Who Do You Say That I Am?

This choral reading is based on Jesus’ question to his disciples in Matthew 16:13-16 and Mark 8:27-30. The replies, taken from the rest of Scripture, focus on who Jesus—the second person of the Trinity—really is. Feel free to reorganize for more readers.
 
Leader: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Reader 1 [interested, but not yet personal]: Some say John the Baptist; 
Reader 2: others say Elijah; 
Readers 3&4: and still others, Jeremiah 
Reader 2 [an after thought]: or one of the prophets.”
 
Leader: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
Reader 1: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Reader 2: the Christ
Reader 3: Rabbi, Teacher
Reader 4: Master
Reader 1: A Prophet like Moses
All: Adonai, Lord
 
Reader 2: You are the Son of the Most High
Reader 3: Lion of the tribe of Judah
Men: The Shoot from the stump of Jesse
Women: Root and Offspring of David
Reader 1: The bright Morning Star
Reader 2: the One and Only, Beloved Son of the Father
 
Reader 4: You are the Son of man
Reader 1: The Word of God made flesh
All: Immanuel, God with Us
 
Reader 2: You are the Heir of all things 
Reader 3: First fruits of those who have fallen sleep
Readers 4&1: The image of the invisible God
Readers 2, 3: Firstborn over all creation 
All: The head of the body, the church
 
Reader 1: You are the Good Shepherd 
Reader 2: the Door of the sheep
Reader 3: Bread of heaven
Reader 4: The Vine
Reader 1: You are the Light of the world
Readers 2&3: The true light that gives light to everyone
All: Light that shines on those living in darkness
 
Reader 2: You are the Way, the Truth and the Life
Readers 2&3: The Resurrection
Men: a Treasure hidden in a field 
Women: a Pearl of great price 
All: the Desire of nations
 
Reader 1: Father to the fatherless 
Reader 2: Friend of sinners 
Reader 3: Our Advocate 
Reader 4: Our Great High Priest
All: The one mediator between God and man
 
Reader 1: You are the Beginning and the End 
Reader 4: Pioneer and Perfecter of faith 
 
Reader 2: Wonderful Counselor!
Reader 3: Mighty God!
Reader 1&4: Everlasting Father!
Readers 2&3 [calmly]: Prince of Peace
 
Reader 1 [sneering]: King of the Jews
Reader 3 [disappointed]: A Nazarene
 
[This section gets more and more discouraged, then rises through Ransom and Redeemer to a high point at Savior.]
 
Reader 2: You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
All: Our Passover Lamb
Reader 1: You are the Suffering Servant, despised and rejected by mankind,
Reader 2 [quiet and thoughtful]: a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Reader 3 [more so]: pierced for our transgression
Reader 4 [sounding crushed]: crushed for our iniquities
All [low point]: oppressed and afflicted
Reader 1 [beginning to rise]: the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Reader 2: Ransom for sinners 
Reader 3: Redeemer 
All: God our Savior
 
Reader 1: You are the Living Stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him
Reader 2: a Stone in Zion! 
Reader 3: a chosen and precious Cornerstone!
Reader 4 [backing off because this part is sad]: a Stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall
 
Readers 1&3: You are King of kings 
Readers 2&4: and Lord of lords
 
Reader 1: You are Ruler over the kings of the earth
Reader 2: Alpha and Omega, who is and who was and who is to come 
Reader 3: the First and Last
Reader 4: The Living One who was dead and now, look! is alive for ever and ever
Reader 1 [awed]: He who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands
Reader 2 [rising in excitement]: the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
Reader 3 [awed]: the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze
Reader 4 [rising awe]: who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
 
Reader 1 [firm]: You are the Amen
Reader 2: The Faithful and true Witness
Reader 3: Holder of the keys of death and Hades 
 
Reader 4: the Name above all names 
All [the climax]: I AM WHO I AM 
 
First performed by the youth of First Baptist Webster, March 17, 2019
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