Waking and hearing these words this morning I listened closely…Who do you say that I am?
Jesus sitting in a private conversation with His disciples asked the question. Who do people say that I am? What have you heard about me? (Matthew 16)
Now of course Jesus knew what was being said. But he wanted to hear what the disciples would say. And he wanted to make them aware of the question so that they would ask themselves and know, “Who He really is.”
This was not a rhetorical question. He wanted an answer.
These twelve men were called and they followed Him. There was a tax collector, who people despised, but Matthew left his profession and followed this Rabi when he was called. Peter an obnoxious, loud mouth fisherman, put down his nets and followed Jesus when he said, “Come follow me and I will make you to become a fisher-of-men.” Andrew and Judas, Bartholomew, John, James, Philip, Jude, Simon the Zealot and Thomas…why would these twelve men drop everything and follow this man they didn’t even know. There was something different about Him…
“Well, some say you are John the Baptist, raised from the dead. Some say you are Elias, because of all the miracles and some say you are Jeremiah, or one of the 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.” (Read Matthew 16:13-20)
Today there are many voices with many opinions; believers and unbelievers. All have an opinion of who they say Jesus is!
There is an abundance of information on the subject. Television ministers and podcast, social media icons on every ad and news post…we no longer have to wait for the “Newspaper” to come out weekly…we have the news instantly on every cell phone and technological devise or state of the art tool available anywhere in the world. Even to the most remote place known to man, yes, people have to have their toys…
So, like the question asked all those years ago…Jesus/Yeshua is still asking today… “Who do YOU say, that I am.”
Do you know Him? Really know Him?
Like Peter, has he been revealed to you by God the Father?
That Jesus, is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!
Has he sat with you unaware on a turbulent airplane and guided you to safety?
Has he been with you in that hospital room while you waited the outcome of your loved ones surgery and a miracle took place, all went well. Did you know He was there?
Have you felt His grace and comfort when saying goodbye to someone you love more than life as their spirit left their body?
Do you talk to Him every day…Have you heard Him whisper, “I love you child, lean on me, I am with you, do not be afraid.”
In the middle of your bankruptcy, divorce, robbery, rape, abuse, abandonment, addiction, abortion, hate, war, mental torment, have you sensed a presence bigger than your problems, that carried you to the other side and helped you escape even death!
Who is He?
Have you sung victory songs and prayed but no answer came, but you trust Him anyway?
Has he blessed you with good things, a happy life and peace that is unexplainable…yet you turn Him away?
I know you’ve heard about Him, but do you know, WHO HE IS?
“Who do you say I am?” Jesus is asking you right now!
He wants you to know exactly WHO HE IS!
He Is The Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God…That’s who He is.
Listen to His response to what Peter said… (son of the dove)
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.” Matthew 16:17-19 The Message Bible
Maybe you’re cynical, an atheist, or agnostic maybe you’re a believer…or maybe you think it’s all just a fairytale and you’re too old for such ‘nonsense’…maybe you just don’t care…
It doesn’t matter…God is still God! Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God whether you believe or not!
He loves you and will keep on loving you no matter what…but He will not go against your free will…
But, Jesus will keep on asking, “Who do you, say, I am?”
If you truly want to know who He is ask and, His Heavenly Father, God, will reveal who He is to you. He is the Savior, life giver, friend, redeemer, anointed one, healer, truth and way…He prays for you, and loves you. He is God, comforter, teacher, Coming King…He is the Son of the Living God!!!
–Marla Shaw O’Neill – February 20, 2017
