Who Do You Say That I Am?

I recently just realized that we are currently in the season of lent.

This season is usually a 40 day period during which many Christians observe the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I remember, back when I was still in the Catholic Church, how this used to be a big deal for me. How I used to get excited about the way of the cross, being consistent with attending mass on Friday’s, and just the whole atmosphere of the lenten season.

It used to be a time of reflection of who Jesus was in my life. But if I am honest, looking back now, that time of reflection (especially in my earlier years) was more artificial than a sincere and heart-submitted seeking after God.

It was more of a tradition or something I did because it brought out a religious undertone to my life.

And since I dealt with vicious sin cycle year in, year out, I thought if perhaps I observed lent diligently and reverently, the burden of sin which constantly weighed upon me would be lifted or eventually even lead me closer to God.

Anyway, that never happened!

God later made me realize that it was never about what I could do at any one point to gain a right standing with Him, but what He had already done for me.

He had taken my sin upon Himself and allowed me to relate with Him without asking for anything in return.

Placing my faith and trust in what Jesus had already done on the cross was all He desired from me.

John 6

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Now, I do not know whether my writing this post has any correlation to the fact that it is lent.

But regardless, the question of who Christ is in our lives as individuals is a question that each and every person has to answer in life at one point or another irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity or religion.

This question is the ultimate reason why we have life: why God allows us to live everyday. To give us an opportunity to tell others of His love, and to allow those who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ to accept His invitation for salvation before it is too late.

It breaks my heart to listen to people speak of Jesus as just another good teacher or disregard Him entirely. This is because He is the reason why we all have life, and He is the only one who can fill that life with true love, purpose, peace, and direction.

Jesus was not just another prophet. He was not a mad street preacher claiming to be God. And He was definitely not a myth.

Colossians 1

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Jesus once asked His disciples,

Matthew 16

15 But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in heaven.

Even to date, each and every person is confronted with that question just as His disciples were. And our response to that question determines where our heart truly is.

When Simon recognized that Jesus was the Christ -the Son of the living God, the Messiah – Jesus called Him blessed.

He did not call him blessed because He had done something noteworthy or important.

Jesus called him blessed because he recognized that He was the promised redeemer.

It is impossible to recognize that Jesus is the savior of the world and walk away with that fact as though it were nothing. This is because Jesus being the Messiah changes everything.

It changes our approach to life, our relationships, our purpose in life, and even the reason for our very own existence.

Jesus gives meaning to our lives. He grants us new desires – desires that are in line with God’s perfect will for our lives. He gives us power to overcome sin and live a life full of freedom.

He is the very key to life.

If there is a quote I agree with that is often quoted by people is that: life is too short. And if it is too short, then we cannot afford to procrastinate our decision to submit our lives over to Jesus to some other convenient time.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. —2 Corinthians 5:20