Slices
Prepare
Imagine Jesus meets you on your way and asks you a simple question: ‘How about you? Who do you say I am?’ What would be your response?
Bible passage
Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’
28 They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’
29 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Explore
Two young children were having a conversation. One had an orange in his hand, and he asked his friend, ‘How does this orange taste?’ The friend responded, ‘How would I know unless I taste it myself?’
This experience is true in our God encounters too. Unless we taste and see who Jesus is in our lives, it will not be easy to answer the question of who is this Jesus we talk about every day. While it may be easy to say who others say Jesus is, when it becomes a personal question it requires a deep inner search to respond meaningfully.
For others, Jesus could be a prophet, a good human being, the Saviour of humankind, the Alpha and Omega, the Living Stone – but the crucial question is: What about you; who do you say he is?
Peter, when asked this question, had no doubt in his mind when he declared, ‘You are the Messiah’ (v 29). It was his experience, his firm conviction and the realisation he encountered, thanks to the revelation of the Holy Spirit, through his close walk with Jesus.
Respond
Pray: ‘Help me, O Lord, to boldly declare to the world who you are in my life.’ Who can you share this with this week?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 13,14; 2 Timothy 4
Pray for Scripture Union
Mission Partner Farne Churches Youth and Family Outreach faces the challenge of reaching young people in rural Northumberland. Pray for them, and the eight local churches they partner with, as they share God’s love with their communities. Pray too for God’s guidance as they look to their next steps.
