Pop Quiz- 1 Question

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’”
— Matthew 16:13–15

This question, “Who do you say that I am?”, is the most important question in the life of any Christian. It isn’t Who was Jesus? but Who is Jesus to you? The answer shapes how you view the Bible, this world, other people, and most importantly, your own deep need for a Savior.

Before diving into the question, let’s consider what Scripture evidence we can find and what Jesus is called:

· Son of God (John 20:31)

· Son of Man (Mark 10:45)

· Son of David (Matthew 1:1)

· Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23)

· King of Kings (Revelation 19:16)

· Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)

· Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

· Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)

· Lamb of God (John 1:29)

· Savior of the World (John 4:42)

· Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20; Titus 2:14)

· Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

· The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6)

· Light of the World (John 8:12)

· Word of God (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13)

· Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)

· Bread of Life (John 6:35)

· Living Water (John 7:37–38)

· Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)

· Anchor (Hebrews 6:19)

· Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13)

· The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

· Messiah / Christ (John 1:41)

· “I Am” (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14)

Honestly, this list alone is the mic-drop moment. These names don’t just describe titles, they reveal the nature, authority, and character of Jesus. Simply dwelling on them should leave us in awe. But this is just the starting or turning point. Because the more we read and understand who Jesus is, what He taught, and most importantly what He accomplished, the more our lives are transformed with hope and joy.

The Problem: A Distorted Jesus

Too often we have diluted even perverted the image of Christ. Some of us question whether the Bible’s account can be trusted. Others build a “Subway version of Jesus,” picking the parts they like while leaving out the convicting, uncomfortable truths He taught.

Our culture often rebrands His message into phrases like “love is love,” “follow your heart,” or “find your truth.” But these fall short when compared to what Jesus actually said. That’s the difference between simply knowing about Jesus and actually surrendering to Him as Lord, Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

As the NF lyric asks: “If you made a list of people that you trusted, would you put your own name down?” Hopefully not….because our hearts are sinful and self-justifying, consistently trying to chase after idols and earthly pleasures. Jesus doesn’t call us to trust ourselves; He calls us to kill our sin, die to ourselves, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).

The Second Problem: Drifting Away

Sometimes the danger isn’t outright rejection; it’s quiet complacency. Maybe you started on fire for Christ after grasping what He did on the cross for you and I, but over time that fire cooled and life went back to “normal.”

Living near Lake Michigan makes this clear: when you swim in the current, you inevitably drift. Look up after a while, and you’ll notice you’ve moved far from where you began. That’s exactly what happens spiritually — we don’t drift closer to Christ; we drift away. It’s a slow fade:

· Compromising convictions little by little.

· Listening to voices that affirm what we know we shouldn’t do.

· Neglecting the Word instead of letting it search our hearts.

· Trading time with God and His people for more sleep, vacations, scrolling, or sports.

The truth is simple: no one drifts toward holiness. Following Jesus requires daily and humble submission. That act of submission and following requires us to rightly see Jesus for who he really is.

The Third Problem: A Poor Witness

Let’s be honest: being a Christian isn’t “cool” in this world. And sometimes, we don’t help.

Believers can come across as religious zealots, speaking in lofty language and sending endless emojis to prove our faith. Worse, we can come across as hypocrites. saying one thing but living another. Too often we debate online in unhealthy ways, or worse, condemn others without pointing them to grace.

But Jesus didn’t call us to win arguments; He called us to make disciples. Our lives should be the loudest testimony. Show love. Show compassion. Show kindness. That’s how we point to Jesus.

Every person who met Jesus in the Gospels responded one of two ways: they surrendered and were changed, or they walked away in unbelief. The same choice remains today and again requires a right understanding of who Jesus or you will walk away.

The Solution: Only Jesus

The solution to every problem is not more knowledge about Him but full surrender to Him.

God wrote the story with Jesus at the center (not us). He gave His Son as the sacrifice so that our sins could be washed away. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) yet He calls each one of us to a true relationship through Jesus. And when we trust Him, everything changes: our hearts are convicted, our purpose clarified, our joy secured.

The question remains: Who is Jesus to you?