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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Who Do You Say I Am?

Admittedly I’m a lover of most all live theater. I love stage performances both with music and without. Last night’s performance was the absolute epitome of what I love about the theater. If you EVER have the opportunity go see The Rock and The Rabbi…you won’t regret it!

Travel with me there now…after a delightful dinner at the new Interurban Restaurant in town, we drove, without hurry, the LONG way (not on the highway but surface roads with actual sites), arriving downtown almost forty minutes early. We found a ‘good’ parking place and strolled around the landscaped perimeter of the Civic Center debating whether we wanted a cup of coffee to deter the day’s exhaustion factor.

We eventually found our way indoors to view the various upcoming show posters, do some necessary people watching, and use the facilities prior to the intermission-less show. We eventually made our way up the three levels to the Mezzanine and while it is very high UP…we were in the second row, center, thus providing a wonderful view of the stage and entire theater. We got the theater glasses (binoculars to sports fans) into focus and my husband even exclaimed he could read some man’s program on the third row. I told him to quit eavesdropping…and to share the dang binoculars!

The show began promptly at 7:30 p.m. and that is when the magic began. It’s like traveling to another place and time and becoming a part of the program. The most wonderfully gifted “Storyteller”, Gary Richardson, who also wrote the script, began without ado. It was as though he was speaking to each of us individually. His voice resonated to the upper balconies and he told his story. He was the older Simon Peter.

The story starts when the “Rabbi” meets the “Rock” and calls him to ‘follow me’. It goes through the death and resurrection of Christ and the scene depicting that moment was breathtaking in its minimalism.

The music was all incredible. I don’t even have words adequate to express the emotions it evoked. Suffice to say we bought the CD and I have already listened to part of it this morning on the commute. The most poignant scene and song, is when the Rabbi asks the men; ‘who do people say I am?’ and following their responses he asks Peter, ‘who do YOU say I am?’

I didn’t even share with my husband what happened to me at this moment but God spoke to me. He asked me what I would say in response. He asked me: “Who do you say I am, Kim?”

I’m still thinking about it this morning as I write this…and I’ve got to say I’m not sure I ever fully capture WHO HE IS in words outside my heart. If someone were to ask me: “Who is Jesus?” This is what I think I would say:

Jesus is first and foremost Christ my Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Son of Man. He is the only worthy sacrifice and He has redeemed me and cleansed me. He is my Lord. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the very core of my heart. He is my one way to God.

What would you say? Who is this Rabbi? Who is Jesus?

8 comments:

someone else said...

He is the air I breathe. He is everything I could possibly need in life.

This was beautiful, Kim.

Dawn said...

It sounds like a wonderful production. I'll definitely have to watch for it. You live your life with such awareness. I love to read your heart and mind.

tam said...

mmm, mmm, mmm, I'm sitting here crunching on late morning cereal and my brain is racing, racing, racing I tell you!

About the OT post you did, this post about who Jesus is...the need to dig deeper into the etymology of the words because hearing "messiah", "savior", "God"...these are all words we hear daily. They have become cherished words but ones I don't always get a "rush" over anymore. So I HAVE to dig deeper to remember and be reminded of what they really are...

My mind is racing over your keen "awareness" (i like that Dawn phrased it this way...she is right on in her description of how you think)
AND how blessed I am that I can sit back and literally watch you think and process...(not to mention occasionally hear it too)

Racing with what else you must be thinking of and finding that ISN'T getting written down here...

I am still working on responding to the love of the OT...and this answer is going to 'cause some serious seeking...I cannot give a pat answer...and like you said

"I'm not sure I'll ever fully capture WHO HE IS in words outside my heart."

kpjara....just no words to "say it!"

Sarah said...

You really have hit the nail on the head - this is the most essential question of our lives. How we answer the question "Who do YOU say that I am?" will determine the course of our lives now and for eternity. Have you ever read A.W. Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy? It's a great place to start for anyone seeking to grow deeper in understanding who God is.

Joy M. said...

Kp, so sorry I missed your anniversary. I'm so glad you had such a good time.

In answer to the question at hand-Jesus knows me better than my husband. He knows just what makes me tick. He created me and placed in me that desire to connect with him. It is out of that very romance that I can say, without hesitation. He is the Lover of My Soul-My Beloved.

Shalee said...

He is the I AM, who says that I AM to be a reflection of His love - who covers me with unearned grace and has filled me with hope and joy.

Beautiful, Kim. Just beautiful.

(Oh and I'm thrilled that you had a great anniversary celebration!)

Tami said...

You've really made me think here. All the words that come to mind seem overused, churchy and inadequate. Hmm. . .I'll be chewing on this one for days.

Brigitte said...

In the famous words of Hillsong: You ask me who do I say that You are? And I say that You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.
He is my God and I will praiseHis name forever!!