“But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
We are good at forming opinions of one another. We are also proficient at grouping one another into certain categories; such as nice people, mean people, wise people, or foolish people. Once we have formulated our opinion of someone, it then determines how we speak about that person, as well as how we treat them. Therefore, what we think of one another really is important.
One day when Jesus was praying with his disciples, he asked them what the crowds following them were saying about who he was. Their answers ran the gamut from John the Baptist to Elijah, or that he was one of the prophets who had come back from the dead. At that point, Jesus focused his attention solely on his disciples, and asked them, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter answered first: “You are God’s Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus responded to Peter, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” (Verse 17)
Quite a question Jesus asked his disciples, was it not? So now, let us take Christ’s question and ask it of ourselves. What about you? What about me? Putting aside the bible teaching and preaching we have heard, who do WE say that Jesus Christ is? That question is the most important question any of us will ever answer, because our answer to that question will formulate whether or not we believe the word of God, the sovereignty of God, the love of God, the presence of God, the provision of God, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, our answer will determine our eternal destination. If we do not believe that Jesus Christ is all he says he is, we will have no spiritual convictions or real hope.
Peter’s answer to Christ’s question was correct, because God had revealed that truth to him. When we have an inaccurate view of who Jesus Christ is, what his word truly says, it is because we have drawn conclusions based on our human reasoning and rationalization.
If you are like me, you have had the experience of drawing a conclusion about someone only to find out you were completely wrong once you learned the truth. The truth of who Jesus Christ is can only be revealed to us from God. It can never be determine by any of our human resources.
What about you? Let me ask you to lay aside your busy life for a moment or two and sit quietly before the Lord, asking yourself the same question Christ asked his disciples – Who do you say Jesus Christ really is? Your answer will determine the course of your life.
Darlene
“But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)