“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-16

Who are you? It’s a question that we are asked so many times in our lives. And if we are honest, it is the same question we have asked ourselves as we see our reflection in the mirror. So, who are you?

From the time we are born, other people’s interpretations of who we are, are given without our request. From being cute, adorable, chubby, or even fussy, to being beautiful or ugly, intelligent or dumb, or even a cry baby or a tomboy, we are bombarded with descriptors that impact how we see ourselves? But, who are you?

Do you see yourself as the person who will never live beyond your parents’ legacy, for better, or for worse? Do you see yourself as the person undeserving of love because someone said you were worthless? Do you not see your own inherent beauty, talent, and gifts because someone else has done the same?

In this passage of scripture Jesus asks the disciples who other people are saying that He is, and the disciples respond. And then Jesus asks, “but who do YOU say I am?”. Based upon what Jesus was able to know about others when He first met them, this passage does not support that Jesus was having an identity crisis. He was not looking to be defined by what people said. It appears that Jesus is instead placing emphasis on not what others think, but what the disciples know for themselves.

With degrading messages being readily accessible at any given moment, you must know who you are according to who made you – God. God says that you are made in His image. God says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God says that He loves you, and that you are worth Him sacrificing His son. God says you are redeemed and new. God says you are His friend. God says you are more than a conqueror. God says that you can do all things through the strength of His son. So who are you? You are who God says that you are. And YOU must be assured of this truth.

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