In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there is a passage where Jesus asks some version of the question, “Who do people say that I am?” This is followed by the more personal question, “But who do you say that I am?”
The answer to that question is in today’s Gospel passage from John. Jesus tells us that he is the Son of Man. Elsewhere in John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that several things about the Son of Man. The one upon whom angels will be descending and ascending when heaven opens. The one who has descended from heaven himself. The one who gives us the food of eternal life…when we eat his flesh and drink his blood. The one who will ascend to where he was before.
In today’s passage, Jesus also says that he is God. He uses the name for God that was given to Moses. “I AM.”
When Jesus had asked his disciples in the other Gospels that question, they did not have the benefit of already having the answer from Jesus.
Once Jesus says that he is God, we are faced with C. S. Lewis’ famous trilemma in answering the earlier questions for ourselves. “Who do you say that I am?” Well, given that Jesus says here in today’s Gospel that he is God, then Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. One possibility is that he knows that he is not God but is trying to con the whole world into believing that he is. Another is that he is delusional in saying that he is God. Or, he truly is God.
If Jesus is God, then what does that mean for me? If God truly became one of us in order to save us, how do I respond? If God so loves me that he is willing to die on a cross for my sake, then what?
Can I live my life in any way other than wholly loving God with my entire being and trying always to God’s will? Can I want anything else other than to enter eternal communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
But first, it all starts with my response to Jesus’ question.
“Who do you say that I am?”