Who is Jesus?

Matthew 11:1-12:45

Over the next few days the readings focus on the identity of Jesus and on the divided responses to Jesus.  It’s a little odd that John the Baptist, now in jail, is described as being uncertain about the identity of Jesus, given the baptismal scene from chapter three.  This scene is not intended to show confusion on the part of John, it is used to demonstrate that Jesus’ healings and teachings from the preceding chapters are signs of his identity as the Messiah.  The Jewish people held varying beliefs about who the Messiah would be.  Some anticipated that the Messiah would be a king like David.  Others were expecting a priest like Aaron.  Still others believed the Messiah would be a prophet like Moses.  No one was expecting God incarnate!  

The evangelist doesn’t seem to be concerned with whether or not it makes sense for this question to have come from John.  The focus is entirely on Jesus’ response and it’s a strange response indeed, quite unsatisfactory for those looking for any level of certainty.  Instead of responding directly to the question regarding his identity with a definite “Yes, I am the one,” Jesus responds with a seemingly evasive statement about his activity.   

I actually find this type of answer to be quite helpful.  Have you ever gotten into a conversation where you found yourself trying to prove the validity of your faith to someone?  It’s almost impossible to convince a person who is already disinclined to believe, that your faith is rational let alone something that is able to be definitively proved.  I find Jesus’ type of response to be much more effective as it demonstrates the effects of what life is like when God is with us.  This is what the name Emmanuel means, “God with us.” 

Faith generally does not result from an intellectual debate; faith is most often the product of a personal interaction with the divine.   Somehow, someway, Jesus has touched your life.  Therefore, the proof of faith is highly personal.  Each one of us must have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Yes, it is about “us and Jesus” (“us” being the church), but it also needs to be about “me and Jesus.”  We will not be able to rationalize ourselves into relationships with Jesus.  Give yourself, your entire self, your entire life, freely to following Jesus and see what happens!