Who Do You Say That I AM?

Who Do You Says that I Am?

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Mark 8:27-29 (NIV)

The two central or pivotal questions of the synoptic gospels are these: “Who do people says that I am?” and “Who do you says that I am?” These two questions are also the central or pivotal questions for us today.

Peter answered the question of “Who do you say that I am?” correctly, but then he demonstrates he really didn’t understand what he had confessed. When Jesus predicts His suffering and death (Mk 8:31) Peter takes Jesus aside to rebuke/correct Him—basically saying “That isn’t what I meant when I confessed You to be the Christ. You are not describing the Christ I believe in.” (Mk 8:32) Jesus then rebukes Peter stating: "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Mk 8:33)

Who is the Christ in whom you believe? Is He a suffering servant who serves by way of a cross AND who asks you to pick up a cross AND follow Him? In Mk 8:34 Jesus goes on to tell His disciples: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Luke in his gospel writes “take up his cross daily” (Lk 9:23) Are you ready and willing not only to believe in Jesus and to be a member of His fan club, BUT ALSO to actually follow Him? Following Jesus involves daily picking up a cross of servanthood just as He went to the cross to serve us, to serve you.

This Lenten season I would encourage you, rather than to give up something for Lent, to take up something for Lent. I would encourage you to identify and pick up, take up, a cross. Identify with Jesus! Take up a cross of servanthood so that another (or better so that a number of others) might experience God’s love and grace in a richer and fuller way. May Jesus bless and empower you as you take up a cross and serve in His name.

It is Finished...

Today is Good Friday.  But I don't feel good.  Today I am reminded that it is because of my sins that Christ hung on the cross.  Beaten, broken, and bloody, Jesus hung there, waiting to die for me.  The devotion for today reminds us that even in Christ's last hours, he was caring for others.  He is concerned for the thief next to him.  He is concerned for his mother.  Ultimately though, he was concerned for each one of us.  As sinners, we have no place among God.  As we say on Sunday mornings, "we justly deserve your present and eternal punishment".  However, because Christ hung on that cross on Good Friday (and rose again, but we'll talk about that in a couple of days), we are able to come close to God.  So, while I don't feel "good" today, I can recognize that I am made good by what Christ did for me...for each of us.

Decisions, Decisions

Great politicians always have to make big decisions. It's the ability to choose the right path, usually under both time and policitcal pressure, that determines their greatness. For many, choosing the "right path" means possible political suicide. It's looking beyond themselves and their current situation (temporal) to those ideals which are moral and ethical (eternal). Pilate didn't share that perspective. Concerned about his standing with the "powers that be" he succumbed to the shouts of the crowd. Like Pilate, we too are faced with choices. Each day of our lives, the world shouts to us to choose the easy, the popular, the selfish path--to live for the temporal. Like Pilate, when we listen to the world, avoiding the opportunities the Lord gives us to stand for Him, we're guilty of shedding Jesus' blood. But unlike Pilate, we know that this same blood was shed for our forgiveness. It's the same blood that we receive along with wine, and His body, along with the bread in Holy Communion. Tonight, as we receive the sacrament, confessing those times we've chosen the temporal, we do so, with the full assurance of God's perfect grace, and we receive strength from Him to live for the eternal. Lord, thank you for Your precious gift to us. Give us the strength to live for You!

Jesus' Witness to Pilate

What is truth? Now isn't that one of the major questions of our day? Well, it was also apparently a question in Jesus' day.
Another question for today is - "Can you hear me now?" (thanks to the neverending commercials for cell phone providers). I am reminded of this question when I read the exchange between Jesus and Pilate found in today's passage (John 18:33-38a). Pilate asks Jesus to identify Himself and to explain why He has been brought for trial. Jesus answers Pilate truthfully, but Pilate isn't getting it. He isn't listening to the truth Jesus speaks. Or worse, Pilate thinks what Jesus says may be the truth, but is just too plain caught up in his own predicaments to step in and order Jesus be set free. He succombs to the pressure of the people, as any good politician should, right? ;)
But how about you and me? Do we love the truth? Do we recognize it in a world that is constantly tapping on our shoulder, trying to get our attention, saying "Can you hear me now?" When we love Jesus, and the truth of His word, we will tune in to Him, and tune out the world. We will listen to His voice and follow His lead. We will cling to the promises He gives us, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but be given eternal life. He secured payment for us on Calvary's cross when He died the death we deserve because of our sins. His death even paid for the times we struggle (or refuse) to hear and follow His truth, even though we do love Him. And in His resurrection, we too have the hope of new life through Him. Now that is TRUTH that I LOVE! Thank you Jesus!

John 18:28-32 (NIV)

²⁸ Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the Unfasked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" ³⁰ "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." ³¹ Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. ³² This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

The irony in this passage is so convicting. "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." I am/we are the criminal. I am the one who deserved/deserves to be on the cross, to SUFFER,, to DIE. Yet, YOU, who knew no sin DO suffer and die for MY sin. Unfair! Unfair! Unfair! THANKFUL! THANKFUL! THANKUL! Jesus, Your love is awesome. It is overwhelming. May it so fill me to so love.

John 13:34-35 (NIV)

³⁴ "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

²¹ God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NIV)

⁹ Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. ¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Truth & Being Truthful--The Courage of Your Convictions

John 18:13-24 (NIV)

¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people…. ¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." ²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. ²³ "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" ²⁴ Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

The passion story is so familiar to most of us, yet, if we spend time to not only read it, but to truly reflect upon it, it is SO powerful. As I read this passage today I am stuck by two thoughts. 1) Jesus spoke, lived, etc. openly. How open is my life? How much of my life would I prefer remain secret—thoughts and actions (words are generally public, although in gossip are there those I would not like some to hear?). 2) Jesus spoke the TRUTH. How often do I shade or color truth (or at least attempt to do so) in order to advance myself. Jesus spoke the truth and it resulted in His death. To what extent am I ready to live for and to even die for the truth. Thank You Jesus for being THE TRUTH, THE WAY, and THE LIFE.

John 8:31-32 (NIV)

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 14:6 (NIV)

⁶ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Denial

John 18:15-27 (NIV)

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." ¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself…. ²⁵ As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." ²⁶ One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Just a few hours before, Peter told Jesus "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Luke 22:33 (NIV) Now, when push comes to shove, he is denying even knowing Jesus; and to whom, to the likes of a little servant girl. Jesus, I boldly and confidently profess my love for You and my faith in You; yet, like Peter, how often when push comes to shove, do I through either my words or my actions deny You? I am sooooooo thankful for Your grace and forgiveness. But along with Your grace and forgiveness, I pray for a truly and deeply broken heart, where like Peter, I weep at my denial and sin (Lk 22:61-61). Awaken in me a truly broken heart that leads to true repentance—to change.

Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.