Do You Know Who You Are?

One of the pivotal moments in Christ's ministry occurs relatively early on.  Matthew doesn't tell us how much time has elapsed at this point, how long the disciples have been with Jesus on a daily basis, but you get the sense that it has not been overly long.  There has obviously been enough time so that Jesus has become well known in the regions where he has been teaching and healing, but not so much time that the disciples have a real sense of who He is.  In this passage from Matthew, Jesus takes a moment to clear the air.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples, "Who do the people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" he asked.  "Who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  

Math 16: 13-15.

The fact that Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ (the word "Christ" is Greek and means, "the chosen One", or "the anointed One";  the word "Messiah" is Hebrew and means the same thing), is very significant. But the next thing that happens is even more startling.  Jesus tells Peter who Peter is!

"Jesus replied, "Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter (the name Peter can be translated "rock"), and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."  Math 16: 17-18.

This statement from Jesus must have startled and astonished Peter.  Peter thought he knew who he was:  the son of Jonah, the brother of Andrew, a fisherman from Galilee.  Jesus' statement concerning his revealed persona, must have astonished and bewildered him.  In fact, it would be a fairly long time before Peter actually grasped what Christ was saying here; before he understood himself to be a very different person indeed, from who he saw himself to be.  Not who he thought he was,  but who he really was; as God saw him and intended him to be.  At this point in his life Peter really does not know who he is.

What about us?  Do we really know who we are?  Whether or not you have identified Christ to be the son of the living God, as Peter did, or if you are still wrestling with the question, He has already identified you!  Would you like to hear what He says about you?

You are "fearfully and wonderfully made."  Psalm 139:14

You are highly valuable; "the hairs on your head are numbered." Math 10:30

You are "chosen".   1 Peter 2:9

You are God's "workmanship."   Eph 2: 10

You are deeply loved.  John 3:16

Does this surprise you?  Peter was surprised when Christ revealed to him his (Peter's) true nature;  who he really was in Christ, who God had designed him to be.  Are we surprised to learn that we are "wonderfully made," "highly valuable,"

"chosen" and deeply loved.?  It may surprise us as it surprised Peter.  It may take awhile for it to sink in.  But in God's eyes, it's who we are.  

And now we know.  We know who we truly are.