"He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 16:15-16 NAS

What a question from Jesus Himself to His disciples. He is asking us this question today. This question in some places could cost you your life and or your family's lives. We each have to answer this question. Some publicly for all to see, but all privately in our hearts. That is between the Lord Jesus Himself and each one of us. We are called to confess Him before men publicly (Matt 10:32). This is not “our” private Christian walk by any means. I really dislike hearing the phrase; "This is my religion and no one else's business."

It is a red flag as to whether someone truly knows Christ personally as a relationship or as just a religion. There is clearly a line in the sand between religion and relationship. So how would you respond if asked this question? Who do you say that He is? Is your response the same if asked by a coworker, as it would be by someone with a weapon threatening you? This is something to think on for in these two situations there are differences in composure and fear. We know that there is no fear in Jesus.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God (2 Tim 1:7-8 KJV)." When Peter answered this question in the very presence of Jesus and the answer was revealed to him by the Father in heaven where by he said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (v.16)" it was a peaceful environment.

It is easy to respond when all your Christian friends are around isn't it? Even still when a few of your Christian friends are around amongst non-believers? What about when you are warming yourself by a fire with heathens (Luke 22:55). What about your response when the situation is a little more tense. Imagine being this same Peter, who said, “Jesus was the Christ” in His very presence, standing and warming himself by a fire in a very tense situation. Imagine that if you say, "I know Him, He is the Christ!" you will be crucified in the same manner as Christ.

You would endure the same ridicule and hardship that He was to endure. Now imagine being this same bold Peter who said, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You (Matt 26:35)." Yet what happened when the pressure of dying was upon Peter? Instead of dying, he was denying. He denied Jesus, the Christ and rock of his salvation. It is always easier to sit in a comfortable La-Z-Boy chair with our feet up and say, "He is the Christ!" It is always easier to make this profession when we are amongst our brethren in Christ.

Have you ever been reluctant to share this great news of Jesus in the presence of bunch of people who would think of you as an outcast? Or what if they were telling you to recant just before they set fire to you to watch you burn alive. Who do you say that He is? He is the Christ, our great God and Savior, the blessed and only Sovereign, King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was and is and is to come. He is the creator of everything and all things have their being and existence because of Him who holds all things together (Titus 2:13, 1 Tim 6:15, Rev 19:16, 1:4, Col 1:16-17).

Who do you say that He is? If you want to see how important this question is, spend a week asking this question and write down the responses. You will be amazed even in the Christian circle how different the answers are and they may not be what you expect. In the next devotional we will have the conclusion in part two of the question, “Who do you say they I am?”

Have a blessed weekend in Christ!

In His Grace,
Adam