On the way [Jesus] asked them, “Who do people say I am?” …”But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Mark 8:27-38
Jesus asks his disciples what other people are saying about him. Was Jesus having an “identity crisis?”
We sometimes ask similar questions. “Does this dress make me look fat?” “Do I look dumb with this haircut?” We ask those questions because we tend to get our identity, or our validation from the opinion of others.
During our adolescence we often wrestle with the question of our own identity. Nothing seems as important as discovering who we are. But we find out that most of our self-understanding is in relation to others. We’re taller than some, but shorter than others. We have more musical skill than this person, but less athletic skill than this other person. We judge whether we are good looking or fun or successful by comparing ourselves to others. And we too often seem to fall short.
But as we get older, we find out that those others are also struggling. They also see mostly their faults and failings. They too are looking for to stand next to someone who is weaker in order to feel better about themselves.
Jesus is doing the opposite. He asks who others say he is because he wants to teach others, especially his disciples, who he really is. He does not need to “discover” himself. He wants to reveal himself – the Savior – the Son of God who was promised.
Jesus is in a different category from us. He is so much greater, and yet he immediately explains that he is soon going to suffer and die for our sins.
Compared to Jesus, we are nothing. And yet he reveals who we really are, and what our real value is. We are worth his very life. We are worth the sacrifice of the Son of God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, who am I? Because of you I know that I am a sinner. Because of you I know that I am saved. Because of you I know that I am dearly loved. Amen.