a beautiful mess

“But what about you?” [Yeshua] asked. “Who do you say I am?” – Yeshua to his disciples (talmadim) at Caesarea Philippi

Who Do You Say Jesus Is: Nashville

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is this not the most elemental and fundamental of all questions? who do you say jesus is? period.

a friend of mine wanted to know what “the average person” walking the streets of nashville had to say in response to that question. so, wielding a handheld video camera and a stack of notecards, we took to the night.

“hey, excuse me. would you mind answering a question for us?”

“ummm…”

“we’re just curious to see what people have to say. if you want, you can simply answer the question and walk away. we’re not here to argue. we genuinely want to listen.”

“okay.”

“we’ll hand you a card. just flip it over, read out loud what is printed on it, and then give your response.”

a flood of responses began falling from people’s mouths: from the epic and chilling to the mundane and sad.

on the back of the card we had the website information that would lead anyone with ears to hear to the youtube video posted above.

i believe this question, more than any other question in all of history, is what matters most. i believe this question brings the kingdom of heaven to the kingdoms of earth in a provoking way. it disturbs everyone: that is, it moves everyone: to think (or rethink) and respond.

so what about you? who do you say yeshua is?

[selah]

simon peter, in good ole simon-peter fashion, steps up and puts it all on the line: he answered his rabbi by proclaiming, “you are meshiach.” what i love about this exchange is that simon peter answers this question in the company of his peers! i kind of imagine there being the awkward silence between yeshua’s question and peter’s response…and then even more awkward silence when he squeezes out his last word.

i wonder how long did yeshua let him hang there. did it feel like an eternity? did he have time to doubt, second guess himself? it wouldn’t surprise me. after all, though he recently walked on water,  but he also recently “began to sink”. (matthew 14.29, 30)

no one else got out of the boat to walk toward yeshua. and apparently, no one else got up the courage to put forth their response to that question.

make no mistake. it absolutely does take courage to answer that question. every morning it takes courage, i believe. why? because: it always leads to an incredible amount of other questions.

if you are messiah… if you ARE the son of the only living god, YHWH… what now? what about today? if you really do heal… what do i do now that i’ve received that healing!? if you really do make all things new… then am i to actually start fresh, even though i feel so attached to my worries from yesterday or my anxieties about tomorrow? if you truly forgive… now am i supposed to just up and forgive those who have wronged me? if you lead like a rabbi… if your kingdom is a reality… if you care more about your glory and the redemption of the world… if you love us…

and the questions will come like a torrent. and though you may feel overwhelmed. even as you are being swept over, you will be cleansed by that torrent: if you say yeshua is messiah.

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despite my unbelief, i believe that who i am is a son of the only living god & king, YHWH [blessed be his name]. a son of the resurrection. a son of the wind which bends all things.