'Who is Jesus?'

I am working at Camp Bimini this week, and our theme is Alice in Wonderland.  Yesterday we looked at the caterpillar character who asks Alice “Who Are You?”  I took this phrase and linked it to the candle lighting liturgy said in Godly Play:
“there was once a man who said such amazing things, and did such amazing things, that people began to follow him – and then one day they asked, ‘Who Are You?’ and Jesus answered, ‘I am the Light of the World.’
As we spoke about the amazing things that Jesus said and did, it led us into a good discussion about who was Jesus.  The children I am working with are just ages 7-9, but they had profound answers to this question, like:
I think he was God
I think Jesus was a very special person
I think he had special powers
I think Jesus was a leader that people followed.
 
As I reflected at the end of the day, I was reminded of the scripture from Matthew:  
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” - Matthew 16: 13-15 (NRSV)
The first question isn’t hard to answer – we can find the answer to what others were saying in the Gospels. But Jesus’ next question is harder, because now he is asking us what we think?
And, Jesus is asking us to say it out loud – in public.
What would you say?
Who is Jesus for you?
How would you respond to that question? 
And, are you willing to tell others what you believe about Jesus?
It is so easy to just speak about our faith on a Sunday, or only with others who we know attend church – but when was the last time that you openly spoke about Jesus with someone who was not a church goer?
I invite you this week to try and tell at least one person about Jesus.  The children at Camp Bimini are!

Peace,
Rev. Gail