Mark 8:27-33

The reading of this morning from the book of Mark is called “Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah”  and it is also found in all the synoptics gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). There are some small differences among them but they all include what I believe is the most important question in the bible. The most important question a follower of Jesus would ask, and this question demands an answer, the question is: Who do you say I am.?

   Who do you say I am? is a very personal question. Jesus didn’t ask this question because he had an identity problem; neither because he was not sure about who he was; He did it for the sake of his disciples. He wanted to know if they have gotten the message, and if their spiritual eyes had been opened.

Who do you say I am? This question is a very important landmark in the theological journey of the Christian Church. This question should be a checking point where we should come back once in a while; our answer to that question is not only the measure of what we do, but also the fuel for us to do what we do.    

  Before continuing I think it is important to mention three things about the context of this question:

First, Jesus had already taught and preached for two and half years. He was only six months away from Calvary, from the Cross. He wanted to be sure that his disciples had understood who he was; He has already become the public enemy number one for all the religious leaders, he was running out of time here on hearth and he wanted to be sure that his message would continue, and he asked this question because he wanted to know if the seed he had sown fell in good soil.

Second, the place where he asked that question Caesarea Philippi, was a very interesting place in Jesus’ times, it was right by Mount Hebron. It was believed that mount Hebron was the birthplace of Pan, the god of nature, the protector of the shepherds and flocks. He was half man and half goat according to the Greek mythology. Right there where they worship the god protector of the shepherds and the flock, the Good Shepherd asked his flock, who do you say I am?

Third, before it was Caesarea Philippi, this city was called Paneion in honor of Pan. However, in 20 B.C, Herod the Great built a temple to honor Cesar Augustus and changed its name from Paneion to Caesarea Philippi. Cesar was worshiped there as god, as a human representation of god; and it was right there that Peter recognized that the only human manifestation of God was Jesus Christ. Jesus the Emmanuel. God made flesh.

This city was also a place where Baals, the Syrian gods were also worshiped, maybe the same Baal the Israelites worshiped before. It was right there in the middle of this spiritual arena where Peter said to Jesus, “You are the Christ.”  

Now, let’s go back to the scripture. There are really two questions in the reading. One is: who do the people say I am? When Jesus asked this question, he gets several answers and he doesn’t make any kind of comment. It seems like Jesus is not interested in being recognized as one of the prophets, even when it was a great honor. He just listened and continued with the second question: what about you, who do you say I am? You are the Christ, answered Peter. One answer only. According to the Gospel of Matthew Jesus replied, “blessed are you Simon because this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” What was the difference between these two answers, Jesus being a prophet and Jesus being the Christ? The difference was salvation and eternal life. You see, if Jesus was one of the prophets, even an important prophets like Elijah, Jeremiah or John the Baptist, it means that they could only hear God’s voice through him; it means they should had to continue waiting for the ONE who had to come; it means that Jesus authority was not greater than Isaiah’s or Elisha’s or any other prophet; it means Jesus was not the Savoir of this World and He did not have the authority to forgive sins; it means that He was not the Lamb of God that take away the sins of the world.

          Now, when Peter said, you are The Christ, he was saying to Jesus: you are not talking in God’s name, You are God made flesh talking to us. He was saying: through you we not only hear God, we see God; when Peter said, You are the Christ he was saying: our waiting has come to its end, it’s over, You are our Redeemer.

          Seems to me that when Jesus asked these two questions, he was also asking his disciples, which answer are you going to live according to? Are you going to live your faith according to what the people say about me or according to your personal experience with me? According to  what I have done in you; according to my teachings?

          Every generation, every man or woman who has come to the knowledge of Christ, sooner or later has to answer the same question: who do you say I am? And every man and woman through history has had the same two options to choose from: what the people say Jesus is or the one Peter received from God the Father. If we examine our life, we will find that we already  are living according to one of them. We are either living according to what the people say Jesus is or according to Peter’s declaration “You are the Christ.”

In the year 2000 people picked the man or woman of the first two millenniums and among many names the winner was Jesus. It is no doubt about it, everybody believes Jesus is someone important. Some people said they chose Jesus because He was the best human being ever, others because he was a great teacher; others because he was a great religious leader, or because he was a great example of how to live. All that is good, but Jesus is more than that.

          You see, the way we answer to Jesus’ question has the potential to change our lives. If we believe that Jesus is only a divinely inspired teacher, then we will pay close attention to what he says, and decide if we believe it and live according to his teaching. We will listen to him as we listen to a great speaker. However, if we see Jesus as the Messiah, then we will serve him and work for His kingdom. If we believe Jesus is the Savior of the world, then we will put our ultimate faith in him. If we believe Jesus is the Word of God Incarnate, the very Son of God, then we will fall before him in worship and surrender our entire lives as an offering to him.

          Who do you say Jesus is? Your answer will make a big difference in how you live each day.

          Have you declared with your mouth that Jesus is The Christ? Romans 10:10 say “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

          If Jesus asks you today, who do you say I am? What would your answer be?

Let us pray.