‘When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ‘ Matthew 16:13-17
“Who do you say I am?” This is the most crucial question concerning Jesus, which every breathing human must answer.
There are only two responses to this question:
One response is to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. This response leads to forgiveness of sins and life in eternity with God.
One response is to reject Him as your Lord and Savior. This response leads to being separated from God for eternity.
‘Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews . One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ‘ Luke 23:32-43
When Jesus was crucified, two criminals were crucified with Him, one on His left and the other on His right. As we look at Luke’s account of this scene at the cross, we see two responses from the criminals being crucified with Jesus.
“One of the criminals who hung on there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Like many at that time, this man was looking for Jesus to satisfy a physical need. He didn’t recognize Jesus for who He was. This criminal didn’t identify himself as the sinner he was. He died that day, separated from God for eternity.
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The second criminal identified himself as a sinner. God also revealed who Jesus was to this man, and he called on Jesus to “remember me.” And Jesus’ response was to accept him right there. And this man is spending eternity in the presence of God.
‘O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. ‘ Psalms 86:5
The posture of God’s heart is to forgive all those who call on the name of the Lord. He is “so ready to forgive.”
The above example is what would be called “deathbed conversion.”
Here are two examples of one conversion and one denial for us that are still living with life to live:
‘Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” ‘ Matthew 19:16-24
This man came to Jesus to ask what he must do to have eternal life. He is referenced as “a certain ruler” in Luke’s account of this meeting. Let’s look at that moment: He came to meet Jesus in public compared to Nicodemus, who met Jesus at night when no one was around.
He was probably a leader in one of the Synagogues. And it says that he was rich. He had conquered this world financially; it says that “he had many possessions.”
He asked Jesus, “What must “I” do to have eternal life?”
Jesus responded by saying that for him to have eternal life, he must keep the commandments.
This young man asks for more clarity by asking which commandments. And Jesus said, ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’
This man responded that he obeyed all of these commandments. But Jesus knew his heart and went after the area where this man couldn’t lay down before Him.
“If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Jesus went after the sin in this man’s life that he struggled with.
It says, “he went away sad because he had many possessions.”
This rich young man chose not to lay his life down to the Lord. He was willing to pay the price. In his mind, he looked at himself as good. He followed the commandments he felt he could but was coveting his possessions. He was unwilling to use the resources that God allowed him to have to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.
‘Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” ‘ Luke 19:1-10
The second person who was faced with meeting Jesus was Zacchaeus. He was a despised tax collector. He had heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him. Being a short man, he couldn’t see over the crowd, so he climbed a sycamore fig tree to see Him.
It says, “When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
How did he respond to Jesus’ call on his life?
“He came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.”
The people in the crowd started to murmur about this, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Unlike the rich young man, Zacchaeus was willing to give up his possessions in response to the saving grace that Jesus provided to him.
Accepting the saving grace of Jesus will change our lives. If you feel that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior but are unwilling to give up any sinful activity you were engaged in prior to that, it is time to lay this down before the Lord.
‘His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ‘ 2 Peter 1:3-11
Heavenly Father, thank You for the saving grace that You have provided through Jesus Christ.
I pray, Lord, that You reveal to me the sin that I am harboring in my heart and help me become free from it.
I pray that You allow my life to stand as an example to those around me as a life submitted to You in every way.
Thank You for the challenges that You provide to test my faith. I pray that You allow me to look to You in these times of challenge and lean on You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
