Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:18-22 (New International Version, NIV) emphasis mine

Jesus asked them “Who do the crowds say I am?” However, in His question, He actually told them who He was- the great I AM. Peter answered and said that He was the Messiah, which is Christ in Greek, meaning the Anointed One.

Jesus went on to tell his disciples that the Son of man, or Jesus as a man, would take man’s place to secure salvation. The name Jesus means savior or salvation. He told them He would encounter three things: suffering, rejection, and death. But, He also said that on the third day He would be raised to life. On that third day, He was indeed raised to life, God thus vindicating Him of the three things that He faced. Three days corresponding to the three things He went through.

Suffering

Jesus suffered many things, but God turned His suffering into glory by bringing many sons to glory. Jesus is now the Lord of Glory.

Rejection

Jesus was rejected by man but accepted by God. They rejected who He was- the Lamb of God-and they rejected His sacrifice to save mankind. But His sacrifice has purchased our salvation and many have now accepted Him gladly and continue to do so.

Death

Jesus was killed but God raised Him back to life, proving that Jesus was who He said He was- the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Today, Jesus is still asking us, “Who do you say I am?” The answer to that question determines each person’s eternity. Will we choose to be with Him forever, worshipping Him as God? Or will we reject Him and be separated from Him and spend eternity in the lake of fire? We can make Him Lord now, or we can face Him as Judge later. God has vindicated Jesus, confirming His identity forever. Receive Him now as the King of kings and Lord of lords that He truly is.