Do you know know who I am?

21.DEC.07

by Bishop Sonny E. Williams – Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies

(St. Vincent and the Grenadines District)

The identity of Jesus is like a jigsaw puzzle, which has been placed in each person’s hands to piece together before coming to some kind of conclusion. Who is this Jesus that has captured the hearts of shepherds and kings, of tax collectors and artists, of thieves and religious teachers, of prostitutes and philosophers? Is he all that he claimed to be?

Jesus personalized this crucial question to the disciples at Caesarea, Philippi; “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15). It is interesting to note where Jesus chose to ask this question. There were few districts with more religious associations than Caesarea, Philippi. Here was an area where the breath of ancient religion was in the very atmosphere.{{more}} Here was a place beneath the shadow of the ancient gods. Looming tall were monuments and temples of the ancient god, Baal. In addition, there was a massive, white marble table that had been built to the god head of Caesar.

And in the shadow of these intimidating structures stood a penniless king without a kingdom, whose cabinet was composed of fishermen and tax collectors.

People today are divided regarding the identity of Christ as were first-century crowds. Some accept Him as a great moral teacher but not His claim to be God. The philosopher Rousseau made a bold confession when comparing Jesus to Socrates: “If the life and death of Socrates were those of a sage, the life and death of Jesus are those of a God”.

Napoleon Bonaparte put the pieces together and said “Jesus came into the world to reveal the mysteries of heaven and laws of the spirit. Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires, but upon which did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force, Jesus alone founded his empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”

The crucial issue is: Who do you say that He is? You must make your choice. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or He is who He claimed to be – Lord. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up as a fool, you can spit on Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.

The Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies echoes the conviction of Peter: “Thou art the Christ, the son of living God” (Matt 16:15). There is no one else qualified to grant forgiveness; No one else who will never leave or forsake you; No one else who can heal your disease or dry your tears or calm your anxieties; No one else who can understand your deepest secret or your darkest shame; No one else who can bring back the joy, the love, the tenderness that has been stolen from you by abuse or neglect.

We the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies have settled the issue of the identity of Jesus. He is neither a liar nor a lunatic, He is Lord.

Have a Christ-centered Christmas and a prosperous new year.