Who Do You Say I Am?

"Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked Peter in Matthew 16:15.

There is a letter that exists that purports to be a description of Jesus Christ, written by  Lentulus, the Prefect of Judea, to Tiberius Caesar. For me, it is wishful thinking to believe it is genuine, more a curiousity than an authentic record.

“There lives at this time in Judea a man of singular virtue, whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but his followers love and adore him as the offspring of the immortal God. He calls back the dead from the graves and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or touch. He is a tall man, well shaped, and of amenable and reverent aspect; He has hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls, waving about and very agreeably couching about his shoulders, parted on the crown of his head, running as a stream to the front after the fashion of the Nazarites. His forehead is high, large and imposing; his cheeks without spot or wrinkle, beautiful with a lovely red; his nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; His beard of a color suitable to his hair, reaching below his chin and parted in the middle like a fork; His eyes, bright blue, clear and serene, look innocent, dignified, manly and mature.

“In proportion of body most perfect and captivating; his arms and hands delectable to behold. He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness; His whole address, whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave. No man has seen Him laugh, yet his manners are modest and wise, a man for his extraordinary beauty and divine perfection, surpassing the children of men in every sense.”

The letter above was presented to the Vatican around the 9th century and taken for an eyewitness account for a long while. This was at a time when the finding of religious artifacts and relics were at their peak. Although it is exciting to have a physical description of Jesus, and an account of his manners and comportment, ultimately what is more important is what He said and did. 

Each one of us has to answer the question Jesus put to Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” If we can answer like Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” from a place of faith, Jesus can use us also to build His Kingdom here on earth.