Who Do You Say I Am?

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” -Matthew 16:15

Do you ever put yourself into the Bible story and wonder which person you would have been in that moment? I like to think that I wouldn’t have been deceived and believed the lie as Eve did. I like to think that I wouldn’t have been afraid, or ashamed and denied Christ like Peter. I like to think I would have cried “Hosana” and never changed my mind to later shout, “Crucify Him!” However, the truth is that I know that I have said and done much of the same as these and many others in the Bible. I believe if Eve hadn’t been the one to sin surely when I came along, I would’ve been the one to commit that or some other sin. I’ve been deceived. I’ve questioned God’s good intent for me. I believed the lies of the enemy. I really want to know which side I would have been on that day in the Bible when Jesus came riding on that colt. The real question though is what side am I on today?

For weeks I’ve had this continuing conversation and questioning with the Lord: “Would I have seen You as Hosana or would I have changed my position and then shouted, ‘Crucify Him?’” God is highlighting this area in my life and revealing His truth and continues adjusting my heart and mind in several areas.

I find myself constantly wrestling with my perspective of who Jesus is. It is a constant battle of checking my heart. I’m constantly battling with putting Jesus in my little box and seeing Him through my grossly limited understanding and inaccurate perspective. I want Him to do things my way and in my timing. However, He just will not. He refuses to submit to me and my great ideas.

While doing a Bible study a few years back I got the revelation that the reason they rejected Jesus as The Messiah wasn’t that they didn’t believe His miracles and teachings after all He had done. It was that Jesus didn’t come in the way they wanted Him to come and show up as the version of The Messiah they wanted him to be. He did not come in all His authority and splendor. He did not come riding a majestic horse. He did not come wearing robes of royalty. He did not come and take political power. He did not come and overthrow the Roman government as they had hoped. He did not come in the way His followers or His disciples had imagined Him to come into His throne as King.

Instead, Jesus came riding on a lowly colt with no royal robe. He didn’t take political control or overthrow the current governmental system. To all those watching, from their perspective, Jesus looked weak and pathetic. He looked like a fake, a phony, or just another man. So much so that He allowed them to mock Him, and He allowed them to hang Him on a cross to die. No one could’ve or would’ve ever imagined this is how it would all end, however, “It was finished!”

Many knew He was the Son of God, but they still rejected Him because He wouldn’t do it the way they wanted Him to. They rejected Him because He would not listen to them and do things their way. They rejected Him because they were embarrassed by Him.

How many times have we not prayed that prayer of healing for someone because we felt embarrassed by the thought “What if I pray and He doesn’t heal them?”

How many times have we got mad at God because He would not do it our way or in our time? He would not listen to how we thought the plan should be.

How many times do we want or expect God to come and show off His power and glory, and when He doesn’t, we turn our hearts away or pull back our love and adoration just a little?

How many times do we perceive His ways as being weak and embarrassing to us?

How many times have we been offended like John the Baptist?

How many times have we been embarrassed like Peter?

How many times have we doubted him like Thomas?

How many times have we boasted in our pride and arrogance like John?

How many times have we tried to give God ultimatums or say prove yourself?

I surely can’t be the only one who has!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” -Isaiah 55:8-9

I find myself doing these very exact things and realizing that His ways are higher than my ways. I find myself having these heart checks through the Holy Spirit’s work in me. He is King and He will not bow or submit to me. Through His grace and love for me, He teaches me, and I realize my mind cannot comprehend His ways. When I can’t trace his hand, I trust His heart and know that He loves me. I humble my heart and attitude and I will not turn away when I can’t understand. I refuse to turn away!

I know that He is God! He is sure in Himself! He rules and He reigns supreme! He is King Jesus!

He’s asking, “Buy what about you? Who do you say I am?”

“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.” -Matthew 7:7-8 AMP

If you’re seeking Him, if you have questions and are asking Him with a pure heart, or if you’re knocking on the door and desire to have a deeper relationship with Him, He will open the door and answer the deepest questions in your heart.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” -John 3:17-18 NIV

He loves you and me! He loves you and me so much that He died for you and me! He chose you and me! He is for you and me!

I love you,

Janelle

PS. For the record, I do believe God is currently doing miracles, signs, and wonders because I see them happening all around me. He is moving strongly on college campuses, in the marketplace, and all around the world. I also believe there will be another great massive revival that will reach across the globe in God’s perfect timing and however He sees fit. He knows the seasons and the times to display His miracles, signs, and wonders on a larger scale.