Stepping Stone

So there was this day when Jesus was talking to His disciples that I find very intriguing. Jesus asks, "Who do people say that I am?" Now at first glance we might think Jesus is concerned about other peoples opinion of Him, but He isn't. He is opening up a discussion that will set into motion the greatest movement the world has ever seen. A stepping stone that will shape everything His disciples will do.

Though His disciples, jump right in telling Jesus who people think He is: Teacher, prophet, Elijah, John the Baptist. So Jesus makes it more personal, "Who do you say that I am?"

This question is the stepping stone that we each need to ask. Who do we say that He is? The way we define Jesus, will directly effect the way in which we respond to Him.

If He is just a good teacher, we might study his life and teachings to grow in our intellectual pursuits, believing that they will make us a better, well rounded, person.

If He is just a savior, we will see Him will be someone that is there when we need help and is standing on the sidelines waiting to be called into play to save the day at the last moment, but doesn't seem to have a place in our normal every day life.

If He is just a judge, we will see Him as the black robed, gavel totting keeper of the law. Who walks around with His list of do's and don'ts just waiting to bust us for the smallest infraction.

Maybe we have the "Doggma" view of Jesus smiling with two thumbs up that says, "It's all good" as long as we are showing love in our own way we're fine.

Peter's response was, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

This answer was so profound that Jesus called it the ROCK on which He would build His church and the gates of hell would not over come it. (Matthew 16) What did Peter say? What was so profound that would change the face of the world.

By acknowledging the Christ, Peter, was saying that Jesus is the anointed one. As the "Anointed One" Jesus was The Prophet like Moses, The King like David, The Immanuel (God with us) from Isaiah, The Suffering Servant, The Son of Man and much more.

Peter continued to call Jesus the Son of the Living God. This is a reference to the deity of the Christ. That He is fully man yet fully God, that He is the great I AM. The wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ever Lasting Father and the prince of peace. He isn't just a king but the KING of kings. Not just a lord but the LORD of lords.

How should our lives reflect the Jesus we serve? What do you call Him?