Son of God
"Who do people say I am?" Jesus asked His disciples this question one day (Mark 8), and they answered, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." Then He posed another question, a Big Question: "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"
And Peter answered, "You are the Messiah."
A little further along the timeline of Jesus' last days on earth, He himself is essentially asked this question: "Who do you say you are?"
"At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 'If you are the Messiah,' they said, 'tell us.' Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.' They all asked, 'Are you then the Son of God?' He replied,'You are right in saying I am'" (Luke 22:66-70).
It was one thing for Jesus to say He was the Son of Man; Jesus' inquisitors could have dismissed this as Him simply confirming the obvious fact of His humanity ...a fact they could see for themselves. But for Jesus to confirm Himself as the Son of God was another matter entirely, requiring that He be dealt with once and for all.
Thus was Jesus sentenced to the cruelest and most humiliating death possible...a method of execution normally reserved for the worst of criminals. Unholy fear and pride put Jesus on the cross, but He was held there by holy love for those He wanted to call His own.
"Who do people say I am?" This is a question we might ask with ourselves as the subject. Who do people say I am? Who do people say you are? Maybe they say we are someone's son or daughter. Maybe they say we are someone's mother or father. Maybe they say we are what we do...our profession. Or maybe they say we are something from our past we wish we could escape in the present.
But imagine if we ask the Son of God this question about ourselves: "What about you, Jesus? Who do You say I am?"
And then we hear His answer: "You are a child of the Most High God."
"You came down, from heaven's throne,
This earth You formed, was not your home.
A love like this, the world had never known,
A crown of thorns, to mock your name.
Forgiveness fell upon Your face
A love like this, the world had never known.
On the altar of our praise
Let there be no higher name,
Jesus Son of God.
You laid down your perfect life,
You are the sacrifice,
Jesus Son of God.
You are Jesus Son of God."
(From "Jesus Son of God;" Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels; songwriters Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Matt Maher; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj_s9_45QpI.)
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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!