Bible Reading: John 11:25-27
I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God. John 11:27
YOU CAN GET a huge clue about who Jesus is by checking what his followers thought of him. Even though most of the people close to him were devout Jews worshipers of the one true God-they recognized Jesus as God in human form.
The apostle Paul had been trained as a rabbi; making it absolutely unlikely he would worship a guy from Nazareth and call him Lord and God. But Paul acknowledged Jesus-the Lamb of God-as God when he said, “Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock-his church, purchased with his blood-over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders” (Acts 20:28).
When Christ said to Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter said this: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus answered Peter’s confession not by correcting his conclusion but by acknowledging its truth-and its source: “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you” (verse 17).
Jesus’ close friend Martha said to him, “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God” (John 11 :27). Then there was Nathanael, who thought nothing good could come out of Nazareth. He acknowledged that Jesus was “the Son of God-the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
While Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59), acknowledging Jesus as God. The writer of Hebrews called Christ God when he wrote, “But to his Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever’ ” (Hebrews 1:8). John the Baptist announced the coming of Jesus by saying that “the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you’ ” (Luke 3:22).
Then of course there’s the confession of Thomas, a.k.a. “Doubting Thomas.” After seeing the risen Christ and touching his wounds, he said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus accepted Thomas’s acknowledgment of him as God. He rebuked Thomas for his unbelief-but not for his worship.
Those who knew Jesus best realized he was more than just a man. They accepted him as Messiah, God come to earth as a man just as the Old Testament Scriptures foretold. Were they sure? Well, they worshiped him. They obeyed him. And like Stephen, many of them died for the One who had died for them.
REFLECT: There’s an old saying that Christ isn’t Lord at all unless he’s Lord of all. Is he Lord in your life today?
PRAY: Talk to Jesus about letting him take control as Lord of your life.
