Who Do You Say I Am?
Like the compere of “Who wants to be a Millionaire?”, Jesus asks the £500,000 question: “Who do people say I am?” His disciples offer the options: A: John the Baptist, B: Elijah, C: Jeremiah, D: one of the prophets. Jesus invites exploration of the possibilities people posed. People talk about Jesus, but few understand Him. (Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21)
Jesus follows with the £1 million question: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Jesus moves from public opinion to personal response. You have seen me, heard me, been with me, you know me don’t you? Jesus still poses the same question to us today, and it is worth more than £1 million.
Two thousand years later, opinions about Jesus still vary. From heavenly life coach, to political revolutionary, to misunderstood mystic. A simple story-teller, or simply a story himself - a myth. Some treat Jesus like a spiritual side dish alongside the main course of life – a bit of Jesus here and there when you feel like it. Some snack on Jesus: a spiritual, chocolate comfort when life gets dull. Some push Jesus away because He falls into the category of ‘religion’ which is the cause of so many wars. Some use Jesus as a badge to win votes.
Peter hears Jesus’ weighty, costly question, and, resorting not to 50:50, nor phone a friend, and as the audience don’t seem to have a clue either, he boldly answers: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is as though the answer has been revealed to Him from above – no coughing Major here.
Peter’s confession, though perhaps blurted out, truly fits the evidence. Jesus’ teaching is too profound for Him to be mad. His compassion is too consistent for Him to be a fraud. His fulfilment of prophecy is too precise to be accidental. His death won’t silence Him. His resurrection does not leave Him buried in history. The carpenter’s son from Nazareth cannot be squeezed into neat little boxes labelled “teacher” or “example.” He is the Messiah - the promised King, God’s Anointed, the Saviour sent for sinners. As C.S. Lewis argued, Jesus could not merely be a liar, lunatic, or legend. The evidence presses us toward Lord.
This question was never merely theological; it is for ever deeply personal. Jesus is not asking for a survey response, but for surrender. Not merely admiration, but allegiance. Answering this question correctly changes a life far more than £1 million ever could.
Amid the daily noise of newsfeeds, notifications and never-ending opinions, may we hear again the voice of Jesus asking gently but clearly: “Who do you say I am?” For how we answer shapes not only our eternity, but our everyday lives as well.
Revd Michael Hogg