In the Movie Talladega Nights there is a supper scene, I have “edited” this a little bit. (Characters: Ricky, Carly, Cal, Walker, Texas Ranger, Chip the father-in-law) Show the video if you are brave, but maybe edit it.
“Carly: Supper’s ready! C’mon ya’ll. I’ve been slaving over this for hours.” (it shows all fast food)
“Ricky: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, or as our brothers to the south call you, Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Domino’s, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell. ...” (He then prays for each of his family and his teammate Cal)
“Cal: Shake and Bake.” (fist pump)
“Ricky: Dear Lord Baby Jesus, we also thank you for my wife’s father, Chip. We hope that you can use your Baby Jesus powers to heal him and his horrible leg… Dear tiny, infant Jesus, we….”
“Carly: Hey, you know, sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don’t always have to call him “baby.” It’s a bit odd and off-putting to pray to a baby.
Ricky: Well, I like the Christmas Jesus best and I’m saying grace. When you say grace you can say it to grownup Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus or whoever you want.
Carly: You know what I want? I want you to do this grace good so that God will let us win tomorrow.
Ricky: Dear tiny Jesus, in your golden-fleece diapers, ….
Chip: He was a man! He had a beard!
Ricky: Look, I like the baby version the best, do you hear me? ...
Carly: Ricky, finish the … grace.
Cal: I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T shirt, cause it says, like, “I wanna be formal, but I’m here to party, too.” Cause I like to party, so I like my Jesus to party.
Walker: I like to picture Jesus as a ninja fighting off evil samurai.
Cal: I like to think of Jesus, like, with giant eagle’s wings. And singing lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd, with, like, a angel band. And I’m in the front row…
Carly: Hey Cal, why don’t you just shut up?
Cal: Yes, ma’am.
Ricky: Okay. Dear 8 pound, 6 ounce newborn infant Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly, but still omnipotent, we just thank you for all the races I’ve won and the 21.2 million dollars – woo! (the rest of the family says “woo” too) – love that money, that I have accrued over this past season. Also, due to a binding endorsement contract that stipulates I mention Powerade at each grace, I just want to say that Powerade is delicious and it cools you off on a hot summer day. And we look forward to Powerade’s release of Mystic Mountain Blueberry. Thank you for all your power and your grace, dear baby God. Amen.” (1) (Talladega Nights, modified “Movie Clip Discussions, The Source for Youth Ministry” http://www.thesource4ym.com/movieclipdiscussions/Discussion.aspx?id=235)
Now here is the reason I read that to you: How you see Jesus determines how you see Jesus acting in your life:
vss. 27-28: I heard someone ask "who do you think that I am?"... Quite a different question than "who do you say that I am?" Another person recently said that someone asked them are you a “Believer” or a “Knower”? The person said “I was a believer; I believed in Christ; until in my darkest hour I found Him sitting on the bed with me, and now I’m a knower! I know Christ!”
It's a brief but boldly confrontational question.
It demands an answer.
What you answer determines outcome!
The question could be asked of you?
Your answer is relevant:
Prophet - some say
Elijah - a man of God
A Great and wise Teacher (My bestie!) (My Bff)
Just a good man? Some say!
Context: Consider the contextual setting in which Jesus asks this question. One of our problems is that we look at Scripture through a Western lens, and with little background knowledge of the setting; or cultural meanings.
This took place at Caesarea Philippi (You can expound on its name if you want)… (Photos can easily be Googled, but if you have been there even better)…
Photo 1: Greek City “Pan” (half man/half goat) …Was once a beautiful area of streams flowing from the cave. The cave itself was referred to as the “Gates of Hell (Hades)” where Pan would come out and have his way with the virgins (leave it at that).
Photo 2: (Displaying the temples) It was customary when you conquered something you would build temples to their gods, right along side of the temples that existed. So in this spot were temples to:
Caesar Augustus – Zeus – Pan. The Rock wall behind, with little niches on which statues of gods would be set was called the “Rock of the gods”
Photo 3: Today. None of that no longer exists. Even the stream flowing from the cave was rerouted by earthquake.
Vss. 29-30 Jesus asks the question: What about you?
“Who do you say that I am?”
