Throughout history, a diverse array of perceptions about Jesus has emerged. From His birth to the present, people have attempted to shape a Jesus that resonates with them. A blog post by Kevin DeYoung provides some thought-provoking examples. He writes:
“There’s the Republican Jesus—who is against tax increases and activist judges and for family values and owning firearms.
“There’s Democrat Jesus—who is against [Main Street and small business] and for reducing our carbon footprint and printing money.
“There’s Starbucks Jesus—who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid, and goes to film festivals.
“There’s Therapist Jesus—who helps us cope with life’s problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves.
“There’s Open-minded Jesus—who loves everyone all the time no matter what (except for people who are not as open-minded as you).
“There’s Spirituality Jesus—who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine, and would rather have people out in nature, finding ‘the god within’ while listening to ambiguously spiritual music.
There are more examples, but you get the idea. While these examples may have kernels of truth, there is much projection; we project onto Jesus the qualities we want Him to have.
Today, we are no different from those who lived during Jesus’s time with their varying ideas about who He was. As we continue our study in Mark’s Gospel, we face this most important question from Jesus; “Who Do YOU Say I Am?” The question is just as relevant to us as it was when Jesus laid it before His disciples. It is critical because the answer determines your eternal destiny and mine.
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” To misconstrue who He was and is carries profound, eternal implications. Our study is designed to bring you face-to-face with the authentic Jesus. Our text is Mark 8:27 to 33, and understanding Jesus’ true identity is not just a matter of academic interest but a question that carries the weight of our beliefs and eternal destiny. It is a question that we cannot afford to overlook. (Read the text).
The characters’ RESPONSES in this text answer the question, “Who Do YOU Say I Am?”
The First RESPONSE is,
The People’s Confusion
Our text tells us that Jesus traveled north with His disciples to the foothills of Mount Hermon and the villages around Caesarea Philippi. This region was approximately 15 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and was ruled by Herod Philip.
Why did Jesus go here? He was removed from Herod Antipas’s annoyance, who had executed John the Baptist and was also out of the reach of the Pharisees. Perhaps He is still seeking needed rest and the opportunity to teach the 12 without distraction, especially in light of His approaching death. This is approximately six months before His crucifixion.
As they travel, Jesus asks them, “Who do men say I am?” Jesus already knew what the masses thought of Him, but He wanted the Twelve to appreciate the difference between perception and reality. Jesus’ disciples also knew what people were saying about Him, and their answers seemed to come without hesitation. However, this was a leading question. Jesus was setting the stage for a more significant inquiry.
They first mentioned John the Baptist. You may recall that in chapter six, when Herod first heard about Jesus, he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him. ...
