When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)
Revelation is key to a meaningful existence. To live a productive life, we must know whose we are, what we are about, where we are going etc. The fact that God placed us in families is proof that identity is important. Knowing that the things that we see are copies of the things we do not see, we must stop to pay careful attention. Ask questions. The Bible records in the Book of Joshua that children would ask their parents why certain traditions exist and their reply was to recap their family history.
…to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7)
Today, we look into our identity. Jesus asked His disciples, who the people said He was. Their responses are worth noting. People thought various things of the man Jesus. Some thought He was just a prophet; others thought he was John the Baptist; some even thought he might be Elijah or even Jeremiah. Whatever they thought of Him would inform how they related to Him. The question we must ask ourselves today is "what do we think of Jesus?" From whose eyes are we seeing Him."? How have we been relating with Him?
Truth is if you asked people what they thought, you would get as many diverse answers as the folks you queried. Whatever their response would inform their actions. What we must note, however, is that we must all come to the point in our Christian walk where we get to answer the same question Jesus asked His disciples. If He quizzes you, ‘who do you say I am?’ The correct response to this question would unlock your destiny. It did for Peters.
Let's stop to consider the story. Peter responded that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And then Jesus revealed, only God could give a man the revelation of who Jesus is, and it is in that revelation that one will discover who we are as Peter found. Jesus said to him; you are Peter, no longer a reed, no longer unstable, no longer tossed about. From that moment, Peter became stable, rock, reliable, bold, and fearless. When you discover Jesus the Christ, we find out who we are.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
(Psalms 36:9)
My beloved, let's stop to ask: Who do men say Jesus is? Do you see Jesus through your pastor's eyes? Is He the one spoken about by others to you? By what name is He referred? Who do you say Jesus is? Do you have a revelation of who He is? Have you seen Him? (Phillip said we would see Jesus). Did He tell you who you are?
Many of us have carried identities that were wrongly placed. Labels that have no bearings with where we are going. Ask Jabez he knows that road. His mother called him a child of sorrow. God's identity for him was 'honourable man'. For as long as Jacob was Jacob, he could only scheme his way through life, as soon as he became Israel, his destiny changed.
My dear, I ask again: Who are you? What is God's pronouncement in your life? We all need to pray – Lord show me who you made me. Alleluia!
