The Beautiful Upset: WK1 - THU

THE UNEXPECTED ANSWER 

Mark 8:27-29 (NLT) "Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, 'Who do people say I am?' 'Well,' they replied, 'some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.' Then he asked them, 'But who do you say I am?' Peter replied, 'You are the Messiah.'"

Let's sit with Peter's answer for a moment: "You are the Messiah." Three words that marked a rubicon. Not "You're a good teacher" or "You're an inspiring leader" or even "You're a powerful prophet." You are the Messiah. The one we've been waiting for. The one all of history has been pointing toward.

But here's what we need to understand: Peter's right answer was still an incomplete answer. Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah, but he had no idea what kind of Messiah Jesus would be. Peter was thinking throne room; Jesus was thinking cross. Peter was thinking crown; Jesus was thinking crucifixion.

This is one of the most dangerous places we can find ourselves spiritually: having the right answer but the wrong understanding. Saying the correct words but missing the deeper meaning. Confessing Jesus as Lord while expecting Him to be a different kind of Lord than He actually is. The Messiah Peter was expecting would solve problems through power, defeat enemies through violence, and establish the kingdom through political dominance. The Messiah, Jesus actually is, solves problems through sacrifice, defeats enemies through love, and establishes the kingdom through suffering service.

Peter's confession was true, but his expectations were about to be shattered. And maybe that's exactly what needed to happen. Maybe our expectations need to be shattered too.
How often do we come to Jesus with the right title but the wrong agenda? We call Him Lord but want Him to be our assistant. We call Him Savior but want Him to save us from discomfort rather than from sin. We call Him King but want Him to rubber-stamp our kingdoms instead of establishing His own.

The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He doesn't reject us because our understanding is incomplete. He doesn't dismiss Peter because Peter's expectations are wrong. He patiently teaches, gradually reveals, and lovingly corrects. But He also doesn't leave us in our misunderstanding. He loves us too much to let us settle for a Jesus who's too small.

1. In what ways might your understanding of who Jesus is still be incomplete?
2. How do you respond when Jesus doesn't meet your expectations of how He should work?
3. Where might Jesus be inviting you to expand your understanding of who He is?