During the ministry of Christ, when a multitude of people was following Him, He said something that offended a large number of them, and the Bible says, “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66).  At that time, Jesus turned to His apostles and ask them if they would also go away.  Peter responded by saying, “…Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69). 

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?  If you do not, you really don’t believe in Jesus.  The word Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah and means “anointed one.”  Over the years, many people have claimed to believe in Jesus but have denied that He is Christ.

The Jews knew that Jesus was a real, historical person, but they rejected His messiahship.  Why?  They did so because He was not what they expected the Messiah to be.  They believed that the Messiah would be a great political leader who would rescue them from the rule of the Romans.  They expected Him to be an earthly king who would set up a physical kingdom and take them back to the glorious days of David.  Jesus had to remind them that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).  For the most part, they did not accept it.

Muslims would be another example of those who deny that Jesus is Christ.  They, too, know that he was a real man who lived at a specific time in history, and they even accept Him as a prophet, but not as God’s anointed one.

What we are discovering this week about Jesus is that we must not only believe something about Him, we must believe some very specific things.  If we do not, our faith is faulty and will not save us.  One thing we must believe is that He is the Christ.  We must not only believe it, but we must also confess it.  Confessing this truth is the rock upon which the church is built.

Matthew 16:15-18 (ESV)
¹⁵  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Why should we believe that Jesus is Christ?  It is because the evidence is overwhelming, especially as it concerns fulfilled prophecy.  Jesus was born of a virgin (prophesized [Isaiah 7:14]; fulfilled [Matthew 1:18-25]), betrayed by a friend (prophesized [Psalms 41:9]; fulfilled [Luke 22:47]); rejected by man (prophesized [Isaiah 53:3]; fulfilled [John 1:11]), and sold for 30 pieces of silver (prophesized [Zechariah 11:12]; fulfilled [Matt. 26:15]).

These are just a few of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.  Just one of them would prove that He is Christ, but we have these and many more.  We should all be able to say with Paul, “I know whom I have believed…” (2 Timothy 1:12).  Let me ask the question again—Do you believe in Jesus?  You can only say yes if you believe, and are willing to confess, that He is Christ.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.