Who Do You Say He Is?

   “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’  (Matt 16: 15)

   I believe the answer to this question is the most important decision we will ever make.  It has the power to change our life in so many ways.  If we answer correctly Jesus will live in us and guide us on the road to Him; if we don’t our eternal life is at risk.

   The apostles had been with Jesus for quite some time when He asked them this question.  They had heard Him teach the beatitudes; they had seen Him cleanse lepers; they had heard the parables He used in His teachings.  They had seen Him feed thousands with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish.  Yet only one, Peter, spoke up when the question was asked.

   The Jewish leaders of the time had also heard His teachings.  They had seen many of His miracles; miracles which could have only come from God.  But Jesus didn’t fit the mold they had envisioned for the Messiah, so they didn’t accept Him.  Instead they plotted to kill the Son of God.

   We are much like the apostles and the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time.  We have read the gospels; we know of the wonders He worked.  We know of His death and resurrection.  We know that He will come again in glory.  We know who Jesus was and is.  Yet, many still want to redefine Him to fit their idea of who He should be.

   Some want Him to be a silent partner in their life.  They may go to church and say the prayers; but their life doesn’t reflect His presence.  They claim Christianity but refuse to give their hearts and souls to Jesus.  Others see Him as one who should never call them to suffer in this world.  Even though He suffered greatly for us, they want no part of His suffering.  Some say Jesus should eliminate evil, not realizing that evil comes from abusing our freedom of choice, not from God.

   Of all the questions that may be asked of us this is the most critical.  He asks who we say He is.  We must answer Him.

‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matt 16: 16)