It is not today that Jesus became a topic of controversy and polemic. There is indeed a biblical scene that has always made me think deeply. The disciples had already been with the Lord for a while - maybe 2 years, maybe a little bit less or more; - they had eaten with Him, prayed with Him, listened to Him as He taught the crowds, He had privately explained the secrets of the Kingdom to them, they had witnessed healing, resurrection and multiplication miracles; they had seen Him cast demons out and even rebuke the elements of nature. In short, they were the best-placed to know who Jesus was. After having just multiplied 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish for almost 10,000 people (4000 men without counting women and children), they left for Caesarea.
When they got there, Jesus wanted to know what people were saying in the villages about Him. The disciples said the opinions varied between those who believed He was Jeremiah or one of the prophets or John the Baptist and those who believed He was Elijah. It is worth noting that the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi, ends with the promise of the return of Prophet Elijah, before the Great Day of the Lord.
After listening to them, Jesus said : ‘‘Ok, all this is fine; but unlike you, these people do not know Me, they don’t share My intimacy, they have not left everything for Me. You, My own, you who are with Me all the time, who do you say that I am? ’’
Matthew 16:13-17, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. »
And, here is what baffles me: only one was able to answer the question correctly. The remaining eleven could have at least said: ‘‘You are the Son of Man.’’ For Jesus had said: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
Andrew could have answered: ‘‘You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’’ Because upon that declaration, he left John the Baptist to follow Him. Philip could have repeated: « You are the One of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’’ and Nathanael could have added: ‘‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’’ (John 1:35-49).
In any case, even if they had said so, it would have only been a lips’ confession: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8) And many are those who believe like that: from the tip of their lips. They can recite many bible verses but when things go deeper, they remain silent. Yet, what it takes here is more than just confessing with our mouth: faith must spring forth from the heart. Yes, the true confession must come forth from the heart. Indeed, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Romains 10:9-10, ESV.
Thus, only Peter answered, one disciple out of twelve! This suggests that in any given Christian congregation, there is only a bit more than 8% of the members who really know the Lord; the rest (92%) follow… Anyway, Peter alone answered and answered well because he spoke by revelation.
The knowledge that we have of Jesus cannot and should not be based on what others tell us about Him: such a knowledge will not last long. Nobody, I repeat nobody -neither me, nor a priest, nor a pastor nor even a book - can make you know who Jesus is. People have read the New Testament and still don’t understand anything about Him. Some have warmed church pews for years and still have no clue as to who He is: Jesus can neither be known nor comprehend through flesh or blood, but by divine revelation.
Jesus himself failed to convince the people of his time of who He was, by simply telling them so:
Luke 22:67-68, “If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.”
John 10:22-27, “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
They can tell you everything about Him, and you can read all about Him ; but as long as the breath of the Spirit of God will not ride on those words to open the eyes of your heart and mind that you may see and know, there will always be some distance between the Christ and you.
Jesus regularly asks us the same question, "But who do you say that I am?" ‘‘You who invited Me into your life 20 years ago and you who have been walking with me for 2 years, and you who have been speaking of Me to others for 10 years: who do you say I am?’’
The nature of the presents that the Magi came to offer to the infant Jesus, revealed that they knew whom they were dealing with. Their gifts were a testimony that they had received a specific revelation from above, concerning that child-King, Priest and God.
‘‘You who invited Me into your life 20 years ago and you who have been walking with me for 2 years, and you who have been speaking of Me to others for 10 years: who do you say I am? ’’
It is not all to know who He is; one must first and foremost act in accordance with what one knows of Him.
Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a chief among the Jews, came to Jesus by night and told Him: ‘‘…"Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him."’’ (John 3:2)
We know: we the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees (maybe the people as well). We know that You have come from God as a teacher…Since they knew, why were they spending their time fighting Him? They would acknowledge Him at night and ferociously oppose Him by day!
Who is Jesus to you? What do you do with what He is to you? How do you relate it to your DAILY life? Why not open yourself to the Spirit of God and allow Him to reveal Jesus afresh to you?
Beyond disputes around the actual day of birth of the Lord, Christmas is the day that Christianity has set aside to commemorate the fact that Jesus Christ was born and actually appeared one day on the land of the living. Why not take advantage of the Nativity festivities, to let Him be (re)born anew in your heart? If you ardently desire it, He will reveal Himself and make Himself mightily known to you. It is up to you…
Merry Christmas !
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