Monday, May 19, 2025
Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am? ” They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him. Mark 8:27-30 CSB
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Jesus and the disciples were in Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus asked them two very important questions: “Who do people say that I am,” and “Who do you say that I am?” The disciples had been with Jesus for three years, living with him, eating with him, learning from him and watching him perform signs and wonders. They had even been sent out on their own, two by two, to do the work Jesus had taught them, but they had yet to proclaim that Jesus was truly the son of God.
When Jesus asked the disciples what people were saying about who he is, they answered with what they had heard - John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets. Then Jesus personalized the question and directed it at the disciples - But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? Peter answered You are the Messiah. Peter did more than just identify Jesus as the Christ; he also proclaimed Jesus’ divine nature: “You are the Messiah.”
How long have you known Jesus? Just like the disciples, we know him, and we may even use words to “say” what we know to be true about him, but have we proclaimed him as our Messiah? To proclaim is to acknowledge and to acknowledge, to yield to or surrender. When we are in a relationship with him, we can say we know him – and he knows us too. I think many of us are good and going through the motions but not fully proclaiming him Lord over our hearts and lives, because we don’t really believe it. We allow him to be Lord over some parts of our lives, but we hold tightly to the control of another.
We have to answer this first fundamental question in our own hearts before we can begin to grow in a relationship with him. It is possible to live a long life without answering this question. What we believe to be true about Jesus will change how we live our whole lives. What we believe will be lived out in our lives every day. Our beliefs will shape what we say and what we do and every step we take. It is important that the world sees us living out our lives in the Jesus way and if we allow him to be Lord over our whole lives we will. What we say and how we live will align.
When we say Jesus is our Messiah and Lord and truly believe it, we have everything we ever needed. When the trials come, he is there. When it is time to rejoice, he is there. He is asking this question of us just as he did the disciples: Who do you say that I am. How we answer this question determines how we live our lives – either proclaiming him with every step, word, and action, or not truly surrendering to him as our Messiah. We have seen his miracle working power in our own lives, in the lives of loved ones, and throughout history, which is all the evidence we need to know he is who he says he is!
Do you believe that you can trust him? When we fully surrender to him as Lord over our lies, we can trust him and follow through with obedience. We can trust him with our hearts - he will never betray or forsake us. We can trust him in our trials and know he loves us and is with us every step of the way. Who do you say Jesus is?
