Matthew 16:13-16
“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’” vs 15
The question that Jesus asked his disciples as they walked through the region of Caesarea Philippi was important…and it’s one that continues to capture our attention. They had an answer, one that Peter put forward as their natural leader. “You are the Messiah,” he said, probably more out of hope than certainty. We tend to struggle as we respond, trying to remember what the latest book we read about the historical Jesus had to say on the subject. Countless such books have been written, probably to satisfy our insatiable curiosity about the one we’ve been called to follow, and most authors end up with a picture of Jesus that looks a lot like their personal ideal. What they’ve done, in essence, is to remake Jesus according to their preferred image, and in the process, they’ve made it a bit harder for us to answer the question of the text. But it was a struggle for the disciples too…there were a variety of answers available to them: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. Their answer was an act of faith…and so is ours. Who is Jesus for us? Our answer will likely determine the direction of our lives. When we say with them that he is the Christ, we are in essence acknowledging him as the Incarnate Word of God, the one whose Spirit is our guide, our comfort, and our joy. And with Peter, we are blessed!
Thought for the Day: Who do I say that Jesus is?
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