Mark 8:27-34
Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?”
“Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’”
He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?” Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.”
Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it. But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.”
Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.
“Who do people say I am?” That’s the first question. “Who is it that you hear other people say I am?” But then comes the harder second question – “Who do you say I am? What are you saying when you talk about me?”
Jesus is big news today – or at least, some version of Christianity is big news. Jesus has become a player in American politics. You can’t watch TV news or listen to a talk show or read a blog without hearing all about what “Christians” believe. It’s funny, all the yammering is about Christian faith and the Bible - but if you really listen, almost no one actually talks about Jesus. It’s all about what the Bible says instead of what Jesus teaches. Jesus himself has become lost in a welter of general ignorance, bad biblical scholarship, nonstop babbling, and a frantic determination to prove we’re better than everyone else.
In the light of all this I believe the two questions Jesus asks in today’s reading are every bit as relevant now as they were when Jesus first asked them – maybe even more relevant.
“Who do people say I am?” When I try to listen for mention of Jesus in all this deluge of talk, I only seem to hear two themes. First, that Jesus died for our sins, and secondly, that Jesus has forgiven me but will probably never be able to forgive you unless you somehow become just like me. (And even then you get the feeling that it’s still doubtful.)
Now, let me state quite clearly that there are many people out there who are writing and saying perfectly wonderful things about who Jesus is – beautiful, hope-filled things – true things – but in our cultural climate today you have to really hunt to find them. These people are indeed preaching and teaching in churches all around us, writing blogs and books and generally carrying on conversations, but they almost never make the 5:00 news. They never show up in the headlines on internet news pages. They are rarely media darlings.
Instead, the Jesus we are given today is harsh and judgmental. If we listen only to “what people say” then we probably will never meet the Jesus who described himself as anointed to “bring good news to the poor.” The one sent to “proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free...”
And so, we come to the second question: “Who do you say I am?”
For me, Jesus is the one who teaches us, who educates us in the ways of the reign of God. The one who tells us to look beyond what the world would have us believe – the one who shows us how to live as God calls us to live – the one who teaches us to care for each other and to recognize the spirit of God in each person we meet. I don’t worry much about finding the proper theological category for Jesus. I personally don’t care what title we put on him: the Son of God or God, the Son, a miracle worker, or simply a man.
When I look at the stories of Jesus, when I see the acts of his followers in this world, when I hear his voice speaking directly to my heart, I see one who loves me no matter how badly I screw up, the one who loves the whole world in this same way. I see one who lived in such a way that he refused to be shaped by the broken ugliness of those around him, the one who reminds us we are in God's reign here and now -- regardless of what it may look like around us. I see the one who points me toward the God whose child I am – and I see the one I want to follow with my own life.
The lectionary program I use to keep track of the readings for each week has taken, in the last year or so, to posted a handful of quotes pertaining to the chosen readings. One quote offered this week is by a modern writer who is apparently a fairly big name in evangelical circles, but one I have to admit I had never heard of before. His name is Scot McKnight and he says:
Jesus is big news today – or at least, some version of Christianity is big news. Jesus has become a player in American politics. You can’t watch TV news or listen to a talk show or read a blog without hearing all about what “Christians” believe. It’s funny, all the yammering is about Christian faith and the Bible - but if you really listen, almost no one actually talks about Jesus. It’s all about what the Bible says instead of what Jesus teaches. Jesus himself has become lost in a welter of general ignorance, bad biblical scholarship, nonstop babbling, and a frantic determination to prove we’re better than everyone else.
In the light of all this I believe the two questions Jesus asks in today’s reading are every bit as relevant now as they were when Jesus first asked them – maybe even more relevant.
“Who do people say I am?” When I try to listen for mention of Jesus in all this deluge of talk, I only seem to hear two themes. First, that Jesus died for our sins, and secondly, that Jesus has forgiven me but will probably never be able to forgive you unless you somehow become just like me. (And even then you get the feeling that it’s still doubtful.)
