From His Own Lips

September 27

(Luke 22:63-71 NIV) ““The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. {64} They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" {65} And they said many other insulting things to him. {66} At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. {67} "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, {68} and if I asked you, you would not answer. {69} But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." {70} They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am." {71} Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.””

(Matthew 16:13-16 NIV) ““When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" {14} They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." {15} "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" {16} Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

The haunting question with Jesus is, “Who is this man?” It is the most important question you will ever answer. The men guarding Him thought they knew. As they beat Him and mocked Him, their taunts betrayed their hearts. Imagine their surprise and horror when they stood before Him on the day of their death. Jesus did not mince words when He stood before the religious elite. When asked if He was the Christ, He answered with a name they understood: “I AM”. He was indeed the Christ, and they were correct in saying that He was the Son of God. Many silly critics have said that Jesus never personally claimed to be God. But that is precisely what He is saying here. He is declaring, “I am the Christ, the Son of God, the “I Am”, and I will be seated at the right hand of Almighty God in eternity.” With His own lips Jesus tells us who He is. Do you need any more testimony? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day