1. “People who had only heard of Jesus reputation”
2. People who simply know “common opinion” of Jesus
3. The Messiah (2) (NIB, Vol. VIII, p. 622) “Messiah or Christ” as a “Christological confession of Jesus identity!”
To call Jesus Messiah to call Him “an agent of God’s restoration of the people in the end time.” That Jesus is the Son of God.
Do we answer the question differently where we are or who the audience is?
Home?
Church?
Work?
A NFL Football game?
A bar?
A Bowling Alley?
When your parents aren’t around?
¿Quién decís que soy yo?
1. ¿Quién es Jesús en la iglesia (church)
2. ¿Quién es Jesús en casa (home)
3. ¿Quién es Jesús en el trabajo (work)
4. ¿Quién es Jesús en la bolera (bowling alley),
5. en los lugares en los que pasar el rato (at the places you hang out)
Interesting that the places you hang out can be interpreted "el rato"
Interesting that He just isn't asking anyone is question: He is asking His Disciples! His followers! "Who do you say Jesus is?"
How you answer the question, "Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well!" (3) (gty.org) (Grace to You, "Who do you think that I am?"
Lets look at a comparable text in Mat 16:13-20 (specifically) vs. 18 “I tell you Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Historic interpretation)… what if he refers to “Rock of gods”? (and the gates of Hades, will not overcome it) (Gates of Hell, the cave). I realize that our “traditional” thinking is that that he spoke to Peter, and I may not change your thinking, but what if Jesus pointed to the rock of the gods and said “On this rock I will build my church!”
It doesn’t really make sense to point to Peter the Rock, because the Church wasn’t really built solely on Peter. But the temples to those gods are long gone, but the Church of Jesus Christ still prevails. That what they thought was the gates of hell/Hades would not overcome Jesus; but that He would overcome the gates of Hades by the power of His death and resurrection! Today Caesarea Phillip is an archeological site in the Golan Heights.
"C.S Lewis observed "You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher... (3) (Mere Christianity, Macmillan, 1952, pp. 40-41).
Do you say that He is just a human man, or is He the Messiah? How you answer is life changing!
James Dobson, Focus on the Family suggest "That without Christology, there can be no Christianity!" (4) (focusonthefamily.com) (Who do you say that I am?)
vss. 31-38 The command then “to be silent and not tell anyone” is interesting. It precedes a discussion about Jesus death and the way of the cross.
If Jesus was the Messiah; the Son of God and His disciples knew it, why would he not want them to shout it from the rooftops?
a. Some often think, because it was not yet time. If the frenzy among the religious leaders built too fast they would take his life too soon; and maybe not even at Passover as was intended.
b. I like this possibility: (slightly re-worded) “there is an acknowledgment in this Christological title between the Pre-Easter Jesus and the risen Lord. The crucified and risen Jesus is the only one who can be designated Lord.” (2 p. 623)
Jesus word for “tell no one” (epitimao) is the same word for “rebuke” Mark uses when Jesus tells the “demons” (Mark 3:12) to tell no one. Notice in that passage the demons (spirits) acknowledge Jesus as “the Son of God.”
It is used again when Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about His death; and then Jesus rebukes Peter saying “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Quote that phrase “Get thee behind me…” but we forget the qualifier “that Peter was setting his mind not on divine things, but human things!” (2 p. 624)
How many times have we called Jesus Lord; Lord of my life; Messiah; Christ…. And in the very next sentence set our mind on human things?
My own life
As a boy he was the Savior my family believed in, and whom I began to trust
In College he was Jesus the Lord of all Life, but I hadn't really given him mine.
I've always called myself Christian and in my early years of marriage, even though he was Christ, my life rarely reflected it.
Years later in a darkened living room I gave my heart to Jesus and He became Lord of my life. And truly from that moment on my life has been different! Took a different road; a different path! How you answer this question could set the course of your destiny!
It is one thing to “know of” Jesus, but entirely another thing to KNOW Jesus!
Over 200 names or titles used to describe Jesus:
Holy One; Light of the World; Prince of Peace; Good Shepherd; Word of God; Word of Life; Bread of Life; Bridegroom; Deliverer; Rock; Strong Fortress; Truth; Messiah.
Who do you say that he is?
