Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Who is Jesus in YOUR life?

    Seems like a simple and easy answer right? Lamb of God, King of the Universe, Lion of Judah, High Priest, Glorious King, God the Son, Protector of the Poor and Sick.These are all wonderful titles of our Lord, but how do you know these? Because you know Him personally or is it one of those things where you can only tell who Jesus is in your life because you know about him? There is a huge difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing who Jesus is? Today I walk into the barber shop and see an old friend from Church. We begin to discuss a huge problem that has become a part of this world and that is, that we are teaching adults, teens and children all about who Jesus was and is; but we are not reaching out to them at a young age or any age and telling them that they need to know who Jesus is rather than just hear stories about Him.

    To tell me this isn't really happening today is crazy because it was happening even when Jesus was physically walking on this earth. Don't believe me, well here is some scripture to prove my point: "'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah  still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'" Ok so see, people who have even witnessed the miracles of Jesus didn't even know who He was when they were right there next to Him. What makes it impossible that we would not think the same way? Anyway the point to this whole thing is that we can know all the facts about God and about Jesus without ever knowing who the heck this man was, is, or will be! Just because we know He was born in a manger, he got lost in the temple, he healed people and he died on a cross and rose from the dead does not mean you know Jesus!

    Ok, so.... how do we get to know Jesus? You spend time with Him. This whole week has been about prayer and sitting in quiet and listening to the quiet movements of your heart. You need to spend time in prayer, at Mass, in Confession, with other people who know Jesus, and by actually living your faith! The only way Peter knew who Jesus truly was, was because He did all of these things. Yes in a different way, but think about his relationship with Jesus. Peter went to Jesus in a real way everyday and told him how he was feeling or what was wrong (Prayer). If he did anything against Jesus he would ask Jesus to forgive him like we do with our own friends (Confession). He shared bread and wine at a table with Jesus (Mass). Peter throughout the Scriptures shows us the type of relationship we must have in order to be able to tell Jesus face to face who he is:

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

    Today as I sit here and pray through this and meditate on the life of Peter, I so badly wish I could be like him more. A man with flaws just like me, but yet a man who is so strong in faith and love for the Lord that he drew a sword to physically fight off any harm to our dear Lord! Peter is a man of many emotions and failures, but he is a man of humbled faith and man willing to stand up and speak the truth when everyone is not aware of who Jesus is or what Jesus is teaching. People.... take time today and the rest of Lent to know who Jesus is in your life. Do not just know the facts about who Christ is, but get to the deep longings of His heart for you. It is not everyday you meet someone who is willing to hang on a cross out of love for you!