From the Pulpit: "Whom Say the People"

By: Rev Mike Scott, Pastor of Juniper Chapel Church, Vanceboro

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am (Luke 9: 18)?

Introduction

This passage is part of a larger conversation Jesus shares with His disciples on the road to Caesarea Philippi. By this time, He has ministered for nearly two years—preaching powerful sermons, teaching life-changing truths, and performing many miracles. His fame has spread far and wide. When Jesus asks His disciples, “Whom say the people that I am?” they reply, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again” (Luke 9:19). But then the Lord’s next question pierces more deeply: “But whom say ye that I am?” (Luke 9:20). This is the question every soul must answer. Some love Christ, others reject Him, and many remain indifferent. Yet neutrality is impossible. Each individual must decide what to do with Jesus Christ. Peter boldly answers, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20). In this message, we will explore three titles that reveal His true identity—Christ our Sovereign, our Saviour, and our Shepherd.

Christ the Sovereign

First, we see that Christ is our Sovereign, for He is the supreme Ruler who possesses all power and authority. While Almighty God is the Creator of all things, Scripture declares that Christ is the divine Agent through whom creation came into being. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Paul likewise affirms, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16–17). In Revelation we see His majesty proclaimed as He returns in glory, and “on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). Christ rules over the universe and reigns in the hearts of all who acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour. One day, in the new heaven and the new earth, He will sit enthroned forever as the eternal King of glory.

A sovereign not only reigns but also possesses power. Scripture declares, “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). During His earthly ministry, Christ displayed divine power over every realm—over nature, when He walked upon the sea and calmed the storm; over sickness, when He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and strength to the lame; over Satan, when He resisted the devil’s temptations and cast out demons; and over sin, when He forgave the paralytic’s transgressions. Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). His authority is absolute, His dominion eternal, and His will unshakable.

Finally, as Sovereign, Christ possesses supremacy—He stands above all others. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The word begotten means “unique.” Only Christ is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. He alone could say, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). As our Sovereign Lord, He is worthy of all worship, all reverence, and all glory.

Christ the Saviour

Secondly, Christ is not only a Sovereign—He is also our Saviour. A saviour is one who rescues another from danger. If a fireman rushes into a burning building to save someone trapped inside, he is a saviour. If a drowning man is pulled from the water by a rescuer, that person becomes his saviour. Spiritually, it was we who were perishing in sin—bound for eternal destruction—and Christ intervened to save us. He pulled us from the fiery pit, lifted us from the miry clay, and set our feet upon the solid Rock.

The Bible presents Christ first as the seeking Saviour. He declares, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). When the time came to redeem fallen humanity, God did not send an angel or another created being. Instead, He sent His own Son—the fairest jewel of Heaven’s crown—to die for the sins of the world. Christ left the glories of Heaven, took upon Himself human flesh, and endured the shame of the cross that we might be saved.

He is also the suffering Saviour. No one has ever endured such agony as our Lord did at Calvary. Seven hundred years before His birth, Isaiah looked ahead and wrote, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “All we like sheep have gone astray… and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). On that old rugged cross, Christ bore our sins, suffered our hell, and paid our debt in full so that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God.

Christ the Shepherd

Finally, Christ Jesus is our Shepherd. The image of a shepherd and his sheep is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and Jesus Himself declared, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14). A shepherd’s two primary duties are to provide for his sheep and to protect them.

The Good Shepherd provides for His flock. David beautifully wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1–2). Every need we face is known to God, and He has promised to “supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The Good Shepherd also protects His sheep. David testified, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Jesus said, “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). His rod of power and staff of grace guide, guard, and comfort us every day. The psalmist assures us, “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee… For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:9–11). Our Shepherd watches over His flock by day and by night.

Conclusion

When Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered with bold conviction, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). That same question still confronts every heart today. Who is Jesus to you? To the apostles, He was the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the Lord of glory. To us, He is our Sovereign—ruling with power and majesty; our Saviour—redeeming us by His precious blood; and our Shepherd—guiding and guarding us through life’s journey. He is worthy of our highest praise, our deepest devotion, and our eternal adoration. Let every heart proclaim with joy: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”