Of all the questions, you may ever be asked – this
question is the most important – “Who do you say I am?”
It is THE question that runs throughout the gospels. It begins
with the boy Jesus sitting among the teachers in the temple. Luke tells us that
they were amazed at Jesus, at how much he knew and understood – Lk. 2:46
In John, when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward
him he said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Jo.1:29
In Mark, when Jesus calms the storm at sea, his disciples
question – “Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that
even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mk. 4:41
When Jesus comes to Nazareth, his home, again the
questioning - “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this
wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? Isn’t this the
carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon?
Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” Mk. 6:2
So when Jesus asks his disciples in today's gospel passage
– “But you, who do you say I am?”, their answer will determine the whole of the
rest of their lives. When Peter responds with the only true answer, Jesus points
out that coming to this understanding is a work of grace, a deep personal gift
of faith.
Christianity has had a long history now, of dealing with
this question, and yet we find that there are as many conflicting answers given
today as there was when Jesus first asked the question. We in the church have
the distinct advantage of our Church’s long history of dealing with the question; its doctrines
and traditions. But for each generation, doctrine and tradition only serve to
intensify the question.
The answer to the question still comes down to me,
one-on-one; what do I say – say in my heart? The integrity of what I say will shape my
life, revealing who I really believe Jesus truly is? The great St. Paul, who’s
epistles do so much to shape our faith, began at "ground zero" with the question,
“… who are you Lord?” Later he shows the integrity of his answer, "I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live
now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it
is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians
2:19b-20
I think one of the best examples of the encounter with this
question, is that of the apostle Thomas. He starts with the mentality similar to so many in
this “scientific” age. “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my
finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never
believe.”
"Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside
with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them
and said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here
and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop
doubting and believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him,
“Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not
seen, and yet have believed.” Jo. 20:26
Don’t ask science to answer the question for you – ask the Holy
Spirit.
"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. Mtt. 16:17
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