Who Do You Say That I Am – Mark 8:29

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ.’”

Jesus was on the road with His disciples and had just asked them who other men said that Jesus was.  They responded that some thought He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others thought He was one of the prophets.  Then Jesus made it very personal.  ‘Who do YOU say that I am?’

Have you ever met anyone in the world that does not know the name of Jesus?  Everybody knows about Him.  Amazing, is it not?  But most people in the world know of Jesus as something other than the Christ.  We hear so often that Jesus was a great teacher.  I have heard my Hindu and Buddhist friends say as much.  The Muslim community says Jesus was a prophet.  These groups hold Jesus in an elevated but limited status.  It is like a high opinion, but short of the truth.

Jesus is still the most controversial person to have ever walked the earth.  Just ask anyone you know and even some folks you do not know.  They may say something complimentary about Him, but most of the time it is inaccurate.  You cannot be right with Jesus until you are right with who He is.  Further, you also need to know what He did.  “Now the time has come when Jesus is going to reveal to the disciples His true identity. Up to now, He has not declared Himself to His disciples His true mission.”  (Chuck Smith)

The miracles and words of Jesus, as well as the testimony of the demons and the blundering arguments of the Pharisees, correspond with Old Testament scripture that Jesus was the Messiah (Hebrew word for ‘anointed one’).  Still, Jesus had not yet clearly confessed this to His disciples.  Before He confessed, He first asked them this key question.  He sought their confession of who they thought He was.  Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ (Greek word for ‘anointed one’).  “To be a Christian indeed, is, sincerely to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and to act accordingly; and that he is so, plainly appears by his wondrous works.   Is the record of those things designed only for an amusement, or to furnish us with matter for discourse? No, certainly these things are written, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”  (John 20:31); and this discourse which Christ had with his disciples, will assist us in making the necessary reflections upon the miracles of Christ, and a right use of them.”  (Matthew Henry)

I cannot think of a more important question in this lifetime.  The answer to this question will determine whether you have eternal life with God, or eternity in hell.  The answer must be acted upon in this lifetime.  When we die, we will know without a doubt who Jesus is.  I speculate that once we pass through this life, Jesus will ask this question in the past tense.  ‘Who did you say that I am?’  Jesus said “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

It is prudent to point out that the demons believed and confessed Jesus as ‘the son of the most high God.’ (See Mark 5:7)  James points out for us: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!”  (James 2:19)  So what is the difference?  The demons knew who Jesus was, but they did not call Him their Messiah, their anointed one, their King. 

Once we know who Jesus is, once we realize His claims, we must do something with that realization.  We either choose Him as our Savior, or we reject His gift of eternal salvation.  Friend, it is as simple as that. 

Is Jesus a good teacher, a prophet, or the Christ your King?  Do not wait until it is too late.  There is nothing more important in this life than your response to this question:  Who do you say that Jesus is?

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Nothing Hidden – Mark 4:21-22

“Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.’“

We do not yet know everything about God, so we have faith.  It is mysterious how the Holy Spirit works in the life of an unbeliever.  A war rages within that individual as the flesh battles the spirit.  It is a mystery because no one, except Jesus, knows the details of what is happening within the heart of that person.  The war is not exactly the same for everyone.  Almost always, though, there is an aspect of pride in the unbeliever that rigorously fights against the truth about Jesus and their own state of sinful condemnation.  Only God knows what it will take for that individual to surrender.  That war may rage for an extended period of time.  As the person grows closer to accepting the truth, the war within them will become more and more violent. 

When that glorious day arrives and the person surrenders to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is a joyful time for fellow believers and a time of rejoicing in Heaven.  To an observing unbeliever, the change in the person is a mystery.  The unbeliever wonders what has happened to their friend, and they want that old friend back.

The new believer is a light born into the world, and a light has been born into the new believer.  A light that reveals the truth about sin, about God’s Holy Word, about eternal salvation.  The purpose of the Gospel has become crystal clear to the new believer, and they wonder why the rest of the world does not see it.  This is where we believers, old or new, become responsible.  The world is in darkness and we have the light.  Jesus does not want what He has done for us to be a mystery to those around us.  As He reveals His truths to His disciples, to us, He expects we will share what we have learned.     

“We must expect that what is now done in secret, and from unseen springs, will shortly be manifested and made known. What is committed to you in secret should be made manifest by you; for your Master did not give you talents to be buried, but to be traded with. Let that which is now hid be made known; for, if it be not manifested by you, it will be manifested against you, will be produced in evidence of your treachery.” (Matthew Henry)

At some point the Lord will return, and He will reveal all things.  Nothing will be a secret.  Knowing this should further inspire us, as servants of Christ, to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God.  It should prompt us to be diligent in sharing the truth with others.  When all is done, can you imagine one of your friends in this world asking you, as they are condemned to hell for eternity for not surrendering to Christ, why you never tried to convince them of the truth?  Why did you not try harder to tell them about how you found the way to eternal life?  We know that God will provide some way for that person to know the truth.  Still, is it not your desire that God use you so He can later say ‘well done good and faithful servant’?

The Apostle Paul reminds us of our responsibility, and the joy awaiting the faithful steward in hearing praise from God.  “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful…Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.  Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.