Jesus is interested in the conversations of men. He always has been. And he continues to be. He is interested to learn what concerns us and what we think about things. He is interested not simply for his benefit but for our sake as well. It is helpful to know what we’re thinking and that our reflections are clear and accurate. One of the best ways to determine this is by writing our thoughts down, holding them up for scrutiny and correction. Another good way to go about this is to carefully pay attention to our conversations with others.

Jesus knew that men shared their concerns and most frequently did this by their conversations, one with another. One day when he was praying alone in the presence of his disciples, he asked them, "Who do the people say I am?" They answered, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others that you are one of the old prophets come back to life." "And you," he said, "who do you say I am?" (John 9: 18-20, NEB)

It's astonishing to think how some people look at us! You’d think that what we have to say is clear enough that no one would misrepresent us. And our actions are normally decisive enough that they couldn’t possibly be misunderstood. At least that’s what you’d expect. And certainly that is the assumption so many of us fashion our lives after. We can perhaps imagine Jesus’ sense of failure and fatigue on hearing the bizarre litany rehearsed for him some thought he was John the Baptist; some thought he was Elijah; and some thought him to be one of the old prophets brought back to life! Revelation, we discover, is no simple matter. It wasn’t for lack of teaching or healing that such rumors reached the disciples’ ears and through them on to Jesus.

Then Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is. It’s an important question and he wants to know. He doesn’t want to know for his own sake. He is secure enough in the knowledge of who he is not to seek out remarks that would flatter. No, he wants to know for the disciples’ benefit. Their conversation concerning Jesus would distill a statement of recognition and Jesus wanted to determine the accuracy of their perceptions.

The question is important for us as well. Do we find ourselves talking about Jesus in our conversations? I don’t mean our talking about God, or for that matter even the Father. We talk a great deal about him. I’m not even referring to our reference to Christ or Messiah. We are more than comfortable with titles that keep us at arm’s length, Jesus is asking who they are saying he is. Not what they think he might be.

It is important that we know who Jesus is if we are serious in following him as one of his disciples. If we are going to be responsible in deciding to follow him, it is necessary that we have as clear an image as possible of who we say he is.

Our conversation will serve several purposes. It will clarify our perception of Jesus in our lives. It will help us in presenting him to others in ways that are not vague and cloudy but precise in ways a friend is known and known well.

But we return to Jesus’ question. Of the 3,294 questions in the Bible, this is perhaps one of the more personal and demanding. And Jesus knows this! The question is not obscure, it is not ambiguous. It cuts to the heart of the listener: And you, who do you say I am? We are not asked to recite certain creedal statements. We aren’t even asked what do we think about this Jesus! We are asked to indicate what our conclusions are in light of what we have seen and heard.

The moment is filled with tension. The question is not one that will go away and the brevity and frankness of Jesus insists that we make a reply!

We know how the disciples must have felt. The pressure mounts, while we search for our answer. Jesus is less concerned with the correctness of our answer than he is with the conviction with which we make our reply.

As we find ourselves called into ministry, brought into a relationship with the living LORD God, we now come to that point where all that has gone before is brought into a sharp focus in the person of Jesus himself. Our understanding of the nature of cur ministry, either as laity or in Holy 0rders, depends on our answer to Jesus’ question. It is a question asked of each one who would follow Jesus, generation after generation.

The effect of bringing Jesus into conversation will be significant in accomplishing Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation: I shall draw all men to myself, when I am lifted up from the earth. (John 12: 32, NEB)

Certainly Jesus’ reference is to the cross and that is precisely the context of our conversations: to speak of Jesus and Jesus crucified; to speak of the one who reconciled the world to the Father; to speak of him who by his death for the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins secured a new order and established a new covenant.