Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 10
Mark 8:27-35
"27 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?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah. 30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."
"27 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?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah. 30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."
This is a turning point in the life and ministry of Jesus. The reason was that this question was being asked not from the standpoint of familiarity but rather from the perspective of whether or not Jesus was the Messiah they had hoped for.
It was a conversation that was rife with political and religious pitfalls. It was more than just a simple question; it was a question that got right to the heart of two things: 1) Who Jesus was, and 2) who people thought Jesus was. These are different questions, but questions that we must answer.
For every Christian, there is a moment when these questions must hit home. They encompass not only the incarnation of Jesus but also the crucifixion and the resurrection. It is not enough that we believe in one of these instances and not the other. Without believing in the Cross of Christ, the resurrection is pointless. Without the resurrection, the Cross is incomplete. We need both of these things. And so when Jesus asked the question to his disciples, "who do YOU say that I am," the conversation got very real and very important.
When asked this question, we can delve into our faith a bit, and this is precisely what the disciples do. Jesus asked them the question, and the first answer he got was evasive, although probably true. They said: "Some say John the Baptist, and some say Elijah or another prophet." But Jesus was uncomfortable with these answers, so he pushed, and then we have Peter reply, "you are the Christ."
The implication is that Jesus is the Messiah who saved and changed everything. While Jesus warned them not to tell anyone, the truth is that we finally have the plot revealed to us in this story. Jesus is the one that they have been waiting for. And while he never had these words on his lips, their reaction made it clear that he was willing to have them believe this.
This conversation brings us to the gravity of the uncomfortable nature of the ministry of Jesus. We know that Jesus was heading for the Cross long before he got there because we know that he was the Messiah, and here it is said in so many words.
If you were asked "who do you say that I am?" What would you say?
How can we live as if Jesus is really our savior?
How uncomfortable have you been talking about Jesus with someone who doesn't believe?
What can you do to keep the Cross uncomfortable in your life?
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