"You are the Messiah!"

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27-29) Who is Jesus anyway? Everyone wants to be His friend, His companion, or at least identify with Him. Some say He was a good man. Many faiths accept Him as real, human, and a doer on miraculaous things. He healed folks. He fed thousands. He predicted things that are still coming true today. Yet the Muslims look to Muhammad . . . The Mormons follow Joseph Smith's teachings. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe His sacrifice was enough. So is He God . . . is He MESSIAH? Jews beleve that before the time of the mashiach (Messiah), there shall be war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16). The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5). He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15). They believe this is a physical restoration of Jewish power and law. They do not accept Jesus Christ as Mashiach. Yet there were Jews who lived in Jesus' days who witnessed His life, death, and resurrection who did indeed believe and they even gave their lives for Him. They continued the faith so strongly that folks still claim Him as Messiah to this day. When Peter was asked, he replied, "You are the Messiah!" Everyone has to make a decision one day . . . who do you say that Jesus is? Make a choice and stick with it. It has eternal consequences. I am very comfortable with the choice I have made. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)