As a teacher, Jesus employed numerous techniques in His teaching. He used parables, analogies, illustrations, as well as simple explanations and instruction of truths. However, Jesus also employed the Socratic Method, which involved the posing of questions, creating a dialogue and making people think to elicit further thought, contemplation, and conclusion.
The exchange in today’s gospel (Luke 9:18-22) is also recorded in Matthew 16:13-16 and Mark 8:27-29. In all three instances, Jesus first asks who do the people (or crowds) say I am? And after hearing the disciples’ answer, our Lord then asks, “Who do you say I am?”
The answer to this question was vital because, only after Peter recognizes Jesus as the “Christ,” the “Son of God,” is our Lord able to then begin opening their minds to great truths – even hard truths regarding His impending suffering and death upon the cross.
Still, this query resonates clearly all these years later, for each of us must answer this question; personally, intimately. We cannot simply “follow the crowd” and rely on who others claim or agree Jesus to be. We each must make this determination for ourselves.
Fr. John
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