Who is Jesus?

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.  On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  Mark 8:27 (TNIV)

One might think that the question need not be asked any longer.  Jesus got many different answers when asked His disciples who the people said He was.  Today we might think that those lines are more clearly defined.  But a quick study will show that even now the opinions vary more than ever.  Nearly everyone has their take on the issue.  Normally people are quick to dispute, often heatedly at any deviation to their own preferred opinion.

Jesus immediately got several different views when He asked the question.  But notice that He did not stop to dwell nor dispute any of them.  Our Savior moved quickly forward and asked directly to His Disciples.  “What about you? Who do you say that I am?”

The shift may seem slight and insignificant.  But there is an eternity sized treasure to be had for those who recognize it.

It is important to define for oneself just who Jesus is.  This is the beginning step of religion, faith and a walk down the path towards understanding.  A person decides that Jesus is important and then they are free to start seeking Him.  We learn that we need Jesus and so we set ourselves to learning of Him.  Everything in life after that becomes a tool to bring us closer to Him.  We learn more of Him daily.  Hopefully our walk is closer and closer each moment.  Hopefully the relationship becomes sweeter and extremely more necessary each day.

But the misconception we have to dispute Him is wrong.  One day we will be held accountable for knowing Him or not.  Never are we held accountable for what another person thinks.  Here is the shift.  One could spend a lifetime and a load of effort defending their own personal view of their personal Savior.  Nothing will be gained.  On the other hand, we could spend that same time searching and discovering Him.  There is everything to be gained.

Jesus put His Disciples to the question.  He was right there.  Peter responded by saying Jesus was the Christ.  He threw Himself one hundred percent into the fire.  He made Jesus the One thing He needed.  This pleased our Lord.  Jesus told them not to tell anybody.  The matter remained between them.  An important lesson may be learned by those who care.  We need not worry what others think.  We need to come to know Jesus.  A moment wasted on quarreling with our brother is a moment lost with our Lord.  Time is shorter now than it ever has been.

Let us learn that the issue lies not with whether we can convince another person.  Let us learn that there is a very important question Jesus is asking you and me.  Who is He to us?  Do we want an answer that is brain deep?  Do we need to think it out?  Or do we need Him.  Do we need to know Him personally?  Should we waste a moment on definition?  Or should we spend a precious moment getting to know Him better?  Where will we waste our time?

Dear Jesus, the Bible is marked by the need for You.  It is shouting out unto creation the herald of Your presence.  It throws up upon You for now and all eternity.  Let us waste not effort and no time is seeking another purpose.  Let us spend our time wisely.  Let us strive to learn of You in every moment.  Let us rise above the temptation to assert our opinions.  Let us spend each precious moment learning of You.  Let us spend time in Your company.  Let us lean on You in the most intense relationship of our lives.  Let You be our first thought, our only thought.  The validity of our testimony will not be a show of words.  It will be marked by the closeness we share! Let the question remain between You and us, today and forevermore.

Amen