Miraculous Moments: A 40-Day Reflection on Jesus

 Miraculous Moments

Introduction

"'But what about you?' he [Jesus] asked. 'Who do you say I am?'" 
~Matthew 16:15

"Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so." 

"What a friend we have in Jesus, 

all our sins and griefs to bear. 

What a privilege to carry 

everything to God in prayer."

Jesus. 

I have spent my entire life with that name lingering either in the forefront like a fresh bouquet in the center of the dining room table or --at other times--on the top of a bookshelf like a dusty, forgotten knick-knack.

Jesus.

When I was a child, I knew that He's the reason for Christmas and Easter. I proudly recited my lines from Luke 2 for the annual Christmas program, and I delightedly waved palm fronds while declaring, "Hosanna" louder than anyone in my midst. 

These are fond memories, and yet recently I was startled by a question that drifted into my quiet time. 

The question seemed to float down from a high shelf, and it landed obtrusively between my coffee cup and the remains of a week-old bouquet.

The question--from Scripture--straight from Jesus' lips--recorded in Matthew 16:15:

"'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'"

Not only did the question startle me, but it seemed so strange. Having been a "Christian" for decades, I responded quickly like a person well-prepared to regurgitate a practiced response for a test, "You're Jesus...my friend...my Savior."

The echoes of my response felt empty even as I spoke the words. 

The silence became solemn. 

As the stillness lingered, my heart sped up and my breathing quickened--as shallow as my response to the question.

The confidence I had felt at my speedy response shifted to embarrassment.

The question presented itself again: "'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'"

I immediately sputtered--"I--I--you are--" I stopped as a presence held a hand out that directed me to silence. 

The presence lovingly, longingly looked into my eyes--and simply repeated the question: "'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'"

Silence. 

At last understanding, I had no words. 

How do I put the magnitude of Jesus into words?

Even if I could express the magnitude--does my life reflect this belief?

A simple platitude--Jesus is my everything. 

Seriously? Do I even believe that?

In the last 24 hours, has Jesus been my everything?--Or have I let everything else be more important than my "everything"?

Forty days. Forty days is significant numerous times in Scripture. Moses met with God for 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness following his baptism. Let's spend the next 40 days reflecting on the recorded works and words of Jesus. 

This writing is a study and reflection on the miracles surrounding Jesus. Throughout this period the goal is to develop a more thoughtful, mature, reflective response to this lingering question of a Christ follower. 

We desire this to not just be a response that stems from those memorized lines from Christmas programs and Hosannas from Easter's past, but a response that also grows out the miracles of Jesus recorded in Scripture and connected with the reality of the Jesus we encounter in our everyday lives. 

Jesus truly is the Jesus from the songs and the Scriptures, but He is also so much more. Let us be able to confidently respond to our Savior. Let us know and believe and be ready to proclaim to others our thoughtful response when Jesus asks, "'Who do you say I am?'"

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." 

~Hebrews 13:8