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Pastor's Page— April 2005

Who do you say that I am?

How great it was to have a crowd in church on Easter Sunday!!

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:18-20)

Everywhere that Jesus went, those whom he encountered had questions about his identity. Who is this man? Luke gives us several examples of this:

• Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? (The scribes and Pharisees in Luke 5:21)
  
  
• Are you the one who is to come? (John the Baptist in Luke 7:19)
  
  
• Who is this who even forgives sins? (Those at table with Jesus in Luke 7:49)
  
  
• Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him? (The disciples in Luke 8:25)

Ultimately, each one of us has to make our own personal decision about who Jesus is and how God wants us to relate to Jesus. The famous British author and theologian, C. S. Lewis argued that Jesus’ own words leave us few options about who he is. Based on what Jesus said about himself and his mission, Lewis contended, he is either the Son of God or he is a madman.

Jesus does not allow us to believe that he is a great teacher and moral example but nothing more. When we take Jesus at his word, we find that he challenges us to only look at him as Lord. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me!” (John 14:6)

Alan Culpepper, professor of New Testament at Baylor University, writes in his commentary on Luke that, “Jesus’ identity is revealed in what he does and what he calls others to do... those who desire to see who Jesus is will see him only if they respond to his call to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and feed the hungry.”

Another way we discover who Jesus is, is by living as Jesus calls us to live. Identity comes through obedience. Learning who Jesus is, is best done through experiencing what a follower of Jesus does.

Jesus is asking the crowd at Thorofare, “Who do you say that I am?” Come, join us on Sunday mornings as we learn more about who Jesus is and how Jesus calls his followers to live. Come and be blessed by our Risen Lord and Savior.