Mark 8:27-30 — Who do you say that I am?

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi.

And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. (Mark 8:27-30)

Pools at Caesarea Philippi

Comments:

This is a question that we all, whether men or women, rich or poor, powerful or weak, Jew or Gentile, must answer.

Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life. Others thought that he was Elijah (many of Jesus' ministry activities were similar to the miracles of Elijah and Elisha) or another prophet. But it really doesn't matter who other people say that Jesus is. The really important question for us is, “Who do we say that he is?” It is a question that will affect eternity. Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah of God. We need to come to the same conclusion in our own life. Jesus asks all of us the same question.

People are quick to admit that Jesus was a good person, or perhaps that he was a prophet, but they don't want to admit that he was, and is, God the Son. However, as I have had the opportunity to explain to people from time to time, Jesus cannot be just a good person or just another prophet. Either Jesus is the Son of God, and God the Son, or he is not and that would make him either a liar or a madman, or even both. He claimed to be God and if he isn't then he cannot be a good person or a prophet.

The issue really is, will we allow him to be the Lord of our lives—God in our lives, or do we want to keep him and his words at a distance?

Who do we say that he is?

For more information on this pericope as presented in Luke's gospel, the post with a video on the church's "Jesus 4 Everyone" blog is still up.