Who Do You Say That I Am?

Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom of heaven for some time now and He wanted to know if the people got his message that He was the Messiah who came to this world to reveal God to men and save sinners. He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” His disciples told Him that some said he was like John the Baptist (a forerunner); others said, one of the prophets (a foreteller or forth-teller). They all missed the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. He came to open the door to the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in Him. So, he asked His disciples, who had been with Him for some time, “Who do you say I am?” Peter, prompted by God, answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

For his response to God’s prompting and his courage to say what he said, Peter was the first apostle to be told that he would be commissioned to bring the Gospel to the world. (Read Matthew 18:18, 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Realising that that was not the right time to reveal the truth that He was  the Christ to the world, Jesus asked His disciples to keep the truth to themselves for the time being.

As I reflected on this Scripture, the following thoughts came to my mind:

(1)   “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15 (NIV))

Who is Jesus to me? To me, Jesus is the eternal Son of God sent by the Father to this world to reveal God to men and to save sinners like me from God’s wrath and judgment. I am eternally thankful and grateful to Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God. As a child of  God, I want to please Him daily — by humbling myself before Him, submitting to Him (His will, purpose, ways, timing), obeying Him and carrying my cross for Him (Luke 9:23). My prayer: “O Holy Spirit, please empower me daily to worship and please God and glorify Him.”

(2)   “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

“Yes, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!” He came to this world to save sinners and give them eternal life if they believe in Him. The time of keeping quiet is over. Out of my love for and deep gratitude to God, I must proclaim Christ and His Gospel to the world by word and life. I am His ambassador! I am the salt and light of the world! I am His witness [He is alive today! I can testify to that!], I am His disciple-maker! My prayer: “O Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of being your disciple and fisher of men!”

(3)  “…for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in  heaven.”  Matthew 16:17 (NIV)

No one can know God’s truth unless God reveals it to him. Hence, when we read God’s word, unless the Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to us, convicts us and empowers us, our lives would not be transformed toward Christlikeness. We would just be gaining bible knowledge without the power to live it out. My prayer: “O God, please transform me, by your word and your Spirit daily, to be more and more like my Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

By Brother Lim Han Soon (YCKC Bulletin 20 September 2020)