There are many people in our world today who take great satisfaction in being “known”.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
But in the case of Jesus asking His disciples the question, “Who do people say that I am” (Mark 8:27-29), it is not self-serving arrogance. Rather, Christ was looking for an accurate confession of who He was because that knowledge is basic to salvation.
His person and His work go together and must never be separated.
It is amazing to look back 2000 years and see how confused the public was about Jesus.
Some people thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead— we know that Herod thought so from Mark 6:16.
Others thought Elijah had come again. After all, it had been prophesied in Malachi, and many thought the prediction was fulfilled in Christ. But in fact, John the Baptist was the one who ministered in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:13-17)
Some thought Jesus was Jeremiah the weeping prophet, as they watched his heart break over the lost nation of Israel.
And those were just the one’s who in their confusion still viewed Jesus as a man of merit and substance. Yes, they had his identity wrong, they didn’t see Him as divine, but they saw him as a good prophet, and they said so.
Then there were the ones —the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees— who saw Jesus as bad, and they said so. They said he was a glutton and a drunkard, a brazen liar, an abominable deceiver, and even the prince of demons. One thing is clear: In Jesus day, you would never have gotten a true decision about who Jesus was by taking a poll of the people.
And in our day, I think you will agree nothing has changed in that regard. And I think it is important that we in our times, as the disciples did in theirs, hear and understand what is being said about Jesus.
There are many today who have a respect for Jesus, outside of relationship with him. They’ll wear a cross around their neck, put up a nativity scene at Christmas, They’ll toss up the occasional prayer when things are going wrong, and they wouldn’t dare use his name in vain.
But I’ve been thinking lately about the more absurd and sometimes abusive views of Jesus that are becoming more commonplace. I find it disturbing, and I find my spirit defensive of His reputation when I hear these views. You no doubt feel the same, because we naturally rise up to defend the ones we love.
For instance, take Matt Stone and Trey Parker. They are the creators of the animated T.V. series South Park. And who do they say that Jesus is? In an episode from their Imaginationland-trilogy (which happened to win an Emmy award), Jesus is depicted as “one of the most revered fictional characters.
One quote from the show kind of sums up their view of Jesus, “Look, maybe they're all part of the same thing--Santa and Jesus and hell and leprechauns. Maybe they're all real in the same way, right?”
In today’s media culture it doesn’t take much nerve to dismiss Jesus as a fictional character.
Then there is Elton John, the best selling British solo artist of all time. He is a gifted musician and a poor theologian. He was quoted recently as saying,
"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems," "But insights into aspects of the historic person of Jesus are perhaps best left to the academics.”
"On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don't know what makes people so cruel.”, said John, who is gay.
A different view is held by Ted Turner—the founder of the cable news network, CNN, and one of the wealthiest men in America. He is known for his controversial statements, which often display his disdain and disregard of Christianity.
A few years back he really stepped beyond the pale by stating, “who wants to be covered by the blood of the lamb anyway, that’s just gross”.
That statement drips with an obnoxious self-righteousness, and is not unlike what Jesus experienced in day-by-day encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducees. But don’t you love that Jesus was never intimidated by their posturing. They never wore Him down or overwhelmed Him.
And Jesus, who is the same yesterday today and forever, is not intimidated by the denials and the mocking that He hears today. So, if like me, you hear this stuff —Jesus was fiction, Jesus was gay, Jesus was unnecessary and gross— and you feel your natural defenses rise, take heart knowing that Jesus can handle it. He’s fully secure in who He is.
The important thing is not what others say about Jesus, but what do you and I personally say. The conclusions of the crowd wrong or right can never substitute for personal conclusions.
Peter had the correct response, “Jesus, you are Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” This confession was Peter’s response to the revelation God the Father had given him. This response was not the result of Peter’s own investigation. It came as the gracious act of God. God had hidden these things from the proud Pharisees and Sadducees and revealed them to humble child-like disciples.
Jesus accepted Peter’s confession and built His church upon it. I think we can safely assume that Peter’s words brought joy to Jesus hearts. And Jesus asks the same question of each us, “Who do you say that I am?”
Do you realize that in a world that is growing increasingly cynical and skeptical of any absolute truth, Jesus builds His church upon your confession of Him, and my confession of Him? His method of building his church has not changed. The foundation of His church is the witness of the people who know Him for who He really is, the life giver, the Son of the living God.
One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That day won’t be a pleasant one for the fools and the mockers, those who have rejected the clear and simple truth of the gospel (and by way of definition: a fool hates truth, a mocker makes fun of it).
But for those of us who love Him and serve Him, I remind you today that He rejoices over us. And we too can rest in the knowledge that the Christ in His limitless grace and power holds you securely in His gaze and in His grip.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, (including absurd and inflammatory thoughts and opinions about who Jesus is) will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.