Who do you say I am?

Who do people say the Son of Man is?

Who do people say I am?

Who do the crowds say I am?

Three writers, three versions of the same question. Jesus is curious about who people think that he is. We all find that fascinating, don’t we? Our identity is rooted in a combination of who we know ourselves to be and who others think we are. Jesus talks a lot about the truth of who he is – we saw him give a full account of that in yesterday’s blog. Today, he’s asking the question ‘So who do people say that I am?’

As we saw yesterday, opinion is divided. Speculation is rife. There’s a lot of confusion and speculation. He’s no ordinary man, that’s clear. He’s doing things no ordinary man could do. He’s making massive claims that no ordinary man would make.

He’s either crazy or lying – or the real deal. And a threat to the established political and religious leaders, that’s for sure.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’

Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’

Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.  Matthew 16:13-20

The passages in Mark 8  and Luke 9 don’t have that final section where Simon’s name is changed to Peter. And the Luke version does not mention Caesarea Philippi but says ‘Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him…’

In all three versions, the answer that Jesus’ followers give to his question is the same: Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.

The people are trying to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing. There’s confusion about John the Baptist and Jesus. Their ministries overlap. Everyone knows that Elijah never died but was taken up into heaven – everyone’s heard that story – so it could be him. And the only other people who’ve claimed to be messengers from God have been the prophets. They’re all trying to use the knowledge they already have to try to define Jesus. But Jesus is different to anyone who has ever been before. Beyond anyone who has ever been before. Beyond human definition or understanding.

However, Jesus has another question. What’s most important to him is what each individual understands about who Jesus is. He takes it to a whole lot more personal level.

But what about you? Who do you say I am?

The people who’ve lived closest to him are the ones with the best understanding of who he is. They’ve watched his every move and hung on his every word. They see him for who he really is.

You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Simon Peter is speaking from the heart. He’s not repeating what anyone else is saying. He’s not saying what he thinks Jesus wants to hear. He’s not simply spouting what he’s been told to say.

This is real. This is his testimony. And there is power in his words.

• Now Simon is to be blessed: knowing who Jesus really is brings a contentment beyond anything the world can offer
• Seeing who Jesus is for yourself is a divine revelation
• Recognising who Jesus is affects who you are and changes your own identity
• Being clear about the identity of Jesus is a firm foundation to build our lives and relationships and faith on
• Once we are clear about who Jesus is, there is nothing that can ever take that away or separate us from him
• Knowing Jesus brings a responsibility to be authentic in all that we do or say

Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Final point: this seems weird, doesn’t it? Don’t we get told constantly that we should be telling people about Jesus at every opportunity? If I’m reading this correctly, then I get the point Jesus is making here. And I like it.

We cannot tell anyone else what to think.

Each person has to come to Jesus in their own way.

It is not up to me or you to persuade or convince.

Only God can reveal the truth about who Jesus is in each individual heart.

All I can do is live in the light of who I believe Jesus to be, so that all that I do and say reflects that belief.

And trust that God will do the rest in His way and in His time.

And so I leave you today with the question that Jesus asked:

Who do you say Jesus was?

Who do you say Jesus is?