Mark 8 - 4.27.26

Scripture

Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“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 Messiah.””

Observation

In this passage Jesus and His disciples are traveling from village to village, doing ministry together. Jesus then asks his disciples two very important questions:

 1). “Who do people say I am?”

2).  “Who do you say I am?”

His disciples respond to that first question by saying that the public look at Jesus as John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. Basically the public saw Jesus as a holy figure, but not the Messiah.

But, Peter responds to Jesus’ second question by acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, the promised Deliverer.

Application

Who is Jesus to you?

It is a pivotal point in the gospel and in all world religions today. Who is Jesus? Some religions think he is great guy, a great teacher. Some think of Jesus as a prophet. Some believe Jesus is just one of the many ways to get to Heaven and believe it or not, some religions even think Jesus is the “spirit brother” of Lucifer! 🤦🏽‍♂️ 

Peter knew exactly who Jesus was. He saw it up close and personal. That is why in this passage Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah and if Peter’s admission wasn’t enough for you, we also have the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). These men were personal eyewitnesses of Jesus. They lived with Him. They broke bread with Him. They did life with Him. They even died for Him because they wanted to share the Good News of who Jesus was with everyone. 

So, even if you don’t buy in to what Jesus’ disciples are testifying to, historians can even vouch that a man named Jesus DID exist and walked the earth. He did have great life teachings and perform many miracles. He did die and 3 days later, his tomb was empty.  Now I don’t know about you, but if you put two and two together, (what the disciples witnessed and wrote about, and what historians wrote about), it is clear to me Who Jesus is and I have to say that I concur with Peter. Jesus IS the Messiah. He IS the Son of God. He lived a perfect life yet died a sinner’s death. He did it to pay for my sins and the world’s sins. Jesus is exactly who He says He is. 

“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” -John‬ ‭8‬:‭58‬ 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””-John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ 

If Jesus is who He says He is, we better take a good hard look at how we answer that question, “Who is Jesus to you?”. It better determine how we choose to live our lives. Our eternal destination depends on it.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for being exactly who You said You are. Thank You for being my Rock, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord, and my friend. May the life I live bring You the glory You deserve. I pray for others who may not know You the way I do. I pray that they may come to the logical conclusion of who You are. I pray for You to open their eyes so that they may see, open their ears so they may hear, and may You open their hearts so they may believe. In Your Holy and precious name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi