Whom Do You Say That He Is?

Mark 8:29 – But whom say ye that I am?

    The life Jesus lived on Earth, though quite short, has had and continues to have an innumerable and unsurpassed influence on this world. He made a lasting impact on all those that came in contact with Him. His name, His words, His demeanor, His miracles stirred up an immense amount of interest and piqued the curiosity of a nation. There were diverse and assorted opinions of Him. Jesus had just asked His disciples what some of those opinions were. Who did people say He was? Some, apparently, said that He was the forerunner, John the Baptist, raised from the dead. Others said He was Elijah the confrontational prophet who challenged the false religion of his day. Then there were those who thought he resembled Jeremiah the one who felt the pain of Israel’s condition and wept over the people of God. A large number of things were said about Him. Some people loved Him and some despised Him. Some gave their all to Him in worship and others tried to accuse Him and destroy Him. Many were impressed with His wisdom and teachings and there were also those who thought He had lost His mind and was insane. Without fail, the mention of Jesus never left anyone the same. He became a controversial figure, a person about whom many rumours and false truths were circulated. There were a multitude of opinions about Him then and there are equally as many about Him now. It really does not matter though, what the world says about who Jesus is. It does not matter what the current view of Him is, it only matters what you and I believe personally.

    Who do you say that I am? Jesus’ question is not simply for those to whom it was first posed but it is for each of us today. It is a personal question. It is a penetrating question. It is a probing question. It is a paramount question that has eternal ramifications. It is a question that demands an answer. Who do I say that He is? Who is He? The question is not what Jesus has done for me, although He has done so much, the question is who do I say He is? Eternity rests not on what but on whom; not on a thing but on a person. Who is He? We have no doubt heard the phrase that it is not what you know but who you know that counts. This idea suggests that to get the right opportunities and to get ahead in life depends not upon your education or your skills but upon who you are in relationship with. It is not what but who. When we apply this thought to Christianity it actually rings true. I may have all kinds of knowledge, even a thorough Biblical knowledge and yet not truly know Jesus. There are those who even have positions of leadership in churches and other organizations but may not necessarily know Him. A relationship is not based on what you know about someone. I may know many things about a movie star or a famous athlete. I might be able to quote their list of films and maybe even know their career stats but never actually met them. Who a person is, not what a person does, is the essence of relational intimacy. I can learn much about a person indirectly but I can never learn who a person is second hand. It must be a first hand and face to face encounter.

    The question searches even deeper than simply recognizing who He is; it asks us to say something. What do I say of Him? What do I say to Him? What do I say to myself? What do I say to others? It is not enough to merely think about who He is; there must be a statement. If someone witnesses a crime and then reports it to the police, the police will require a statement. If two people are deeply in love and decide to get married the love alone will not suffice; the minister will require a statement. We are committed to what we confess. Christianity has been called The Great Confession and rightly so because it is based on a verbal statement of our faith in Jesus. Words are the formulation and expression of what is in our hearts. When our children are struggling or hurting we want them to have the freedom to say what it is that is bothering them. When a counselor is trying to get to the root of inner trouble they need to hear what is in the heart. Many times the simple act of saying something out loud takes it out of the vague and gives it tangible meaning. This applies to both the negative and the positive. Stating things verbally not only brings solutions to problems but it also enhances and strengthens our faith and our love. I tell my wife that I love her not only because she needs to hear it but because I need to hear it; it reinforces my love and adds power to my commitment. Jesus knew this about human nature. He knew those first disciples would need to have a strong commitment in order to pioneer and forge a path for succeeding generations and He knew that we would, likewise, need much help in our journey through life and in our walk with Him.

    Who is He? Who do you say He is? Who do I say He is? I say that He is the Christ. He is the Son of God. He is the Saviour of the world. He is the Lord of all and He is my Lord and Saviour. He is my Redeemer and Rescuer. He is the Beautiful and Worthy One. That’s who He is and that’s my statement! I encourage you also to go ahead and make a statement. Who do you say that He is?