We live in an age of information. New words are added to the dictionary each year. There are memorable lines and forgotten phrases. However, today, I want us to consider a question and a statement that I feel may just very well be the most important words that we can ever consider.
The first comes from the gospel of Mark – it is chapter 8 and verse 29 and is a question that Jesus asked Peter. But rather than putting it in the context of Peter, I want you to personalize it. Here are the words recorded by Mark; Then Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.”
After being in the presence of Jesus for quite some time now, he is giving the twelve a quiz. Being with Jesus each day … seeing his compassion … witnessing miracles that could only be divine … you would think that a person would have an immediate understanding and appreciation for who Jesus was.
However, from our own human understanding we know that there are always statements and events that we are skeptical and cynical of. We know that just because we read something on the Internet that it is not necessarily true. Snopes.com and FactCheck receive millions of inquiries each year to validate the truth from the frivolous to the factual.
Human gullibility was witnessed in 1938 when Orson Welles presented a radio adaptation of the novel, The War of the Worlds, and it caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was actually occurring.
Some people took biblical descriptions of the earth from the Bible and presented a hypothesis that the earth is flat. As late as 1984 this statement was published in a Flat Earth Society flyer, “One thing we know for sure about this world...the known inhabited world is Flat, Level, a Plain World. ” So we understand just how difficult it is to debunk certain beliefs and long-held positions.
The skeptical and cynical were evident, early in Jesus’ personal ministry on this earth. In John 6:60-65 we read: “Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.
And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
These words of Jesus were recorded just after his “I Am the Bread of Life” discourse. We have a lot of action in John chapter 6 – Jesus fed 5,000 people and because of the popularity aspect the people wanted to make him their “bread king.” If following Jesus would ensure a daily meal ticket, many folk were quite willing to follow him. But sensing that this was their motivation the text tells us that he “withdrew again to the mountain by himself .”
His purpose was to declare “grace and truth ” but the majority of the people wanted food, not truth. I can take heart from this encounter as Jesus lost most of his crowd in just one sermon! Jesus was not impressed with the large crowds, unlike many of our large evangelistic gatherings today. Modern thought too often is “If you build it they will come” and “bigger is always better.” But Jesus understood the real motive of most of his followers - - they were there to witness the miracles or have themselves or relatives healed. They wanted to be rescued from the problems that daily living presented.
And after feeding the 5,000 the disciples got into a boat and started across the Sea of Galilee, but Jesus withdrew to the mountain to be alone for meditation and reflection. Two different paths that create a mystery for the people.
For the disciples, it was a terrifying trip. A violet and not unusual storm blew up and they were afraid. And in the dark turbulence they saw Jesus walking on the water and he calmed their fears by saying, “It is I; do not be afraid.” And the text tells us that immediately, the boat was at the other shore.
A group that had witnessed the miraculous feeding of 5,000 people wanted to see more so they crossed in boats but were puzzled to find Jesus in Capernaum. They had seen the disciples leave in a boat and they had seen Jesus go into the mountains and now they were pondering how the two were now together. And so, they asked Jesus directly, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
The crowd wanted to take Jesus by force and make him a king. But, Jesus immediately identifies their motives – he tells them that they are only seeking; bread and miracles and healing – not truth, that gives life to the world.
The crowds that had been attracted by the prospect of free food now shook their heads. Not only did Jesus fail to produce the expected dinners, but He had begun to speak like some madman ! Once again their hopes and expectations for a Messiah were diminished.
The Jews wanted to dismiss Christ's claim to be "Bread that came down from heaven." They knew Mary and His family; how could He claim a heavenly origin as he was born into an earthly family? Jesus answered that it would be God who would draw men to Christ. And Jesus then went on to promise that anyone who believed in Him would have eternal life, and anyone who fed on the living Bread "will live forever."
Jesus contrasted the life-sustaining necessity of physical food with the spiritual meaning of his body and his blood. With his sacrifice, our spiritual lives will be enriched and nurtured and prepared to meet Jesus on his return to this earth. He alone is our only true sustenance – He is our Rock, our Hope, our Stay.
And before we become too critical of these folk for not understanding who Jesus was we need to ask ourselves, “Is our quest for the material and physical –or- is it a genuine hunger for the spiritual and divine nature?” Just as Jesus asked Peter we must also grapple with the question, “Who do you say I am?" Who is lord of your life and my life? Does what we do and where we are Monday through Saturday square with where we are and what we say on Sunday? Today, who do you say Jesus is? Those are vital questions for every human being.
And now that we have pondered those serious questions I want to challenge us by looking at the context of a statement by the Apostle Paul to the Philippians. Let’s read the text – Philippians 2:1-11 NASB, “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Paul was concerned for the Philippians because there were some who were being divisive to the spirit of Christ. And, he uses one of his favorite words – JOY! Paul underscores the difference between unity and uniformity. It was a much needed contrast for the Philippian Christians and it is much needed today. So, Paul says, “I want you to make my joy complete by having the mind … the love … the unity of Christ in everything you do.
True spiritual unity comes from within; it is a matter of the heart. Uniformity is the result of pressure from without. This is why Paul opens this section appealing to the highest possible spiritual motives . Paul, who in his own words said that he was chief of sinners, stood in awe of Christ’s willingness to give up the splendor of heaven and come in human form to earth and die on a cruel Roman cross.
Paul appeals that everything we do should be done in humility. Humility is uniquely a Christian virtue. It is not self-deprecating nor is it abject servility – both of which can be very off-putting. We are to have the same attitude of Christ in dealing with everybody. In humility, Christ subjugated himself to God’s plan knowing the tremendous consequences that were to come. In humility we are to serve the interests of others.
Because of Christ’s humility, God exalted his name above every other name. There is only one Savior! Men with wicked intent, falsely accused him, called him names of insult and crucified Jesus – but God exalted his name. And because of that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.
And that will be done in one of two ways – in humility and service, we can bow before Jesus –or- in defiance we can resist him throughout our lifetime and bow before him in the final judgment. No matter what the world says or believes, Jesus is Lord!
So, this morning what is your reaction to the question and the statement that we have examined? Who do you say Christ is? Do you believe that truly he is the Son of God? How has your belief affected your life here on earth and in preparation for eternity?
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son – how do you react to that magnificent gift of love? Have you felt God’s presence today, as we have looked at His Son? Have you seen God’s compassionate heart today as we’ve considered the great sacrifice He made by sending His Son to be our Savior? On the Day of Judgment will your knees be bowed in humble awe and obedience or you feel the wrath of God’s justice?
Salvation is so much more than turning a lost soul back to God, as wonderful as that is . . . but the ultimate purpose of salvation is to glorify God. Do you need to kneel before God today and confess the name of Jesus? We are here today to assist – to encourage – to plead, that you will respond to the invitation of Jesus, “Come, all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Won’t you accept his invitation today as we stand and sing a song of encouragement? When your belief in Jesus moves from your head to your heart, you will never be the same! Won’t you come to Him now?
