"Who do people say I am?" (Mark 8:27b)
Imagine the scene. You're meeting a friend at Starbucks and no sooner have you sat down with your Chai Tea Latte, soy, no water and 5 pumps and she says to you, "So, what are people saying about me?"
After you have burned your tongue, you might say, "What are you talking about?"
"Well, you know. I think people are talking about me. What are they saying?"
You'd have some serious concerns for your friend. And then, if you're a good friend, you'd ask her more questions, try to figure out what she's talking about without buying into gossip or allowing her to go there, encourage her that it doesn't matter what people are saying, remind her that her identity is rooted and grounded in Jesus. You might even pray right there in Starbucks.
But the problem here is that the person asking this question is Jesus. Hanging out with his disciples, walking through the Caesarean countryside, Jesus asked, "Who do people say that I am?"
Is Jesus having an identity crisis? A little paranoid perhaps? Does he need an intervention from well-meaning friends to help him discover who he truly is?
They told him, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and other say, one of the prophets." (Mark 8:28)
Jesus didn't ask the question because he needed to know what people were saying about him or was trying to shape himself according to other's gossip. His identity was not at all dependent upon who "they" said that he was. Jesus asked the question because our identity depends on who we say that he is.
Bill and I are getting ready, for the first time, to send six of our seven kids to school - three to high school, two to middle school, and one to elementary school. You better believe some of them are already considering this question, "Who do people say that I am?"
What do they think about me? Do they say I'm pretty? Do they think I'm too small? Do they think I'm a goody-goody? What are people saying about me? What have they heard about me? Will I be smart enough? Will I be too smart?
You know the questions. Most likely you asked them yourself. Perhaps, if you're honest enough, you're still asking them.
As they walk along the dusty road, I see Jesus stopping, turning to each one of them, looking them right in the eyes, deep into their hearts, and asking, "But who do you say that I am."
And here's the question for us and for our children. Who do you say Jesus is?
Jesus didn't ask the question because because his identity at all depended on what people were saying. Jesus asked the question because our identity depends on who we say that he is.
Peter, with boldness and brashness that I love says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13)
"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6b
It was on his declaration of Jesus' identity that Peter's identity was formed. Our identity depends on who we say Jesus is. And when we join Peter in declaring, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." You are my Redeemer, Healer, Bond-breaker, Lover, Friend. You are my coming King. You are indeed, my everything, we begin to hear this Jesus whisper over us,
"Now here's who I say that you are."
You are lovely. (Song of Solomon 1:5)
You are forgiven. (Colossians 1:13-14)
You are clean. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You are free. (Romans 8:1)
You are victorious. (Romans 8:37)
And who Jesus says we are is infinitely more important than who anyone else says we are. Jesus asks, "Who do people say that I am?" not because he needed to know, but because we need to know. Our identity depends on it.
Father, reveal to me in greater measure who you are. Help me to root my identity in your identity. Help me to care less about who others say that I am, and more about who you say that I am. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Application Steps:
On a piece of paper or in your journal, jot down who you say Jesus is.
Now write out the messages you have believed about yourself that you have heard from your childhood, friends, co-workers, the world. Are these messages in line with who Jesus says that you are? Mark out every message that is not in line with Jesus' declaration of your identity. Even burn them. These are lies. Replace them with truth from God's word of who he says that you are.
If you don't know who God says that you are,
here is a good place to start.
If you have school-age children, talk with them about their identity. Remind them of who they really are and the insignificance of who others say that they are. Look up some of the identity verses with them and give them a vision to be kingdom warriors with their identity firmly rooted in Christ.
Reflections:
What keeps me from having my identity rooted and grounded in Christ? Are there magazines I'm reading, friends I'm listening to, habits I have that are keeping me from seeking out Jesus' voice for my identity?
Who can you ask to pray for you about your identity?
Who can you ask to help you discover who you truly are in Christ?
Going Deeper:
Read, pray over, and journal about Psalm 118:5-9. Cross reference this passage with Hebrews 12:6, Luke 4:18-19 ,and Isaiah 61:1-4. For further reflection meditate on Isaiah 2:22 and Galatians 1:10.
And, if you're struggling with your identity or concerned about your children's identity, leave me a comment. I'll be praying for you and help you find scripture that meets you or your child's particular struggle.