Redeem Me!

“And what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15 NLT) 

Jesus asked His disciples this question after they had told Him what “others” thought about Him and who they believed Him to be.

This question feels very personal to me this Christmas season because the answer—your answer—is very, very important.

I imagine Jesus traveling with His disciples, just talking, much like we do with our family or friends at the Christmas table. We often talk about other people and ask each other, “What do you think of them?”

But Jesus turns the question around. Instead of being concerned with what “others” say, He directly asks, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

Believe me, friend, Jesus knew the thoughts of the disciples. In Matthew 9:4 (NLT), we read: “Jesus knew their thoughts…” and He didn’t ask the question for that reason.

He asked it so the disciples would reflect on how they saw Jesus and who He personally was to them.

What you believe about Jesus changes the way you view life and your future.

Peter’s answer came quickly: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” (Matthew 16:16 NLT), and Jesus was delighted with his revelation: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17 NLT) 

Messiah means: “the promised Redeemer.”

friend, if you can’t see Jesus as that Redeemer because this year has been full of worries and the future seems uncertain, I invite you to ask the Father in heaven to reveal this to you, just as He did for Simon Peter.

How? Through prayer. YOUR prayer. (see Matthew 7:7 NLT) Why? Because He loves. LOVES YOU. (see John 3:16 NLT) 

Therefore: Rejoice! Rejoice!

You are a miracle!