Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16 who do the people say that He was. Then He asked who do you say that I am?
Matthew 16:13-20 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 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.
At different times and places, people have made the mistake of attempting to make Jesus fit their narrative, movement, or worldview. People tack on their own perspectives onto Jesus. Today you can hear about:
- Jesus the moral teacher
- Jesus the enlightened man
- Jesus the social reformer
- Jesus the feminist
- Jesus the mystic
People did the same in Jesus time. In first century Palestine you could hear about:
- Jesus the prophet
- Jesus the healer
- Jesus the revolutionary
- Jesus the teacher
- Jesus the blasphemer
The same Messiah that is prophesied to be a triumphant King, is also prophesied to be a suffering servant. Jesus is both. Putting the emphasis on one to the exclusion of the other caused the people to reject Him completely.
Who Jesus is, is something that each of us must decide for ourselves. Who do you say that Jesus is?
Meandering Moose 