Who Do You Say I Am?
On one occasion, Jesus asked his closest friends this question, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Their first response was to list what other people said about him. “Some say John the Baptist, others say…” (Matthew 16:14).
In that sense they’re not all that different from us. I’m constantly coming across people who’ve gained all their knowledge about Jesus from what they’ve heard other people say, or something they’ve read on social media, or videos they’ve watched on TikTok or YouTube. Some come out with things they’ve read in the book or seen in the movie, the Da Vinci Code, as if these are facts. But the Da Vinci Code is a piece of fiction, a novel. It’s not history. And social media is primarily a way of connecting people and providing entertainment. It gives a lot of opinions, but it’s not a reliable or objective source of information. If we’ve gathered everything we know about Jesus in these ways, then we don’t really know anything about him at all.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus pushed his friends. “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). He was challenging them to reflect on their own personal experience. They had travelled with Jesus for several years. They had heard the things he said, his profound and insightful teaching about God. They had watched the compassionate way he dealt with people. They had not only witnessed, but personally experienced, his miraculous protection from enemies in the religious establishment, and from natural events, as well as his provision for their everyday needs. They had seen what Jesus was like when no one else was watching, when the cameras were off, and the crowds had gone home.
Reflecting on all this, what did they conclude? “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). And despite Jesus ordering them “not to tell anyone,” (Matthew 16:20), they felt compelled to do it anyway. They were so convinced, so convicted, that Jesus is the only way we can truly know and connect with God, they couldn’t keep that to themselves.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry
In that sense they’re not all that different from us. I’m constantly coming across people who’ve gained all their knowledge about Jesus from what they’ve heard other people say, or something they’ve read on social media, or videos they’ve watched on TikTok or YouTube. Some come out with things they’ve read in the book or seen in the movie, the Da Vinci Code, as if these are facts. But the Da Vinci Code is a piece of fiction, a novel. It’s not history. And social media is primarily a way of connecting people and providing entertainment. It gives a lot of opinions, but it’s not a reliable or objective source of information. If we’ve gathered everything we know about Jesus in these ways, then we don’t really know anything about him at all.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus pushed his friends. “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). He was challenging them to reflect on their own personal experience. They had travelled with Jesus for several years. They had heard the things he said, his profound and insightful teaching about God. They had watched the compassionate way he dealt with people. They had not only witnessed, but personally experienced, his miraculous protection from enemies in the religious establishment, and from natural events, as well as his provision for their everyday needs. They had seen what Jesus was like when no one else was watching, when the cameras were off, and the crowds had gone home.
Reflecting on all this, what did they conclude? “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). And despite Jesus ordering them “not to tell anyone,” (Matthew 16:20), they felt compelled to do it anyway. They were so convinced, so convicted, that Jesus is the only way we can truly know and connect with God, they couldn’t keep that to themselves.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry