Are you enjoying the Olympics?
Every time they come about I seem to find myself watching more tv.
And people who were no bodies around 6 weeks ago,
become household names and heroes.
Did you see Steve Hooker pole vault 5.96 metres to win the gold medal and set a new Olympic record?
When the heats were on for the pole vaulting I thought another desperate Aussie making up the numbers in track and field?
Australians are not supposed to be good at athletics, our forte is swimming.
But that’s because I didn’t know him.
If I’d done some research before the Olympics I would have probably made sure I was watching Steve Hooker pole vault.
You see earlier this year he pole vaulted 6 metres in Perth.
Imagine that.
And that for around 12 months he had pole vaulted the highest of anyone else in official competitions.
It was because I didn’t know him or about him I didn’t know how good he was.
If I had known about him he probably would have made sure I was watching to see how would go.
And as disciples of Jesus Christ each one of us are called to know how good he is and share how good Jesus is.
You see we are God’s mouth piece amongst the people he has placed us with.
There is a church in Germany that has a crucifix,
Jesus hanging on the cross
but the interesting thing is that this Jesus has no hands.
The story behind the crucifix is that during one of the wars the church was bombed and the crucifix fell down and the hands broke off.
The priest at the time said don’t repair it.
Let it as it is as a reminder that we are Jesus’ hands in this community.
And like wise we are in tandem with God when we share his good news and this involves knowing who Jesus is.
Listen to something written to the early Christians that we can find in 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
So who do you say Jesus is?
Who do you say Jesus is?
It seems like a simple question but there are many different answers.
There are many different views on Jesus.
Many different perceptions.
Our reading today is set in Caesera of Phillipi.
This was a melting pot of spirituality.
A supermarket shelf full of ways to heaven, to God, to a better life.
Prominent was Baal.
The Greek God Pan.
And the Romans worshipped they worshipped their leaders.
So if we were Romans we would bowing down and worshipping the Rudd god and the Americans the Bush god.
And so no wonder the following discussion took place.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Now think about your own situation.
Who do the people you interact with say Jesus is?
Many people can acknowledge Jesus
but have their perceptions of Jesus wrong or not complete.
Who do people say Jesus is in your life?
Around Australia many parents choose to send their children to Christian schools.
Which can be a good thing.
Christian schools offer good education,
they complement the work of the church and the home in nurturing the faith
they are a good witness to the community.
However when we were in Adelaide we made friends with some parents who chose to send their child to a Christian school so they could get a little bit of Jesus.
So their children could get a little bit of Jesus.
Because a little bit of Jesus is a good thing.
When we explored this further what they believed was Jesus was a good moral teacher, and that is what their children needed.
And many view Jesus as just that, a good moral teacher and nothing more.
There would be many people who view Jesus as only a good moral teacher.
Our Islam friends say something similar.
Jesus is a good prophet, but for them that is all he is.
Others only know Jesus as the judge.
Just after the September 11th attacks occurred a few preachers came out and said these attacks were the direct result of homosexual sin in America.
Now God does judge, however there are two problems with the above.
One is they made some assumptions about what sin caused the above.
And secondly and more disappointingly some of those preachers failed to highlight the Good News.
That Jesus does more than judge.
Some people have the perception that Jesus is this lovey dovey guy.
Who never offends and always compliments.
Others see him as their path to wealth and fame.
That following Jesus will result in blessings of wealth, health and fame.
There are many different views on who Jesus is.
And to talk effectively with people we need to know their views.
We need to know how they feel about Jesus.
So some good questions to ask are:
What do you know about Jesus?
What is your perception of Jesus?
What do you think Jesus says on these issues?
I am not asking you to take a survey.
But when you are in conversations at school, at work, in the shops, having coffee with someone and the opportunity arises bring Jesus into your conversations.
Like Caesarea of Philippi there are many different views of Jesus
However remember just because someone believes something about someone does not make that true.
For us as Christians we need to have our views, our moulded and tested by scripture.
Between now and the end of the year.
I give you a challenge I want you to read the four gospels.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Why?
Because as you do you will be in a journey with Jesus.
You will see who the real Jesus is?
Who Jesus says he is?
But what about you?
Who do you say Jesus is?
If Jesus was to sit down with you tomorrow at breakfast and ask who Jesus is,
apart from spitting out your corn flakes,
How would you answer Jesus’ question,
Who do you say I am?
That is exactly what Jesus asked Peter.
Listen again to v 15-16
15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, a the Son of the living God.”
Remember for Peter to come to this conclusion he had been with Jesus, following him, experiencing some of the good things about him.
He had seen him walk on water, and been rescued by him.
He had seen him take two loaves of bread and five fish and some how satisfy over 5000 men.
He had seen him welcome an outsider into his group and heal her daughter even though her daughter was not present.
What about you?
How do you answer Jesus’ question in v 15?
Who is Jesus?
Think about what do you know about Jesus so far from your journey with Him.
What has Jesus done?
What does this mean?
How does it affect who you are?
How does it affect your relationship with others?
Is Jesus you Christ, your Messiah,
the Son of the living God for you?
The one whom you depend upon for life.
Here are some things the scriptures say
From John 8:46
46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
We see that Jesus is sinless…
From John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We see that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, to God
From Luke 7:48-49 "Then Jesus said to her, ’Your sins are forgiven.’ The other guests began to say among themselves, ’Who is this who even forgives sins?’
We see that Jesus is able to forgive sins.
John 18:36-37 "Jesus said, ’My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ’You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ’You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’"
We see that Jesus is a king..a king of heaven and earth.
From John 3:16-17 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
We see that Jesus came to save the world and not condemn the world
Knowing God involves interacting with God, with Jesus.
and that is achievable for us by reading the bible
by worshipping regularly
by associating with each other.
All these things help us to be in a journey with Jesus.
To grow in knowledge of him
And to be able to state who he is and the good things about him.
And the amazing thing that occurred when Peter stated You are the Christ, the Messiah, the son of the living God.
Is that Jesus said on this rock I will build my church.
The rock is the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.
That is our rock.
That is the rock of the church.
And when we state and confess to others who is Jesus,
Jesus is using us to build his church.
Because God is alive and living.
And if Jesus is the Christ.
Then part of the church’s foundation is forgiveness.
Forgiveness is part of the rock of the church.
God forgiving you and God helping you to forgive others.
That is an amazing thing.
And so no wonder in verse 18 he says the Gates of Hades will not over come it.
Hades is a place of death.
A cemetery.
As followers of Jesus death is not our final destination
It is simply a stepping stone to joining all other Christians in heaven.
Because Jesus creates the situation where we are forgiven.
Therefore as verse indicates we are given the keys to heaven.
We are welcomed into heaven.
So this week as you live as one of Jesus’ disciples interact with people seeking to discover who they believe Jesus to be,
And then take time to reveal who Jesus is,
By sharing the Good things of Jesus.
Because Jesus is our God, our Messiah and the one who creates forgiveness for us.
Let us pray.
