Jesus, who do you say I am?

Matthew 16:13-23

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.” He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah. Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!” But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

Food for thought!

Who do you say I am? Jesus asked them. This is a question we rarely ask and almost never answer. But Jesus dared to ask: "Who do you say I am?" May be we could as well dare to ask who do our people say we are? Let us not only ask the question; let us dare to hear what they say about us. I am sure that what they will tell us is not always the truth. Like in the case of Jesus, they called him many names and things: Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. We are not what people say we are; we are what Jesus says we are. 

The question about us and ourselves is the question about Jesus. You can't talk about yourself and not talk about Jesus, and cannot talk about Jesus and not talk about yourself. Do you notice that when Peter said who Jesus is, Jesus told Peter who Peter was? "You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God" said Peter to Jesus, and Jesus said to Peter: "And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock." 

It means, NO ONE KNOWS WHO WE ARE, EXCEPT JESUS. All the others call us many things, many names; I am many things for many people, you're many things to many people. If you asked your friends who you're, like Jesus did, you would here all kinds of answers, good and not so good; it is all guesswork because no one can tell you who you are except the Lord. We are all mysterious and sealed people, closed books, that only Jesus has the key to unseal and open.

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides. It was sealed with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel calling out in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll. No one could even look inside it. 4 I cried and cried because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, «Do not cry! The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the battle. He is the Root of David. He is able to break the seven seals and open the scroll.» (Rev. 5:1-4)

This means that Jesus is the key that opens us. Peter never knew himself nor his career until Jesus told him in all details. And Jesus never told Peter who he is until Peter knew who Jesus is. So, you too, to know yourself, you will have to know who Jesus is. The more you know Jesus the better you know yourself, the less you know Jesus the less you know yourself. Did you notice that Jesus never told the others who they are? It is because they never told Jesus who he is for them.

Today, we let us dare to ask Jesus, WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? To him be glory and honour and praise, for ever and ever.