“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’” — Matthew 16:15 (NKJV)
Jesus first asked the disciples what others were saying about Him. So they answered, “Some said John the Baptist, others said Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”. Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
For Peter, Jesus was not merely a prophet or teacher. His answer reflected what he had come to know and believe about Jesus. He had witnessed Jesus speak with authority, heal the sick and perform miracles. Yet Jesus also told Peter that this truth had been revealed to him by His Father in heaven.
As for me, who do I say Jesus is?
Jesus is my Savior, my Redeemer and my Restorer.
Jesus is my Savior
He saved me from sin and from trying to save myself. He met me in my brokenness and reminded me that I do not have to earn God’s love or make myself worthy before coming to Him. Jesus is my Savior because I have come to know that I cannot save myself. I need His grace, mercy and salvation.
Jesus is my Redeemer
There are many moments in my life that I wish I could undo – failures, shame, and guilt. Jesus may not erase my past, but He has redeemed it. He took the very places where I have been broken and weave them into a story of grace. What I thought disqualified me became a part of my testimony of His redeeming grace.
Jesus is my Restorer
Jesus didn’t just simply forgave me and left me where I was. He healed me, renewed me and restored me. He restored hope when I have lost the courage to dream. He restored my faith when shame and guilt stole my hope. He restored my soul when my life was in a dark and lonely place.
My Invitation
This is my invitation to you today: seek to know and experience Jesus intimately, so that when He asks, “Who do you say that I am?”, your answer will come not only from what you have heard about Him, but what you have personally experienced of Him.