‘Jesus asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ” ’ (Mark 8:27-29).

Some have claimed Jesus was only a good teacher, a human prophet and many other things, but who did Jesus say He was and is?

Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and He who believes in Me shall never thirst (John 6:35). I am the Light of the World, he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12). I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, He will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9). I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11). I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Jesus taught He existed before the foundation of the world (Micah 5:2, John 17:24), and He came from heaven (John 6:41-42). He explained He was alive before Abraham (John 8:58), and He said Moses testified of Him (John 5:39). He stated He was and is equal with God the Father (John 10:30-33, 14:9, 17:5), and by His works He proved His Divinity (John 14:11).

Jesus said, “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30), and He expected to be honoured exactly the same as God the Father in heaven (John 5:23). Jesus told people He could forgive sins, as only God can (Luke 7:48), and He freed people from condemnation (John 8:7-11). Jesus knew who He was and so did His disciples. Today, His question is asked of us - “But who do you say that I am?”

This is an excerpt from the book ‘Jesus Today - Daily Devotional - 100 Days with Jesus Christ’ by Paul Backholer and is used by permission.