“Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “Some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” And he ordered them not to tell anyone about him (Mk 8: 27-30).
This question that Jesus addressed to his apostles may be reconstructed as follows: How do you perceive me? How do you regard me? What is my role, my position in your life? Who am I for you?
A question may come to mind on why Jesus wanted to know how his apostles regard him.
We recall that in the Gospel of Saint John, Jesus said to the apostles, “No longer do I call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master does, but I have called you my friends, because all that I have heard from my Father, I have taught you” (Jn 15:15). As his intimate friends whom he has chosen to be his collaborators in the work of redemption (Jn 15:16), Jesus rightly wanted to know if his real identity was clear to these his apostles whose duty it will be to propagate the message of salvation to the ends of the world (Mt 24:14).
If and because others got confused about his authentic identity, Jesus did not want his apostles, these his close associates to get confused too. That is why Jesus did not stop at the responses that they gave, based on what others thought of him and how others perceived him. “But you,” he said, “who do you say I am?”
In ordinary human friendship, a friend ordinarily would like to know how the person s/he is in relationship with sees and esteems him or her, that is, “What am I for you? How much do I mean to you? What is my place in your life?”
All those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Master have become friends of Christ. Thus, the question that Jesus addressed to his apostles is equally addressed to all of us who say we have accepted him into our lives, who say that we believe in him.
The question is not about an intellectual, disinterested assessment of Jesus, but rather about our personal experience of him. It concerns the role that Jesus plays in our life, as we encounter him personally. Jesus can mean different things to different people, depending on their level of encounter of him. Thus, an unbeliever’s perception and description of Jesus, because ordinarily it would lack depth and personal encounter with Jesus, will most likely be radically different from the account of a mystic who is in a position to say like Saint Paul, “The life I live now is not mine, but Christ”.
Although the responses that people will give to the question “Who do you say I am” will differ from person to person, who Jesus is for true Christians will, nevertheless, be reflected in the way they live their Christian faith in the world, with their fellow human beings. It will be reflected in the way they see and solve the problems of life.
In fact, Jesus wants us his friends to be clear about his identity. He is not only a healer, a prophet, a great man. He is the Son of God made man, sent by God to redeem mankind from sin. This is the most authentic identity of Jesus. He redeems us from sin so that we may share in God’s divine life forever (cf. Jn 10:10).
The fundamental identity of Jesus comes from divine revelation. “No one can call Jesus Lord, unless to whom it has been revealed”. “No one will come to me, unless the Father draws him”. After Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus replied, it is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this you but my Father in heaven.” (Mt 16: 17).
Our Father in heaven so loved the world that he has given his only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life. Let us pray intensely and constantly so that, by cultivating a personal deep relationship and friendship with Jesus, we can arrive at the point where can say with conviction like Saint Paul, “For me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). It means allowing Jesus to become real, to come alive in my life. It means allowing Jesus to take on the task of managing my life. It means permitting Jesus to speak to me, to have an impact in my daily life choices, to influence and shape the way I feel about things, to influence and shape every important decision of my life. I strive to take Jesus seriously, trust him completely, give him my entire life to work on and to transform into a fragrant offering to God. Jesus is my Shepherd!
My best and the most inspiring of all the pictures of Jesus that I love so much and that I hung on the wall of my room and posted in my Skype is the picture of Jesus the Good Shepherd. That is the picture of Jesus with a staff and a lamb on his shoulder. I love this picture because whenever I look at it, it reminds me of the gentleness, care and love of Jesus for me and for all his creatures.
Agnes Okoye
Happy Sisters
These are three Agnes, they are happy with their lives!
IT IS GOOD TO BE GOOD
Love people, but do not expect them to love you in return.,
Have friends, love them, but don’t depend on them for your happiness.
Your happiness, the real happiness is found in God.
Trust your friends, but bear in mind that one day they can become enemies.
Do good, but don’t expect to be thanked.
Why then must I do good?
Because it is good to do good.
But why must I do good?
Because every good act has its own intrinsic value.
But why must I always do good and love my enemies?
Because that will distinguish you as a beloved daughter, son of your heavenly Father.
But why must I always do good ?
Because by so doing you will be the father, mother, brother, sister of Jesus Christ the Good One.
But why must I love unlovable people?
Because they too are children of God whom he loves and for whom he died.
But why must I love those who hurt me?
Because that is the way of Jesus your Master Jesus who forgave those that hanged him on the cross.