Who Do Men Say I Am?
The scene is set and Jesus begins to question his disciples regarding what is being said about him among the people. One would stop and inquire as to why Jesus, Our Lord would want to know what people were saying about him. Well, I believe part of it was his humanity. Being human one may wonder what others see when they gaze upon one’s frame. The other was to bear witness to whom God would reveal his true identity. The eyes of flesh may behold one thing but what is revealed by the Spirit is the truth.
What was being said? Whether good, bad, or indifferent Jesus knew who he was, but had it been revealed to those around him. As he was going about doing good works could they see the true nature of his motives? Could they see he was approved and sent by God? He healed many, casted out devils, feed thousands, and revealed the mysteries of the Kingdom that had been hidden in the Scriptures for centuries. Yet, they did not know who was among them, because they were judging by the flesh instead of discerning the spirit.
What identity did the people ascribe to him? Some of the people said he was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. The religious leaders labeled him as a drunkard, a winebibber, a friend of sinners, a devil, and a blasphemer. The first claimed him to be someone who had come back from the dead and the latter called him everything but the Son of God. Among the naysayers there will always be one to whom God will reveal the truth. That one for Jesus was Peter. Peter by revelation of Holy Spirit begin to tell Jesus that he is the Son of God. Finally, there was yet another witness to Jesus’ true identity.
“What is said to you matters and what you say to others matter.”
What are men saying about you? Have you been mislabeled and your motives misinterpreted by people who fail to recognize the truth. The people with whom you have surrounded yourself may be seeing you through the eyes of their fleshly opinions. Many have likened you to someone they once revered trying to resurrect a past move of God. To others the good works that you have performed in the name of the Lord are of no consequence to them, because surely God cannot use someone like you. Someone who does not conform to the religious norms and who has not been reared within certain prestigious religious circles. You didn’t even get the approval of the religious order to do these works, so surely God did not send you. As much as they claim to see they cannot see you. Just as Jesus had Peter, so God has someone in your midst to whom he will revealed your true identity.
Who do men say that you are? Those to whom God will reveal your true identity will be a witness to the truth that you are a child of God, one who has been approved by God, and sent by God to do good works. You are the friend of God being used to draw men into his Kingdom. While many may be mislabeling you and misinterpreting your motives know that God has a witness in the earth to make a declaration concerning your true identity. Holy Spirit who bears that witness will reveal to those around you who you really are. So, give no ear to the masses, because only the few will know the real you.