Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road
He kept on asking asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But all of you, who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
Mark 8:27-30
An Unforgettable Moment
Mark brings us to a crucial time in Jesus’ ministry. The disciples had experienced many astonishing miracles which defied human explanation. For several years, they travelled the dusty and dangerous roads of Israel together. Now Jesus asks His disciples two probing questions concerning His identification. Who is He? And now you are asked, “Who do YOU think He is?” Read Matthew 16:13-20 and Luke 9:18-21 to complete the entire conversation.
Introduction – Insight, Marital
Jake was 92, and Jessie was 89 when they found each other and decided to get married. They were so excited. One day they were strolling along discussing their wedding plans, and on the way, they passed a drug store. Jake said, “Let’s go in here,” and Jessie followed.
He walked to the rear of the store and asked, “Are you the owner?” He said, “Yes, I am.” Jake said, “Well, we’re about to get married. Do You sell heart medication?” The pharmacist said, “Of course we do.” “How about medicine for circulation?” “All kinds.” “Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?” “Definitely.” “Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?” “Yes, a large variety.” “What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson’s disease – any of that?” “Absolutely.” “You sell wheel chairs, walkers, and those scooter chairs?” “Yes, all speeds and sizes,” said the druggist.
“That does it. We’d like to register for our wedding gifts here.”
Charles Swindoll, Wit and Wisdom: Chuck’s Homespun Prescriptions for Love and Marriage, “Jake and Jessie,” Compact-disc (Plano, TX: Insight for Living, 2004).
A Time of REFLECTION 27a
Caesarea Philippi towns; On the road
Around Pagan influences
Jesus never avoided unclean places/live in polluted world
Away from Public pressures
Resisted publicity for popularity/stress & pressure in our lives
Toward Personal deliberations
Are you discouraged in life/where are you spiritually
Illustration – Discouragement
The doctor told Marsha Mark and her husband they needed to accept the fact they would never have biological children.
Amid the discouragement, Marsha clung to a friend's words: "Somehow, Marsha, God is going to use your struggle with infertility for his glory." Marsha began to pray for a glimpse of that glory. In her words:
I'd asked everyone I knew to pray. One 5-year-old gave God suggestions: "Dear God, please send Marsha a baby. Maybe someone could give her one, or she could just find one on the street. Amen."
My husband stopped praying when we realized that I was beginning menopause. Being a scientist, Tom had seen all the facts. And in his lifetime, he'd never seen prayer change facts.
Six months later, I made an appointment for some tests including one more pregnancy test.
They looked at me with pity and said, "No. You haven't had any cycles for seven months. Asking for another pregnancy test indicates you are not accepting things as they are."
I begged for the extra test and finally convinced them. The test came back positive. Over the next 14 days, I had four more pregnancy tests and three more sonograms at the hospital's request. I think this time they were having trouble dealing with the facts.
My full-term pregnancy was uneventful unless you count every day bathed in praise for the answer to our prayer.
On October 22, 1996, Amanda Joy was born. We call her Miracle Mandy.
Marsha Marks, "Special Delivery," Christian Reader (Sep/Oct 2000), pp. 15-17
A Question of PERCEPTION 27b-28
John the Baptist was known for his powerful Preaching (Adultery is sin; wages of sin is still death; but there is hope in repentance in X)
Elijah was known for his powerful Prayers
(No rain for 3 ½ yrs; fire out of heaven to consume sacrifice)
The prophets were known for their powerful Pathos
(Sorrow, grief but boldness of heart & life)
Noah/Building ark for rain; Moses/Pharaoh in Egypt; David/Goliath; Jeremiah/tears for 40 yrs & no decisions; Hosea/love; Daniel/faithfulness in adversity lions den; Peter/statement on Jesus
A Statement of CONFESSION 29-30
Some say He’s a Legend...never happened, no consequences!
Some say He’s a Liar...a deceiver, a good man but not God
Some say He’s a Lunatic…a poached egg, nut job
Some call Him Lord willingly…our Redeemer!
Jn 5:17-18; 8:58-59; 10:30
The resurrection confirmed who He was, is and shall be! Your belief’s & behavior reveals your conviction @ Christ & Your behavior proclaims your inner character
But most will call Him Lord on Judgment Day inconsolably…LOST!
What you believe about God & His plan of redemption through Christ, is revealed, not at the altar or in the baptismal pool but in your behavior as you live every day in Him! Death to self and submission to God’s revealed will.
W. Hendriksen: “Conformity with the world, compromise on basic issues, an unwillingness to be distinctive is strongly condemned in scripture (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 6:14; 1 Jn 2:15-17) When Israel worships a golden calf, 3000 lose their lives; when they demand a king, the result is a shameful defeat and suicide of King Saul; Jeroboam institutes calf-worship @ Bethel & Dan, result is exile into a pagan country.”
Jesus is NOT to be compared to Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, the Dali Llama or Mahatma Gandhi. He alone is God.
Illustration – My Way
When “Old Blue Eye’s” died in May 1998 at the age of 82 everyone agreed: There will never be another Sinatra. Sinatra had an amazing career! He holds the record of 40 consecutive years with a song on the billboard charts. One of those chart topping songs was “I Did It My Way” a theme song for many Americans. The opening verse says,
“Now, the end is near, So I face the final curtain – My friends, I’ll say it clear State my case of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full, And traveled each, and every highway – And more, much more than this I did it my way.” When Sinatra died, he left family and friends and a world full of fans who grieved his loss. He also left behind millions of dollars in cash and assets: cars, houses, land and stocks. He left all of his platinum and gold records, his Grammys, and his Oscar. When Francis Albert Sinatra died, he left behind exactly what you and I will leave behind when our days on Earth are over. HE LEFT BEHIND EVERYTHING.
Just like all of us will someday do, Frank Sinatra left this world to stand face-to-face before Jesus Christ. When God asks him, “Frank, why should I let you into my Heaven?,” he won’t have the courage to sing, or even say the words “I did it my way.”
When we stand before the Lord in heaven, our self achievement and accomplishments, no matter how great or small will not count for anything. There will be only one answer which matters when we stand face to face before the Living God, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. Everything I did for myself counts for nothing; I am saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone.”
