Who is the REAL Jesus?
Mark 8.27-38
THE MAN
That may sound like a crazy question but it is one that Jesus asks of his disciples himself. At the village of Caesarea Philippi he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" After a moment they had a three part answer, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one or the prophets." Their answer seems straight forward for us but it is not. They were speaking from a first century point of view. These three answers would have sounded much different in the 21st century. Let's look at each one separately.
Those who said Jesus may have been John the Baptist believed in a mystical or reincarnated spirit of John living inside of Jesus. This is much like the woman, J.Z. Knight, who lives in Yelm Washington. She believes that she channels the spirit of a might warrior who lived over 10,000 years ago. She and Ramtha (the mystical warrior) run the Original School of Consciousness & Energy. Thousands of students come from around the world each year paying top dollars to listen to J.Z. channel the ancient knowledge of Ramtha. Many of the people who were following Jesus saw him with the spirit of John the Baptist.
Those who said Jesus was Elijah saw him as a single great leader with the ultimate truth. The Mormons have Joseph Smith, the Adventist William Miller, Jehovah's Witnesses Charles Russell, the Iranians the Ayatollah Khomeini, the communists Karl Marx, China has Mao. Today it continues with people following some charismatic leader or public figure that they are drawn to. Many who were following Jesus saw him as such a great leader.
Those who said Jesus was one of the prophets saw him as one of way many possible ways to get to God. He was a person they could follow that would lead them to God, but they did not see him as the only way. Much like the modern unilateralist movements that teach there are many ways to God and all ways are equal. They go so far as to say that everyone will make it no matter the path they choose.
So those around Jesus had a variety of opinions about who he was. The disciples had heard all the talk and knew what the people were saying. Then he ask them, "But what about you?...Who do you say I am?" It is no longer a hypothetical question, it is personal. They are on the spot to answer. They could have chosen any of the common answers but they knew those were all the wrong answers. Peter spoke for the group when he said, "You are the Christ." In those four words Peter said more than all the others would ever say. The word Christ is Greek for the 'anointed one.' Peter is saying that Jesus is the only way. He is not someone who has a reincarnated spirit. He is not just a great leader or just another way. When Peter calls him the Christ he is saying that the Jewish Messiah has finally arrived. This promised hope for all humanity is standing right there in front of him. It was not time for Jesus' true identity to be revealed so Jesus warns them not to talk about it yet.
THE PLAN
Jesus begins to reveal the plan for his life to his disciples. They have said they know who he really is, but do they know why he is really here? He tells them that he will have to suffer and die. This was the life plan that brought him to be among the disciples. Peter did not understand this and took Jesus aside to correct him. The picture here is revealing. Peter the follower steps in front of Jesus and pulls him aside to rebuke him. Talk about doing the wrong thing. Correcting the Messiah is not the thing anyone should do.
Jesus turns from Peter and looks at the rest of the disciples and rebukes Peter. The word Jesus used here satanas (Greek for satan) means adversary. Jesus tells Peter to get into his place, behind him and lets him know that where he is now (in front of Jesus) is not where he is supposed to be. As long as he is out front of Jesus he is an adversary. Peter was looking at the situation with human standards and eyes while Jesus is looking at it from God's point of view. Peter has to make the decision to follow the directions of Jesus or to continue in his own direction.
Peter was not the first one or the last person to not follow or understand the teachings of Jesus. I had a board member who caused problems in the church over and over. On one occasion he came to my office to tell me how to do my job and about some teaching I had been doing. He disagreed with what I was saying. During the conservation I started a sentence with, "The Bible says..." I did not get to finish it before he could blink an eye he said, "I don't care what the Bible says, you have to learn to live in reality!" He had his own direction and it did not include the word of God. God has a plan and if you follow it you will discover his will, but if you reject the word of God you will find yourself going your own way without the help or approval of God.
THE STAND
Jesus called the crowd to him and gave them the opportunity to choose the right way to God. He put them on the spot to daily stand up for him or to deny him and find themselves coming up short when they were standing in front of God at the end of their lives. Jesus used a conditional clause to help them make their decision. This appears throughout the Old Testament. It is what can be found in 2 Chronicles 7.14. "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The key words are IF and THEN. IF the person follows God's directions THEN God will do what he has promised.
Jesus says that the decisions that we each have to make. Jesus says "IF anyone would come after me. . ." Here we have a New Testament conditional clause that the believer has to choose to be part of God's plan. In order for this to happen the believer must do two things. First you have to deny yourself. This means we walk away from our choices and allow God to choose for us. This is being willing to follow the plan that God has chosen for each of our lives. Second we are to take up our cross. We are all called to sacrifice. Choices that will draw us closer to God or that will move us outside of God's will for our lives.
We have to evaluate how we spiritually invest our lives. We have to choose:
- now or later - Jesus said we can gain the world and forfeit our soul.
- do we want pennies on the dollar - What will you exchange for our soul
- are we willing to hide out with sinners - If you are willing to deny him before the world he will deny you eternity with him.
You have some questions you have to answer.
- Who do you say Jesus is? Do you know the real MAN?
- Are you hindering or following Jesus? Are you following his PLAN?
- What is really important to you? Will you take a STAND?
How you decide to answer these questions will determine the spiritual course of this life and the next.
