Reflection: Who do people say that I am?

One day I’m going to design a coffee table version of ‘Baby Names’. A conversation starter and history/travel/comedy book all in one. When people named or referred to Jesus, they were citing no such book. They were referencing Holy Scripture and a culture weighty with expectation. Each title had a layered history and hope attached to its use (and a potential death penalty if misused). 

 “What’s the word on the street?” asked Jesus (as if he didn’t know). “What are people whispering? Who do they say that I am?” He has designed this moment not for a collection of information but to kindle an epiphany. Are you ready? 

• A prophet? (That is, a mouthpiece for God’s word to his people.)  

• A rabbi/teacher? (A scholar of the Jewish law.) 

• The Christ? (Greek) Messiah? (Hebrew) (The one anointed to be king and Israel’s promised rescuer. See Psalm 18:50) 

• Son of the Blessed? God? King of the Jews? (The Son of King David who rules under God. See 2 Samuel 7:12-13)

• Lord (Aside from a title of respect, remember Moses and the bush-fire? LORD is an abbreviation of I AM/YHWH.) 

 Trust me, a list of names will not have the same Ah-ha! effect on us as it did the disciples.  

But keep paying attention, because, as pastor John Piper put it:  

Jesus steadily, quietly, and at first unobtrusively, filled up the greatness of [these] titles until they exploded in the hatred of his enemies. … [and in this] way he loved us.  

Prayer:

Today, reflect and pray on these lyrics (you can listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6-JsoF6TPs )

The wisdom and the word
The speaking and the silence
The stillness and the stir
The Spirit in the quiet
The Son of God and man
The sinner’s lamentation
The flesh of the I Am
The song of our salvation 

Jesus  Jesus  Jesus 

The dawnbird song of life
The spring of earth and heaven
The water and the wine
The everlasting leaven
My life, my truth, my way
The stone on which I stumble
The vineyard owner’s wage
The Shepherd of the humble
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord I have believed
That You are the Christ The Son of God
It’s true, but who Are You to me?
You are my life The love of God
My Lord, my God
Stay close, don’t be far
You know how I need You
Make in me a heart
Pure enough to see You
In every speck of dust
In dry and lonely places
And in every one of us
Be light, be kind, be gracious      by Jon Guerra