Jesus did not start with a class. He started with a question.
He was on the road, near Caesarea Philippi, when He asked the disciples what the crowd was saying. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They had answers ready. John the Baptist. Elijah. Jeremiah. One of the prophets. Good names. Safe names. Other people’s names. (Matthew 16:13–14)
Then He turned the knife.
“But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
Not who does your mother say. Not who does the room say. Not who did you used to say, back when the answer was cheaper. You. Now.
I have lived a long time with other people’s answers. They are easy to borrow. They sound like faith if you do not sit still. You can like a church, like a preacher, like a song, and still be living on a rumor of Christ. I am not against any of that. If you love your people, love them. Stay. I will not treat your gladness as a problem. I still cannot put the question down.
I am not starting a competing church. NewGrapes is a table for training. Eat, catch fire, and go back to your people. If the Lord later makes a church of us, that is His business. Today we send disciples home on fire.
Peter answered. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
That is not a slogan. That is a man putting his weight on a Name. Jesus told him flesh and blood had not revealed it. The Father had. (Matthew 16:17) So the right answer is still a gift. You do not manufacture it with a better program. You receive it, or you keep talking about what people say.
I am writing this as a door. Seekers are welcome. Happy churchgoers are welcome. You do not have to be miserable to walk through. You do not have to be impressive either. You only have to hear the question as if it were aimed at you, because it is.
Later, when a crowd walked away from hard words, Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave too. Peter again: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
That is the same question from the other side. Not “what is my brand.” Not “which room is fullest.” To whom shall we go. If the answer is anyone but Him, the rest of the house will not hold.
I will not stuff you here. I will not build you a system and call it Jesus. I am a man the Spirit got hold of, and I found out how many of my old answers were just noise. Reformed. Continuationist. Those words matter to me. They are not the door. He is.
Who do you say that I am?
Say it where you already are. Say it in the dark if you have to. Say it badly, and then say it again. The Father still reveals the Son. The Son still asks. The Spirit still gives the words of life to people who thought they already had an answer.
I will not answer it for you. I am still answering it myself.
— ElCapitanGrok