Now, let me state quite clearly that there are many people out there who are writing and saying perfectly wonderful things about who Jesus is – beautiful, hope-filled things – true things – but in our cultural climate today you have to really hunt to find them. These people are indeed preaching and teaching in churches all around us, writing blogs and books and generally carrying on conversations, but they almost never make the 5:00 news. They never show up in the headlines on internet news pages. They are rarely media darlings.
Instead, the Jesus we are given today is harsh and judgmental. If we listen only to “what people say” then we probably will never meet the Jesus who described himself as anointed to “bring good news to the poor.” The one sent to “proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free...”
And so, we come to the second question: “Who do you say I am?”
For me, Jesus is the one who teaches us, who educates us in the ways of the reign of God. The one who tells us to look beyond what the world would have us believe – the one who shows us how to live as God calls us to live – the one who teaches us to care for each other and to recognize the spirit of God in each person we meet. I don’t worry much about finding the proper theological category for Jesus. I personally don’t care what title we put on him: the Son of God or God, the Son, a miracle worker, or simply a man.
When I look at the stories of Jesus, when I see the acts of his followers in this world, when I hear his voice speaking directly to my heart, I see one who loves me no matter how badly I screw up, the one who loves the whole world in this same way. I see one who lived in such a way that he refused to be shaped by the broken ugliness of those around him, the one who reminds us we are in God's reign here and now -- regardless of what it may look like around us. I see the one who points me toward the God whose child I am – and I see the one I want to follow with my own life.
The lectionary program I use to keep track of the readings for each week has taken, in the last year or so, to posted a handful of quotes pertaining to the chosen readings. One quote offered this week is by a modern writer who is apparently a fairly big name in evangelical circles, but one I have to admit I had never heard of before. His name is Scot McKnight and he says:
"Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers. It's that simple. Followers follow, and those who don't follow aren't followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it."
I like that – but – in order to follow Jesus we have to first of all decide who Jesus is for ourselves – then – and only then – can we follow. Jesus makes it quite clear to Peter that he doesn’t want Peter to go by what others say - he wants Peter’s own understanding. There will always be those who try to tell us who Jesus is – who set themselves up as authorities – and many of those will be dead wrong – presenting us with a Jesus shaped in their own image. We must figure it out for ourselves – with the help of others, yes – but never just blindly accepting someone else’s claim to private knowledge.
And Peter gets halfway there. He moves his definition out of the Old Testament and into present-day reality – he’s doesn’t just see a reincarnated prophet out of the past, but a promised messiah for the present and future. But even Peter doesn’t go far enough. He hopes for a messiah who will bring power and status and modern-day glory ... and stops there. And Jesus has to rebuke him for trying to reject danger and suffering to come.
Read the stories of Jesus for yourself. Hear what those stories say to you. Listen to other people’s personal experiences of him. Pray and think ... and listen ... listen to your own heart and the Spirit that lives within you. Remember the times you have somehow known that Jesus was with you. Know Jesus for yourself -- and then – and only then – you can know him to follow him. Follow the Jesus your heart recognizes and walk in his path.
Peace, from a fellow follower. Amen.
And Peter gets halfway there. He moves his definition out of the Old Testament and into present-day reality – he’s doesn’t just see a reincarnated prophet out of the past, but a promised messiah for the present and future. But even Peter doesn’t go far enough. He hopes for a messiah who will bring power and status and modern-day glory ... and stops there. And Jesus has to rebuke him for trying to reject danger and suffering to come.
Read the stories of Jesus for yourself. Hear what those stories say to you. Listen to other people’s personal experiences of him. Pray and think ... and listen ... listen to your own heart and the Spirit that lives within you. Remember the times you have somehow known that Jesus was with you. Know Jesus for yourself -- and then – and only then – you can know him to follow him. Follow the Jesus your heart recognizes and walk in his path.
Peace, from a fellow follower. Amen.
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