Who do you say that I am?
Evidently, there are over 200 names for Jesus. In Matthew 16:13-17 Jesus asks his disciples who they say He is? Those gathered give several responses…Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, Prophet, the Christ. The names we assign to Jesus tells the world not only about him, but about us as well.
Carpenter says that we believe in building a better world. Whether that be through the works of our hands or the works of our hearts doesn’t matter. Both are important in taking part in Kingdom work.
Lamb of God says that One came and lived so that others might live more abundantly. Do we live our lives abundantly? Do we act in ways of service to others so they might?
Calling Jesus our Shepherd tells others that He cares, guides and protects us. While sheep can never become shepherds, we can. We cannot ever become Jesus, but we can seek to live our lives as He lived by leading and guiding others to Him and by protecting and advocating for those who cannot protect or advocate for themselves.
When we say Jesus is the Prince of Peace we are saying that God cares about situations where there is injustice. Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of justice. Working for justice means that we take our calling as followers seriously. Where do we see injustice in our world? Do all people live in safe environments? Do those who cannot care for themselves have adequate care? Has all God’s children eaten today? If answers to any of these questions are no, what have you done today to make justice happen? What have you done today to make sure God’s people are cared for justly? Or, are we, God forbid, contributing to injustices? My mother once told me that if I were not part of the solution, then I must be part of the problem. Those words stuck with me.
When we speak of Jesus as Friend we tell others that we live relationally, that we continually seek to find ways to spend time with Him that we speak to Him regularly and we value the same things. Most relationships involve a little giving and a little taking. What are we giving? What are we taking? What do we expect from God? What do we give?
Wonderful Counselor, God with Us, Yeshua, Rabbi, Teacher, Light, Bread of Life, Logos, Redeemer, Anointed, Rock, Life…all the names we give to Him says something of who we are as Christian. Who do you say that He is? Who does He say you are? What would Jesus call you? What does that say about who you are as a follower?
Blessings,
Tracy