He Wants Your Opinion

He Wants Your Opinion

Mark 8:27-29a NKJV

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

   I really don’t like to be put on the spot.  When someone looks me right in the eye and demands an opinion on some controversial question it always makes me stammer and then I feel awkward and usually mumble something that sounds pompous.  Peter didn’t have that problem, he was a “Ready, FIRE! Aim,” kind of guy.  There is no recorded pause between the Lord’s question and Peter’s answer. 

   But here the Lord Himself is putting us on the spot.  This question does not leave us any wriggle room.  He is asking a direct question and wants a direct answer.  Whether or not you’ve been a Christian for a long time or just a short time, whether you’re a pew warmer in the back pew or the pastor of the church, you need to face this question.  “But who do you say that I am?” 

   I’ve heard, I’d guess, dozens of sermons on this passage and heard a lot of opinions on this question.  Sometimes the answer has been out of the church’s Mission Statement.  Sometime it’s been some high-sounding theological statement.  Rarely has it been an honest answer dealing with the real question.  What is Jesus asking here?  How will you face the question and how you answer it?

   I can explain Who Jesus is out of the Bible.  I can put together a pretty accurate picture, as far as our limited human minds can understand, of what the Bible has to say about His Divine nature and His humanity.  But He’s not asking for a theological answer here, He wants to know who I think He is.  No hiding behind my church’s Mission Statement or getting lost in a theological explanation.  The question is a simple, direct one.  Is He my Lord?  Do I honor Him as Savior and King? 

   I’ve read this passage often and just passed over it and moved on.  But once in a while it hits me again.  “But who do you say that I am?”  Lord, King, Savior, and so much more that it staggers my mind.  When I turn to face Him and look Him in the eye all my indifference falls away.  He grabs my attention and for a minute I see His glory.  The troubles of the world dim and lose their power over me for that minute.  For just a minute I realize Who He is and I see myself in the reflection and know I am destined to be with Him for eternity.  For a minute I stand in His presence and see His love.  

   Look into His face.  Stop what you’re doing and look at His face.  Pew-warmer and Pastor, mature Christian and newly Saved, look into His face.  Who do YOU say He is?       

Stephen Cram            March 13, 2011                            Colossians 2:8