Some guy who grew up in the neighborhood and went off to college returns and sets up a little business teaching people how to live. They call him teacher. Plus he does some pretty amazing party tricks. He gathers a small group of loyal groupies who follow him around to learn more from him. Then one day he stops just outside a hall of fame memorial and asks his group, “Who am I?” Hmm. Was that a trick question?
The biographers of Jesus, as we read in the Bible, never tell us where Jesus studied. Did he have a master with whom he studied? Did he travel far (as is taught in India that he went there to learn from spiritual masters)? We don’t know. He just showed up one day obviously having studied the community’s scriptures better and more deeply than anyone before (or since). And he started teaching to anyone who would listen. He assembled a core group of students obviously meant to get trained to carry on after him. His works were more than just pretty amazing. So he’s a man living openly, yet a man of mystery.
One day outside the Temple of Pan in the region of Cesarea Phillipi with all its pagan deities represented, he asks his students, “Who am I?” They struggle with the answer. Finally Peter blurts out, “You are the Messiah.” That is, he’s the long-awaited leader of the Hebrew nation. The saviour who will lead the nation back to political prominence. Peter says that, but he obviously didn’t have a clue as to what he meant. It just sounded right at the time.
Who is Jesus is the question we still struggle with. Pope Benedict (while he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) wrote a book attempting to answer the question. He harkens back to Moses (the greatest prophet, who also spoke directly with God) who said another prophet is coming who will be greater than I.
I’m not going to answer the question in a 500 word essay. But I do know that when I’m meditating I forget to focus on this question. Answering this question within my life will help me focus my life–I know from past experience and in anticipation of future experiences. That’s why I love to study the gospels. Forget about Paul’s theological arguments. Just focus on who is Jesus.
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment