An Important Question
Devotional

An Important Question

October 23, 2023

An Important Question

“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.” Matthew 16:15-16

Interviews almost always require you to describe yourself. The interviewer may say something like: tell me about yourself, what do you enjoy doing in your free time, why do you think you would be a good fit, and the list goes on. No matter the wording, these questions are meant to help the employer get a picture of who it is they may be hiring. In Matthew 16 we see Jesus asking a similar question, but in reverse.

Jesus is traveling with his disciples, when he asks “who do people say I am?” (Matt. 16:13). The disciples give a variety of answers including, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or a prophet. While all of these people may have been great teachers and stood up against corrupt rulers, they don’t encompass who Jesus is. These answers reveal that many of the people Christ encountered missed who he was.

So, Jesus continues the conversation, he turns to the disciples and asks “who do you say I am?”. Peter responds “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Peter saw Jesus as more than a teacher or a miracle worker. Through walking with him and personally getting to know him, Peter understood that Jesus was not only the Messiah but also God. He believed that Jesus truly was his Savior and he loved him with his whole heart. In the rest of the New Testament we get a glimpse at the way Peter’s belief in who Jesus was changed his life.

The question for the disciples is a question for us as well. Who do you say Jesus is? The entirety of the Bible reveals Jesus to us and boldly declares that he is our Savior, our Lord, our redeemer and friend. He is our source of life, our good shepherd, and our rock. Each of these truths are not meant to only fill our heads with knowledge but deeply touch our hearts. As John 20:31 says “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

You may have a lot of knowledge about Jesus and what others say, but who is he to you? It is our personal answer to this question that matters the most. When we truly believe that Jesus is who he says he is and wants a personal relationship with us, it impacts every part of our lives. It changes how we think, act and relate to others.

Reflect on your personal relationship with God this week. Who is Jesus to you? How would you describe your Savior to someone who has never met him? How would you respond if Jesus asked you: Who do you say I am?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word and the way you reveal yourself to us. We thank you for this story of Peter declaring who Jesus is, and the way it prompts us to examine our own relationship with him. We pray that each of us will draw closer to you this week and grow in our knowledge of who you are and what you have done for us. When given the opportunity to share who Jesus is, may we joyfully and boldly accept it. We pray this in your son’s name, Amen.

Makalah Scholten
Spiritual Care Coordinator

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