He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?

” Peter answered and said

to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Mark 8:29

- JULY 18 -

WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

Do you know that how you see Jesus determines what you receive from Him? If you see
Jesus as your healer, you will receive healing. If you see Jesus as your refuge and fortress,
you will receive protection.

The people of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, saw Jesus in the natural. They said of Him, “Is
this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James,
Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?” (Matthew 13:55–56).
They saw Jesus in the natural. They did not see Him as God in the flesh. As a result, He
could not do many mighty works there (see Matthew 13:58).

Today, many people, including some philosophers, see Jesus of Nazareth as a good
person who led an exemplary life. They feel that if all of us could live our lives like Him, the
world would be a better place.

They don’t see Jesus as the bread of God who came from heaven to give life to the world
(see John 6:33). They don’t see Him as the one who came to give them living water, so that
they would never thirst again (see John 4:14). They don’t see Him as the Lamb of God, who
took away the sin of the world (see John 1:29). They don’t receive from Him what they need
because they don’t esteem Him rightly.

Jesus did not come just to set a good example for man to follow. He came to be our
Redeemer (see Galatians 3:13). He came to be our righteousness (see 1 Corinthians 1:30).
He came to be our shepherd, so that we will not lack anything (see Psalm 23:1).
Jesus asked His disciples once, “But who do you say that I am?” How you answer this
question depends on how you see Jesus. And how you see Jesus will determine how and
what you receive from Him. So see Him as your God, as everything He claims to be in His
Word, and He will do mighty works in your life!