Who is Jesus Christ?
“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.”
(Matt 16:15-16)
At one point in his life Jesus asked a question, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Maybe he knew people were discussing about him in the background, in the streets, in bars and in their market stalls. Two things would shock you real hard: first, what people say about you when you are not there - ho! And secondly, what people will say about you at your funeral – ho!
Like Jesus, just over a week ago she passed on at 33 and powerful eulogies rolled in her honour – that was Pamela Kadama – an Engineer, a wife, a mother of two, dressed with strength and dignity. This goes a long way to remind even me together with all those in their mid-30’s that life is fleeting. One in a while, care to ask some friends what is said about you out there, just as Jesus asked.
Today’s question is ‘Who is Jesus Christ?’ Before exploring what the Bible teaches about Him, consider his question addressed squarely to the Twelve, and now to you – ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Matt 16:15) This question not only requires us to give an answer from what we know today, but also to continually search and learn more about who Jesus truly is. Jesus was called all manner of things – from a prophet, son of a mere village carpenter, to being called a lunatic or demon-possessed! The disciples reported some of what the public was discussing as the identity of Jesus. Jesus knew all of this, but He was still interested in squeezing out from the disciples what they said of His identity. Whatever the others said is neither recorded nor is it important; what Simon Peter answered was approved by the Lord and stands as the ultimate identity that we must not only uphold but seek daily to understand, as it is amplified in many parts of the Bible – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
Having being convinced of this truth, a Jewish teacher of the law came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Is this your kind of response? Head knowledge that does not invoke a response profits nothing. Even after such a response, Jesus demanded more devotion and seriousness, and he sent the teacher thinking deeper and challenged about the imminent mission: Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matt 8:19-20). Who is Jesus Christ to you?
God bless you all.