9 July – What is your response?

Jesus once asked two questions of his disciples.

“Who do men say I am” His disciples answered, “some say John the Baptist, some Elijah or one of the prophets (Mark 8:28-29).

Jesus answered “But who do you say that I am?

Why did Jesus ask his friends, “Who do men say I am? “And who do you say I am?” He was not concerned what people thought of him, He knew who He was. No, Jesus asked because He was making a point and requesting a definite response!

“People think I am this person, or that person, but I am none of those things. Do you as my friends understand who I am. Do you know who I am yet?”

Jesus wanted his friends to listen and receive revelation of who He was from Heaven. Finally Peter answers Him and says, “I Know, I know who you are. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Right now, as you read this, Jesus still asks each one of us that very same question “Who do people say I am? But more importantly who do you say I am?”

Who do you think and say Jesus is? Is He just a historical figure, the baby in the manger at Christmas time; or someone who might have lived a long time ago. Maybe you say He’s the guy on the cross in lots of churches.

Or do you believe He is the Christ, the Son of God, who performed miracles, raised people from the dead, forgives sins, died on a wooden cross and conquered death by rising back to life.

Because whom we say and believe Jesus is changes absolutely everything!

We can’t say we believe that Jesus is who He says, without that changing everything for each one of us. Not if we are being honest; not if we are serious.

If Jesus is who He says He is, then He demands a response from us.

If we just think Jesus is a historical figure then we can go on with our own lives, living how we want to, and hoping that we have surmised and decided correctly about Him.

But if we say, “Jesus I think and believe you are the Son of God, you lived, and died and rose again.” Then we cannot just go on with our lives the same old way.

Our summation demands an active response; a change of thinking and living. If Jesus is who He claims to be, and I believe He is, then we had better sit up and take notice, and start living our lives following Him and His way of doing things.

Jesus does not give anyone the option of half heartedness, or lukewarm belief in Him. We are either for Him, or against Him. We either love Him or we don’t. We either follow Him, or go and do our own thing!

And if we follow Him then we choose to do what He says. There is no wiggle room of “Oh I don’t feel like it today, or I’ll take that part of what Jesus says, but not the rest”.

Jesus is very blunt and serious when He states, “If you love me, keep my commands! (John 14:15)

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Who do you say Jesus is? And what is your response?

Prayer: Jesus I know that you ask me to make a decision regarding who I say you are. Help me to be honest, and to take this question seriously because it has consequences for my life now, and for all eternity. In Jesus Name. Amen.