Thursday, July 18, 2013

Who Do You Say I Am?


Mark 8:27-29a Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”  “But what about you?” he asked.  “Who do you say I am?”

Is Jesus (the Way, the Truth and the Life) enough?” Do we see the fullness of His glory as Lord and Savior? Who do we say Jesus is?

Continuing with Pastor JJ’s Sunday Sermon on the Gospel according to Mark. Who do people say Jesus is … man or God? Many people give a positive response about Jesus, saying that he was a “good” man. C.S. Lewis wrote in His book, “Mere Christianity” that even those who are not persuaded by Christianity often have great respect for Jesus. Among those who reject the idea that Jesus was God incarnate, there are many who are nevertheless followers of Him to some degree. “Jesus was a great moral teacher”, some say, but he wasn’t God”. According to this view, Jesus is to be followed as a great human being, but not as a divine one. Jesus made the most astonishing claims, not only about God, society and ethics, but also about himself. If Jesus set out to systematically deceive people about who he was and how their sins were to be dealt with, then he was among the worst teachers that have ever walked the earth. If Jesus believed that his claims about himself were true, and they weren’t, then he was a delusional egomaniac. If an ordinary person believes himself to be God incarnate, then that person is, put quite simply, insane. If Jesus taught that this is who he was and was mistaken, then he was as bad a teacher as there ever was. But if Jesus believed that his claims were true and they were, then Jesus was not only a great human being, but was also God on Earth.

Mark 8:29 Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ [Messiah].”

Matthew Henry's Commentary says Though they came short of the truth, yet they were convinced by his miracles that he was an extraordinary person, sent from the invisible world with a divine commission. It is probable that they would have acknowledged him to be the Messiah, if they had not been possessed by their teachers with a notion that the Messiah must be a temporal Prince, appearing in external pomp and power, which the figure Christ made, would not comport with; yet. To be a Christian indeed, is, sincerely to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and to act accordingly.

Pastor JJ encouraged us to see and experience Jesus the “Christ” as Lord – God the Son. The One sent by God to save the world from sin and restore our relationship with God the Father. It’s not what the world says about who Jesus is, but what you say. Jesus wants you and I to answer that question today, and then show us the way to true life and life abundant. Jesus will be there to rescue us when we put our hearts in a position where He can reach and teach us. Who do you say I am? Is He the Christ? … our Christ and personal Savior? What is our response to Him? Liar, Lunatic or Lord? If Lord, then repent of sin and believe. Have the courage to take the next step of faith and obedience in our lives. Respond to His leading by His teachings and commands in the Word of God to conform our way to His ways. May our eyes be opened to see Him more clearly, to devotedly follow Him and dedicated to live out our faith faithfully.


In Christ, Brian

No comments: