Jesus and his disciples have arrived in a new place. The name of the place alone indicates Roman influences. They are away from their own community, their own people. Jesus asks, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” likely referring to himself. They give standard answers for a great teacher or a religious leader, naming important prophets in their history. Then Jesus is very direct. “Who do you say that I am?”
There are many possible answers to that question today. Who do we say that Jesus is? Jesus was a historical figure who lived in a Roman occupied area of the Middle East over 2000 years ago. He was a great teacher whose important lessons about life in community, religious life, and God are still studied and used today. He was a religious reformer who tried to make significant change in the focus of the Jewish faith, whose death led to the creation of a new religion entirely. Jesus was a religious zealot whose movement was seen as a threat to the powers of the time which led to his execution. Who do you say that I am?
Peter’s response cut through all the options and went straight to the heart of the matter. “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” Throughout the gospels, there are times we see Peter speak and act as if he truly believes Jesus is the Messiah, and other times when Peter behaves as if he does not. Peter’s story mirrors our own, again and again reminding us with the encouraging news that following Jesus does not require perfection. Peter gets it right in this instance, but only a few verses later, Peter doesn’t understand what Jesus is saying and responds in a way that leads Jesus to strongly rebuke him. But Peter is never sent away. He always has a place in the movement with Jesus.
Some days, I find it easy to answer Jesus’ question: Who do you say that I am? Those are days when I am able to see and feel God’s presence in the world, bringing healing and new life. Days when I am certain of God’s faithfulness and love. Days when I understand and embrace that, as followers of Jesus, we are called to love and forgive and serve, to welcome and care for and give. Days when I can easily answer, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God,” with my actions, my attitudes, and my whole being. And there are other days when I am unsure just who Jesus is. Those are the days when I cannot understand the world, I have no idea how I am to follow Jesus, or I begin to wonder if God has gone away. Yet, even on those days, I am never sent away. I always have a place with Jesus.
We answer Jesus’ question with our lives. We tell him, ourselves, and the world who Jesus is in the things we do, the way we treat people, the choices we make, the priorities we choose. Like Peter, some days our answers are strong and confident, and other days, our answers are tentative and uncertain, or just plain mistaken. And yet, even on those days, we always have a place with Jesus.
Peace,