Who do You say that I am? (Mark 8:27-30)
Chapter 8: 27 Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea and Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” 29 And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
So the question, “Who do You say I am?” was the one personally posed to the disciples (and is the same question for each of us). In verse 29 above, we have our enthusiastic student (if you were a teacher you always had a student that raised his/her hand at almost every question) that wanted to answer all the questions. Peter answered Jesus, “ You are the Christ”. Hoping He was the messiah that the prophets foretold, except a messiah that should rid them of the slavery brought on by the Roman Empire……like the time God took them out of the slavery of the Egyptian empire so long ago. Peter and the other other disciples did not yet really understand the true mission of this Messiah, Jesus. The Jewish nation wanted a leader of power and might. But this man, Jesus had never taught his disciples about using violence against their enemies, In fact, Jesus taught just the opposite. What did Jesus say to do to our enemies? “19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12: 19-20
In this chapter 8 of Mark, scripture shows us the critical turning point in the mission of Jesus Christ. He warned them not to reveal His identity to anyone else. Why? In the rest of the time Jesus had with the disciples, He needed to teach them and show them so much more of the kingdom He would reign. He would need to suffer, die and rise from the dead. On a couple of more occasions, He would need to tell them that this needed to be done. Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34 It would still take them many more lessons and the arrival of the Holy Spirit to come be with them before they truly would understand. After they did receive God’s spirit, and only then, could they go forth and tell others of this good news of salvation that Jesus has provided for all those who accept and believe and act in faith. Just like us today, we need the wisdom and guidance to learn and believe God’s word to teach us to do His will.
Do we, as believers, know who Jesus is as we proceed in or daily walk with Him? Do we understand this certainty and let this one truth fill our hearts? “And we know that the Son of God has come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20. I hope the answer in our hearts is always “Yes” and we say to Jesus, we know who You are! Amen