WHO DO YOU SAY?

“Who do you say that I am?” That was Jesus’ question to his disciples. We are people raised in faith, and sometimes we are too quick and easy to slip into formulas that answer his question. We answer in terms of standard doctrine so we can by-pass the challenge and get on with our lives. So we say, “Jesus is Lord.” And then “What’s for lunch?”

Yet Jesus’ haunting question, “Who do you say that I am?? still challenges us. It is fascinating to see how different historic generations answer the question. In Reformation times, they said Jesus was the Light in the Darkness. His Light became the catalyst, breaking apart old schemes, and coalescing a new vision around which their lives could form.

In times of a growing hunger for knowledge and truth, they saw Jesus as Wisdom, “the true light that enlightens the world .” In times of endless war, Jesus is proclaimed as Prince of Peace, and leads the faithful into shaping society in the ways of peace. In the 20th Century, Jesus was the liberator. First liberation from tyranny, and then liberation from racism and sexism.

When Christians answer Jesus’ question well, the world changes. When we take his question seriously, Jesus leads us. His living Spirit speaks to us and empowers us to dream new dreams and live new lives. He leads us and gives us his energizing Spirit.

We are at the edge of a new time. Jesus’ question keeps haunting us. “Who do you say that I am?” Our beliefs need to intersect with the exploding sense of new knowledge in the physical sciences – from nano-technology to Hubble’s view of the cosmos. And we need, as Dirk Ficca put it, to find among the world religions harmony rather than unity, convergence over consensus, and trust even where we do not have agreement.

We need a new sense of the Light of the World, the Cosmic Christ, the Prince of Peace, and the Life of the World, to guide us. Prayer, study, service, dialogue, loving community, worship – when we look and listen for Jesus’ presence, we will see who he is. And feel the power of his Spirit. In this month of recognizing Confirmands and Graduates, listen to what they have to say – the Spirit may be speaking through them.

Yours in Christ,

Andrew McDonald

Pastor