It is a question which needs to be answered by every human being. It isn’t necessarily an easy question to answer, not because there isn’t a correct answer or because the answer is difficult to discover. It’s because the answer challenges the very core of every person’s beliefs and forces us to take stock of our lives. Those who saw the wonders that Jesus did and heard His teaching were forced to ask this question: “Who are you?”
This carpenter from Nazareth was indeed different. Incredibly different from all other men. When officers from the temple were sent to arrest Him (John 7:46), they were so taken by Jesus’ words that they came back and said, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” Jesus spoke boldly, lovingly and truthfully. His words went to the heart, challenged the mind and pricked the conscience. They brought both solemn warning and great hope. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ... Blessed are the poor in spirit ... You must be born again ... Do not worry ... Love your enemies ... Seek first the kingdom of God ... Be ready ... Take up your cross ...”
Then there were the signs. That Jesus did great and powerful miracles was never disputed even by His enemies (John 11:47). The blind were given sight, the leper was cleansed, the lame walked, the demon-possessed were freed - even the dead lived again.
The response to all of this? “A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, ‘He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?’ Others were saying, ‘These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?’” (John 10:19-21).
Demons do only evil. Jesus did only good. Insane people, though perhaps brilliant at times, are terribly inconsistent. Jesus was ever balanced and controlled. The miracles which brought relief to multitudes are indisputable. So, what do we do? What do you do? What is the answer to “Who are you?” What is your answer?
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