He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15; all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible).

It is a question with eternal consequences. Jesus asked His disciples, and He asks us now, “Who do you say that I am?” This is the question that changed the life of Saul of Tarsus, leading him to become St. Paul the apostle:

…{A}nd he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do” (Acts 9:4-6).

We must ask, “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus answered that question along with the question that should follow it, “What do You want me to do?” The answers to these questions will determine the course of our lives. (My former pastor, the patriarch of the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, Archbishop Craig Bates, addressed these questions in a recent sermon. You can find it here. This is a video of the entire worship service. The sermon starts around 33:30.)

“Who are You, Lord?” Peter gave Jesus the correct answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). This answer will change your life. Others might call Jesus a great prophet, spiritual guide, role model, or moral teacher, but He is more than that. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Savior of all who will call upon Him by faith.

It does not matter what others may say—your parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, or even your pastor. Who do you say He is?

Who do you say Jesus is? How will that answer affect your choices today, tomorrow, and throughout your life?

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.