Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – Leviticus 25-27
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Mark 8:27-30
Jesus: Who do the people say that I am?
They told Him about the great speculation concerning His identity.
Disciples: Some of them say You are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets of old.
Jesus (pressing the question): And who do you say that I am?
Peter: You are God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.
Jesus: Don’t tell anyone. It is not yet time.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
We talked about this conversation between Jesus and His disciples as it was recorded in Matthew. Then, I shared some thoughts about the two important questions Jesus asked, “Who do the people say that I am?” And, “Who do you say that I am?” I shared that getting the answer to this question right is the most important thing in your life, because it determines how you spend eternity. Either you believe Jesus is the Son of the living God as He says He is, or you do not. But He alone is the only avenue to heaven. So failure to believe in Him writes your destiny to eternal separation from the Father according to God’s word.
Today, though, I want to talk about that descriptive sentence in the middle of the discourse and the end of the discourse. How do these two things fit together and why?
First, let’s think about Mark’s summation of what was probably a much longer discussion between Jesus and His disciples. “They [Jesus’ disciples] told Him about the great speculation concerning His identity.”
Jesus had been around the block a little while at this point. His reputation was well known throughout the country. People flocked to hear Him and see Him. Think about the scenes we’ve discussed the last few days. The feeding of 5,000 men plus all the women and children gathered to hear Him in a remote area of Galilee. Then on the other side of the Sea of Galilee He preaches to and feeds another group of 4,000 that stayed and listened to Him for three days in another area, again so remote no food could be purchased for the crowd.
Wherever Jesus went from this point crowds always pressed against Him. It was difficult for Him to get away for some alone time with His Father except in the dead of night after everyone else went to sleep. Thousands heard His words. Thousands saw His miracles. Thousands witnesses this man who did things no other man could do. Things that look a lot the events of the opening chapter of Genesis. Making something out of nothing. Using dirt to make new eyes. Touching withered arms and recreating them. Who could do such things except God? The Creator Who spoke worlds into existence is the only One capable of such things, and yet this man also did these same things in front of them.
But these crowds lived in a pagan world. The Romans occupied Judea and the Greeks before the Romans. This small strip of land which the Jews called their homeland had not been theirs to rule since the Babylonians whisked them away in the sixth century BC. I mention that because even the most orthodox Jews found themselves influenced by the thoughts and writings and presence of these pagan nations. Their idols could be found in stores in the region. The representation of their gods littered the streets. Their greetings and salutations resounded with praise and exultation to their false deities. The Jews could not get away from their influence.
So some in the crowd, as the Israelites that fell down to Baal and other pagan gods before them, toyed with these pagan symbols and worried that Jehovah might not be by Himself but might be like Zeus with a pantheon of lesser gods to serve Him. So who was Jesus? Was He one of Zeus’ servants? Was He like of the mythical legends they had heard about from the Greeks, like Hercules, an earthly child born of a pagan god? Is that why Jesus could do these things?
Perhaps if you put yourself into the pagan world of Rome or Greece and remember the myths that ran through their religion, you might begin to understand the speculation that occurred. You might begin to see why some people in the crowd questioned who this Jesus really was. If you believed in a pantheon of gods, He could be just one more and so was no big deal except He decided to spend some time on earth instead of Mount Olympus.
But now move forward 2,000 years, Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you believe He is the Son of the Living God? Do you know there is only one God represented in three personalities, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that Jesus is one of those personalities, part of the triune Godhead? Do you know that He is God incarnate, come to live along side us for those 33 years to share our troubles and sorrows and temptations? Do you know He came to give His life as the penalty for your sins and mine so that we would not have to pay with our life? Do you know Jesus, the God/Man, loves us enough to do that for us?
Today, there is still great speculation about Jesus’ identity. Some say He was just a great prophet. Some say He was a great teacher. Some say He was a rebel and a radical leader. Some say He was a marvelous rabbi, but twisted the scriptures in unusual ways. Some say He is the one and only Son of God, our perfect sacrifice, waiting to return to take His followers home to be with Him forever.
Who do you say that Jesus is?
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.