“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Some questions can change the course of your life.
- Where do you want to go to college?
- Will you marry me?
- Will you accept the job?
No matter what answer your give, your life will change when you answer one of these questions.
During a conversation with the disciples, Jesus asked one of the biggest questions of their life – Who do you say I am?
Jesus didn’t start the conversation here – he started the conversation by asking them what other people said about the Son of Man. The disciples responded that people say that he is a prophet, Elijiah, Jeremiah, or John the Baptist. The disciples had an answer for what everyone else said about Jesus but what did they believe?
Jesus turns the conversation by shifting from what others say to what the disciples believe. Their answer? Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah – the one who would rescue God’s people.
CS Lewis famously said that Jesus is either a liar who portrayed himself as something he wasn’t, a lunatic who believed he was something that he wasn’t, or Lord because he is who he says he is.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is more than a good teacher or a prophet. Jesus is the Son of Man, the creator of creation, the Messiah, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Each person has the free will to choose what they want to believe – if Jesus is a liar, lunatic, or Lord. However, there is a day coming where every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. At that time, your devotion to Jesus or to yourself will determine your eternity.
“so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Live It:
- How would you respond if Jesus asked you “Who do you say I am?”
- Does your life reflect that Jesus is the Lord of your life?
Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
