May 28, 2022

Mark 8: 27-29 (NIV)

. . .  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?”

Jesus’ disciples called him “Lord,” but he didn’t hesitate to call them “friends.”*

If someone asked me, “Who is Mark Durbin?” I would say, “He is my husband.” His mother would say, “He is my son.” Someone at church might say, “He is my Sunday School teacher.” When identifying someone, we usually begin with who they are to us. But underneath the basic question is another implied question: “Do you believe there really is a Mark Durbin?” If you don’t believe he exists, you won’t care what he means to me.

Jesus’ disciples believed in God. They believed in Jesus the person. But they didn’t understand Jesus’ relationship to God and they certainly struggled with grasping what he might mean to them. Can you relate to them? You believe in God. You even believe in Jesus. Probably most of you believe he is the Son of God. You know who other people say he is. But who is he to you? Can you claim a relationship with him? Is he your Savior? Lord? Friend?

Stop and listen to Jesus as he asks you, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Does your answer involve what you have heard others say about him, or do you have a defining relationship with him?

We need to know Jesus the person, not just the plan.*