that are more pleasing to God.

This morning you will hear sermon number six in my seven part Lenten sermon series called Seven Questions. They are seven questions that Jesus asked the disciples. They are seven questions that Jesus is asking us. The master did not ask these questions to expose our ignorance. The master asked these questions to help us grow in the faith. This morning’s question is who do men say I am? It is a question of identification. Let us hear this Gospel reading together.

Introduction

The renowned artist Paul Gustave Dore (1821-1883) lost his passport while traveling in Europe. When he came to a border crossing, he explained his predicament to one of the guards. Giving his name to the official, Dore hoped he would be recognized and allowed to pass. The guard, however, said that many people attempted to cross the border by claiming to be persons they were not. Dore insisted that he was the man he claimed to be. "All right," said the official, "we'll give you a test, and if you pass it we'll allow you to go through." Handing him a pencil and a sheet of paper, he told the artist to sketch several peasants standing nearby. Dore did it so quickly and skillfully that the guard was convinced he was indeed who he claimed to be. His work confirmed his word! It is a story of identification.

Who do men say I am? Jesus first asked that question to the disciples many years ago. It is a question of identification. There is only one correct answer. Only Peter identified Jesus correctly. Matthew 16:16 says, “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the son of the living God.’” Jesus was pleased with his answer. Verse seventeen says, “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’” Who do men say I am? It is a question of identification.

How do you answer that question? Who do men say I am? Don’t answer that question too quickly. It is the most important question you will ever be asked. The salvation of your very soul depends on the correct answer. There are answers that sound correct but they are really quite wrong. It has always been true. Look at this morning’s scripture lessons. The disciples reported to Jesus others had identified Jesus as the reincarnation of John the Baptist. Others said Jesus was Elijah or Jeremiah. Still others said Jesus was one of the prophets. The traditional Palm Sunday passage says that the people of that oppressed generation saw Jesus and identified Jesus as a great political liberator, they wave palms and cheered political slogans. Those were some flattering answers but they were all wrong. There is only one correct answer. Our world is struggling to answer that question correctly. Muslims say Jesus was a great prophet and the Jews say he was a wise teacher. The average person on the street says salvation is based more on actions, than grace. When was the last time you heard someone say, “I believe in God!” That belief in God is not going to save your soul. Even Satan believes in God. Jesus has been asking that question for generations. Who do men say I am? And Jesus has been getting wrong answers for generations.

There is only one correction answer. Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. In other words, Jesus is your only hope of salvation. You must identify Jesus as your Lord and your Savior. Who do men say I am? If you have answered that question correctly and you have claimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior say, “Hosanna!” On the day that you answer that question correctly you could claim the very promises of God.

Body

The Bible is filled with divine promises. The problem is I don’t have the time to run through them all. However, I do have time to run through three. Each one begins with the letter “P.” So if you are ready for God’s three promises for your life say, “Hosanna!”

Presence

Who do men say I am? If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you can claim the promise of presence. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” In other words, no matter where you go in this life, Jesus will be by your side!

Augustine once said, “I would rather have friends who are wise than merely those who are handsome.” The best friends you will ever have is Jesus. He will stand by your side when life is good and he will stand by your side when life is bad. He will stand by your side on judgment day. If you are thankful that Jesus is always with you say, “Hosanna!”

Power

Who do men say I am? If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you can claim the promise of power. Ephesians 1:18-19 says, “I pray also the eyes of your heart maybe enlightened in order that you may know the great power for us who believe.” In other words, within your heart is the ability to live a life that is pleasing to God. All you need to do is tap into that divine power!

One New Year's Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas. That is not our story!

We are disciples of Jesus Christ and His energy resource is limitless. Have you ever wondered how you experienced something in your life that was difficult? It may have been the illness or death of a loved one. That difficulty may have been extending you education or a particularly difficult task at work. Have you ever wondered how you survived. Let me tell you how in one word. Jesus! Jesus gives us strength to endure all kinds of events in this world. If you are thankful that you have a direct link to some divine power say, “Hosanna!”

Purpose

Who do men say I am? If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you can claim the promise of purpose. Ephesians 1:7-9 says, “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he proposed in Christ.” In other words, we are not just placed in this world just to be consumers. You were placed in this world to make a difference. You were placed in this world to be a conduit of God’s love.

Someone once said there are two great days in a person’s life. There is the day you are born and there is the day you discover why you are born. God expects you to make a difference in this world! If you are thankful that your life has meaning and purpose say, “Hosanna!” Who do men say I am? There is only one right answer. Jesus must be your Lord and Savior.

Conclusion

In The Mask Behind the Mask, biographer Peter Evans says that actor Peter Sellers played so many roles he sometimes was not sure of his own identity. Approached once by a fan who asked him, "Are you Peter Sellers?" Sellers answered briskly, "Not today," and walked on.

Who are you today? If you can properly identify Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you have properly identified Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you have his constant presence in your life! If you have properly identified Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you are living in his power. If you have properly identified Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you know that God has a purpose for your life. If you have properly identified Jesus as your Lord and Savior then say, “Amen!”