Who do you say I am?
by Pastor Peter Bean
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Who do you say I am? (Luke 9:20a)
Read Luke 9:1–20
The disciples were an interesting lot! They take Jesus at his word and heal people everywhere (verse 6); they return and tell Jesus everything they have done (verse 10), presumably excitedly; then, after Jesus welcomes all the people who found him, they tell Jesus to send the people away (verse 12). And finally, even though they had been performing miracles, when Jesus encourages them to share the sparse amount of food they have, they say we don’t have enough!
Faith to move mountains! Hardly any faith at all!
Are you like that? Am I? Very often, if not always. Sometimes, I think I can change the world with God’s help. Other times, what is happening in the world drives me to despair. I suspect you may have mountain-top – and then valley experiences – as well.
What if Jesus asks you: Who do you say I am? What would your answer be? Would you answer correctly, as Peter did (but not really understanding what your answer means)?
In reality, that’s life. We can confess Jesus in our own words or using the creeds of the church. We can even mean the words sincerely. But then life happens, and we contradict our words with our actions. Or our words lose meaning as we struggle with life’s complexities.
The good thing is Jesus’ words are consistent and true. They are full of love and compassion and grace and forgiveness. They are backed up by the way he lived, treated all people with love, died and then rose again.
Jesus is the one who lived, died and rose again so that even if my actions don’t back up my words of confession, he allows me to start again. He is indeed the Christ. Because of that, you – and I – have life.
Jesus, you are the Christ. Help me to live that out in all I say and do. Amen.
In the early months of the year, Peter is often out in the garden, watering, picking and pruning – chasing the birds away from his fruit! Or he is indoors – stewing, drying, preserving. Peter also enjoys walking his dog, riding his bike, reading and spending time with his family. To keep out of mischief, Peter says he is currently teaching himself to play the piano and is writing a paraphrase of each of the Psalms – now up to Psalm 56.
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