Who Do You Say I Am
Reflection
When I heard the question, "Who do you say I am?" I first thought of a big, intimidating figure, up in the sky. I wasn't able to really get past that image of God and Jesus until I focused on the part of God that came down to Earth and lived among us for thirty years. Only after I pictured that could I really begin to put myself in Peter's shoes and answer the question. I see Jesus as a comforter. He is the more human side of God and experienced human emotions and feelings while on Earth, so I think he would understand our feelings. He also seems like a very moral person. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" Mt 7:12. This passage shows that Jesus was very moral and compassionate. To me Jesus is the human and compassionate part of God.
He had friends
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ec 4:9-10)
He is human
Jesus is human. He felt human emotions and went through life just as we do.
He is a comforter
Jesus will comfort us when we need him.
Angie Miller "You Set Me Free" - American Idol 2013
Insights
The footnotes helped me understand the passage by clarifying certain details, such as the metaphor of the keys and loosing and binding. It also helped me understand that Jesus said Peter got his revelation of the Messiah from God, not on his own. It also said that Peter would be the rock that Jesus would build his church on. Peter's name is actually a variation of the Greek word for rock, and it had to be changed because the word was feminine.