#19 Question: Did Jesus know the answers to the questions He asked?
Politicians are often concerned about their reputations with the voting public. They spend thousands on polls and focus groups endeavoring to know if people will vote for them.
Once, Jesus asked the disciples what people thought of him, Matthew 16:13-14:
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
(This incident is so important it was recorded in two other gospels—in Mark 8 and Luke 9.)
However, the answers of the people were a letdown from what had been said earlier by Nathanael and John the Baptist at the beginning of Jesus’ work, John 1:49, 29, 34:
“Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel…
“…The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! …
“…And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
During the intervening time, the Devil was successful in partially ruining Jesus’ reputation with the public, Matthew 11:18-19:
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard,”
Then Jesus posed the question to His disciples, Matthew 16:15:
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Note: Each disciple needed to answer this question for himself. Everything as to eternity depends on the answer to this question. Did they believe Jesus was Deity?
For us, eternity also depends on believing the answer Peter gave, Matthew 16:16:
“Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus was Deity. He would have known the answers to both questions. He surely knew what people were saying about Him and what the disciples thought of Him. If He knew the answers, why ask?
Jesus, no doubt, had excellent reasons for asking. Probably, the answer was needed by each of the disciples individually as a reminder of who Jesus was in lieu of the next stage of teaching that He would do, Matthew 16:21:
“…From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
When Jesus began to say this, Peter was not yet ready to believe that Jesus would be killed and then resurrected, Matthew 16:22:
“…And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
Jesus corrected Peter and said he was a hindrance and thinking like a man.
What can be learned from this incident in the life of Jesus?
- Today everything concerning eternity still depends on how I answer the question of ‘who is Jesus.’
- This question must be answered individually, not as part of a church or group. Perhaps, this is an additional reason Jesus asked the questions: He wanted each disciple to mentally answer to be ready for what would come.
- The answer to this question has always been very important for conversion to Christianity. For example, on the day of Pentecost, Peter ended his sermon by explaining that God had verified who Jesus was, Acts 2:36:
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Those Jews that had now become believers posed a question, Acts 2:37-38:
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”
Preaching the Deity of Jesus formed the basis for the disciples to evangelize. Consider the actions of Phillip, Acts 8:5, 12:
“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ…
…But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
- Peter had answered the question correctly by saying that Jesus is the Son of God.
The answer to the question in the title is yes. Jesus knew the answers before He asked because He is Deity. But His questions served His purposes in teaching and reminding us as to who He is.
#SonOfMan? #peopleThinkJesusWas? #disciplesThinkJesusWas? #JesusChristSonGod #JesusDieResurrected #PeterRebukesJesus #JesusRebukesPeter #questionForEternity #JesusKnewThoughts #Matthew16:13-22 #Acts2:36-38 #Acts8:5-12
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