The Question

September 11, 1994

Mark 8:29 But who do you say that I am?

Jesus asked his disciples two questions as they walked into the hills north of Galilee. The pace of ministry had been fast and furious, but now they were alone on the road. Those two questions are still penetrating questions today.

Jesus said, "Who are people saying that I am?" And then he asked the question that came very close: "But who do you say that I am?"

The first question drew a variety of responses. The second question brought a response from Peter that Matthew tells us brought a blessing from the Master. Consider with me those two questions again:

I. WHO DO PEOPLE SAY JESUS IS ?

  1. The fact is that there are a lot of different answers to this:
    1. there are many "wrong answers;" that is, answers which contradict the clear teachings of the Bible. Some of these wrong answers are evil; Jesus has been attacked and vilified across the ages. Some of these wrong answers are simply ignorant or incomplete such as, "Jesus was a great teacher, or a martyr, or an Essene revolutionary."
    2. there are probably many "right answers" as well. Every sermon, every good book, and in a sense, even what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John say about Jesus are right answers to this first question of Jesus.

      — I've been asking fellow Christians all week who Jesus is to them— and while I believe every one of them really knows Jesus I have gotten a variety of answers: Jesus is a "Listener ... a Shepherd ... a Guide ... our Intercessor."

  2. The fact is that, apart from the inspired Scriptures, the answer that is given about who Jesus is tells more about the person answering the question than it does about Jesus Himself. For this is a watershed question. Jesus is finally known by revelation; Jesus is known by faith; Jesus is the I AM, and what each one of us think about him does not change him, and yet every individual must know Jesus in a personal, unique relationship.

II. WHO DID PETER SAY JESUS IS ?

  1. Peter, of course, gave the right answer. He was like the kid that sat in the front seat right in front of the teacher with his hand up when you were in the fifth grade. Peter always had something to say. And this time he hit the nail on the head. "You are the Messiah!" Matthew tells us that Jesus said, "You are blessed, Simon, son of John! Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you. My Father, God in heaven, has given you this insight!"

    And then Jesus went on to say that this confession of Peter is foundational to the kingdom of God.

  2. The great confession of Peter did not keep him from having mistaken ideas about the mission of Jesus. he still had a lot to learn, and a long way to go. But he was on his way. And that is the lesson from this chapter— if we are simply studying it as we would a history lesson.

    But Jesus by his Spirit speaks through these pages and he asks you, and he asks me:

III. WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM ?

  1. A PERSONAL WITNESS CAN BE A POWERFUL WITNESS

    Some time ago Pastor Martin Copenhaver, of Wellesley Congregational Church preached on this passage. He had been to a seminar where Michael Greene, a British scholar of the history of evangelism, had challenged a group of pastors with: "When was the last time you told your congregation what Jesus means to you?" Later he wrote in his study, "As a pastor I talk a good deal about Jesus, but do I say what Jesus means to me?" He decided he would try to do just that.

    As a pastor in the UCC he said, "Our forebears in the faith worried that they might be seen as heretics. Today we (UCC people) seem to be more worried about being taken for fundamentalists." So in personal, devotional terms Pastor Copenhaver tried to tell his people just what Jesus meant to him.

    Evidently the sermon was quite a personal testimony. After the service Pastor Copenhaver noticed one dear lady whom he respected as one of the "saints of Zion" came through the line to shake his hand, and could not speak— and went around and got at the end of the line again to give herself time to compose herself. When she finally came the second time she simply said, "Why didn't you tell us this before?"

    Copenhaver writes: "I did not know how to respond. Now her question, along with (Michael} Greene's, continues to haunt me."

  2. A PERSONAL WITNESS CAN ALSO BE A CHALLENGE

    I have wrestled with this question this week; what would I put into a sermon like Pastor Copenhaver's? Don't worry, I am not going to talk about myself and my relationship with God for a long time just now. But I assure you that the prospect of laying aside other people's correct answers— and even laying aside what the Bible says Jesus is supposed to be to me— and telling you truthfully who Jesus is to me has been a challenging experience!

    I have been reminded again and again of Reuben Welch's sermon from this very pulpit (he is going to be with us for "Say Yes '95 in January, Lord willing!) when Reuben said, "I know Jesus! I want you to understand, I really do know Him! But sometimes I think I hardly know Jesus at all!" I understood then exactly what he was saying.

Who is Jesus to me?

Jesus is a Presence. I have never seen Him, but I cannot imagine life without Him. I talk to Him, and I listen for Him. I wish I could hear His voice, but He does speak from time to time, as I'm sure He does to you, too.

Jesus is a Friend, but a Friend with a capital "F." He is not my "peer," not someone I consult before I decide whether to do His will or not. There are many decisions that I have to make, and Jesus lets me make them, along with my share of mistakes. But when I know—when Jesus makes known his will— there is no decision further. I have already decided many years ago that I will follow Jesus.

Jesus LOVES me! I confess that I don't understand why— and sometimes it is hard to believe. But I DO believe it! I learned "Jesus loves me this I know" before I can remember. I never knew a time when I didn't know that. But that love has been dawning on me, little by little, more and more, for all the years of my life! I really want to return that love ...

Conclusion:

I would seriously like to give you an assignment. (That is all you need: another assignment!) This is an assignment that can go along with or be a part of your quiet times for the next few days or weeks. The assignment is to think pointedly about who you really say that Jesus Christ is:

  1. with your understanding; do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that Jesus IS God?
  2. with your emotions; do you LOVE Jesus? Perhaps that is not altogether a proper way to frame it, for LOVE is more than feelings, that's for sure. But does your heart reach out to this Person who loves you so very, very much? Do you respond to his love? Paul says, "I plead with you by the great and tender love of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice ..."
  3. with your will: do you accept Jesus as your Master? Will you report to him each morning and say, "I have given you my life back there at an altar, back there at camp... back there in revival.. I have given you my life— NOW HELP ME TO LIVE ONE DAY FOR YOU— TODAY— YOU SHOW ME WHAT TO DO AND I WILL DO IT!

And then, ask Jesus, your Friend, to help you share THAT reality with your friends, and with everyone who will listen.