Here's a sobering thought......

Matthew 16. 13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.


While full of imagery, and meaning about such things as Jesus as the Messiah, faith and insight (Peter's), spiritual authority and the stature of the church, the one aspect of this passage that struck me harder than any other is the "question posed". 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ My next thought after reading this was 'Who do people say that I am?' A sobering thought indeed! While Peter's answer to Jesus' question was quite singular and emphatic, I realized that if I ask the same question the answer would depend on the person asked.

I began to compose a list such as, man, gay man, brother, social worker and so on. I have to confess that I wasn't always happy with the answers I imagined some would come up with if asked who I am(John is). Would I be seen as a person of faith? Would the answers given reflect the impact of my faith on how I live and how I treat others. I confess the jury in my head is still "out" considering it's verdict. Will I be pleased or surprised by it's finding? Sobering thought indeed! Who do people say you are?