“Who do you say that I am?”

Who do you say that I am? This question can be answered in many different ways by many different people and cultures. This answer has also changed over the time periods and places in which it was asked. For the Bantu people in sub-Saharan Africa, Jesus is known as “Christ our Ancestor”. For African women, Jesus is their savior and protector.

To the Bantu people in sub-Saharan Africa, Jesus is “Christ our Ancestor”. In this case, in being their Ancestor, Jesus was also known to be their Elder Brother who would be a model or example for them in how to lead their life to eventually become an Ancestor. For the Bantu, “… the eldest child is charged with responsibility for the acts of the younger [and] Christ has shown himself to be our eldest brother in taking responsibility for our wrongs…”. Christ is the male Ancestor and the Bantus are supposed to model their way of life based off of Jesus’ teachings and way of life.

I like the way of the Bantu culture believing Jesus as their Ancestor because of what he does for people. Especially in the way of mediating between the people and God. The people offer up to Christ for his help and protection, but also as a way to remember him and what he did for all people.

In the Bantu way of life, to become an Ancestor one must give life. However, this is not just biologically. Although that does matter, giving life can also come about by giving a person life in their spirituality. This is what Jesus did and when he came to give life, “…he gave it in abundance”. Jesus watched over everyone through the life he gave them as the Elder Brother, and so other Ancestors will watch over the next generations of family.

For African women, Jesus is more of a protector and savior. He helped the women with their struggles in gaining control of their lives as well as their struggle for bare necessities. In the villages, there was usually one woman at the center for all their religious and spiritual practices who was responsible for leading others to faith. This central figure led to the shaping of the African women’s experiences of Christ and how he enables them. Jesus, because of his belief in women, “… gave them their true worth and dignity”. Although not originally present in African culture, Jesus gave them the equality that they so deserved.

In the African church, there was a misinterpretation of women and their relation to God, but Jesus took them seriously and saw them as responsible women who knew what they needed and that they could act of their own accord. “In his teachings and relationships, Jesus recognized women as persons in their own right and disapproved of anything that discrimiated against women”. Because of this, African women saw Jesus as their protector, savior, mentor, and most importantly, closest friend.

There are similarities and differences in ideologies and answers to the question “Who am I?” depending on the time and place. African women saw this question and answered it as Jesus being someone who could help them and someone who believed in them no matter what. The Bantu saw this question and responded with the belief in Jesus as the Ancestor and as their mentor. These are both similar and different to the time of the disciples because at that time the answer would depend on their personal experiences with Jesus.

People can have their own answer on who Jesus is to them and to the Bantu, he is “Christ our Ancestor”, the Elder Brother, and an example to all. To African woman, he is a savior and friend. Now, I give this question for others to think about. Who do you think that Jesus is?