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As summer begins to wind down and we head toward fall, there is a familiar sense of change all around us. Students are returning to classrooms and college campuses, schedules are changing and another season is beginning.
Seasons change, circumstances change and life moves forward. Along the way, we all face questions -- about our future, our purpose, what we believe and what truly matters.
But there is one question that has remained unchanged for more than 2,000 years:
Who is Jesus Christ?
In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asked His disciples what people were saying about Him: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
Their answers varied. Some said John the Baptist, others Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
People still have many different opinions about Jesus today.
Was He simply a great teacher? A prophet? A good man? An influential religious leader? A remarkable figure in history?
But Jesus took the conversation one step further. He made the question personal:
"But whom say ye that I am?"
His disciple Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus told Peter that this understanding had not simply come through human knowledge or reasoning. God had revealed to Peter who Jesus truly was.
Peter didn't arrive at his answer by taking a public-opinion poll. His answer wasn't based on what happened to be popular or what everyone around him believed. It wasn't simply the result of philosophy, psychology or religious tradition. Peter had come to recognize the truth of who Jesus was.
And that truth remains unchanged today.
Jesus Christ is God in the flesh -- not simply the Son of God, but God the Son.
This is what sets Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived.
The Gospel of John in the Bible tells us that Jesus was in the world, that the world was made through Him, and yet the world did not recognize Him. But to those who received Him and believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:10-13).
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah spoke of the One who was to come:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus Christ came into our world as fully God and fully man. He lived among ordinary people and experienced the realities of human life. Ultimately, He gave His life on the cross for the sins of mankind and was resurrected to life.
He did this because of His great love for us. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the penalty for our sin -- a debt we could never pay on our own -- so that through Him we could receive forgiveness, salvation and the gift of eternal life.
Why does that matter to us today?
Because the message of Jesus is about far more than religion, simply trying to become a better person or doing enough good works to earn our way to Heaven.
The Gospel--the good news at the heart of the Christian faith--is that through Jesus Christ, God offers us forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with Him, salvation and eternal life. Jesus offers these gifts to all who will believe in Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
Jesus came to be the Savior of the world.
After encountering Jesus for themselves, the people of Samaria declared, "We have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (John 4:42).
Perhaps you have known and followed Christ for many years. Perhaps you grew up hearing about Jesus but have never really considered who He is for yourself. Maybe you have questions about Christianity, or perhaps faith is completely unfamiliar territory to you. Maybe you have been searching but still haven't found the peace and love you have been looking for. Or perhaps somewhere along the way, you feel you have lost your faith or lost your way.
Wherever you find yourself today, you can begin by simply asking God to reveal Himself to you and help you know Him more. He hears you, and as you sincerely seek Him, trust Him to meet you there and lead you as you grow in knowing Him.
If you want to learn more about what it means to know Jesus personally, there are some simple places to begin. Read the Four Spiritual Laws, a short explanation of the message of salvation that is available online or as a paper tract. Begin reading--or listening to--the New Testament in an easy-to-understand Bible translation such as NIV or Amplified. Spend time talking to God in prayer, even if you are unsure what to say.
Attend a local, Bible-based church regularly. Seek out a community of Christians who can encourage you, answer questions, pray with you and help strengthen your faith.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a journey we walk alone.
And these things are not only for someone discovering faith for the first time. No matter how long we have known Christ, there is always room to draw closer to Him, grow in our understanding of His Word, deepen our relationship with Him and encourage one another in faith.
And as you seek to know God more, remember this: God loves you. His love is not based on your accomplishments, your past or whether you have everything in life figured out. His love is steadfast and unconditional, and He invites you to come to Him just as you are.
In a world that can often feel uncertain, hurried and overwhelming, God also offers a peace unlike anything the world can give -- a peace that can steady our hearts even when our circumstances are not peaceful. As Jesus said, "My peace I give unto you... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
Seasons will continue to change. Generations will come and go. Ideas and opinions that seem important today may be very different tomorrow.
But Jesus' question remains.
He first asked His disciples what everyone else was saying about Him.
Then He made it personal: "But whom say ye that I am?"
It is a question worth considering -- not only once, but throughout our lives.
Who do you say Jesus is?
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Rev. John Snyder, pastor of House of the Lord Fellowship, Lock Haven.