WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THE SON OF MAN IS?
A. How this was answered at Jesus’ time. 1. Some said He was John the Baptist. When Herod heard the report about Jesus he said: “This is John the Baptist. He was raised from the dead and therefore does miracles.” Mt. 14:2. The Baptist was a mighty fearless preacher. But he was only a man, not God. 2. Others said Jesus was Elijah. Read Mt. 17:10-13. Jesus explains that this prediction was about the Baptist, not Himself. Elijah was not God but a mere man. 3. Others said Jesus was Jeremiah. Jeremiah warned the people of coming destruction as did Jesus. But Jeremiah was only a man, not God. Read Jn. 17:12.40-44. Jn. 8:48. There were also evil opinions about Jesus’ identity. But all these opinions were of man, not of God. B. How this is answered in our time. 1. Even the Muslims and the Jews acknowledge that Jesus lived. But they think that He was only a man, maybe even a prophet. That is a human idea, not God’s revelation. 2. Some even call _themselves_ the Christ. Jesus warned at Mt. 24:5,
