Sunday
09/16/18 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title: “Who do people say that I am?”
Old Testament
Scripture: Psalm 19
New Testament
Scripture: James 3:1-12
Gospel Lesson: Mark
8:27-38
My sisters and brothers, my friends, welcome once again on
this the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost nearly
two-thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit moved in Jerusalem, the Christian Church
was born, and the Apostle Peter preached a powerful sermon. Peter, who had said
to Jesus, “You are the Messiah,” preached about being a follower of Jesus
Christ. He preached on how Jesus died for us, and how he can change our lives.
On this day, the day of Pentecost, about three-thousand people came to know the
Lord Jesus Christ. They felt filled, loved, excited, and they had a peace that
they had never know before.
Ever since Jesus walked this earth nearly two-thousand
years ago however, people since that time have continued the debate over who he
was. Some people will say that Jesus was just a nice man, some people will say
that he was a prophet, like the prophet Isaiah or Ezekiel in our Old Testament.
Some will say also that Jesus was a teacher, or in Hebrew a “Rabbi”. Some will
even claim that Jesus never existed, even though the evidence to the contrary
is immense. We have two independent non-Christians writers from the first
century, Tacitus and Josephus that mention Jesus in their writings, for
example.
Since
the beginning of the Christian Church on the day of Pentecost, nearly
two-thousand years ago, the majority of Christians have believed what Peter
said to Jesus in the gospel of Mark this morning:
“You are the
Messiah” (Mk. 8:29b, NRSV).
In the gospel of Matthew 16:13-17 there
another account of Jesus asking people who he. Is says:
“Now when Jesus came into the
district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that
the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others
Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them,
“But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you,
Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father in heaven” (Mk. 16:13-17,
NRSV).
So I would say
that the majority of Christians and non-Christians would agree that Jesus
existed, but the debate that continues today is over who this Jesus was.
In the
religion of Islam for example, they would argue that Jesus was just a prophet,
like that of Isaiah or Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Some of my Jewish friends
growing up, told me that Jesus was just a nice and a Godly man who was just
misguided. When I taught high school global history, the textbook identified
Jesus as a man named “Jesus of Nazareth”. This of course is a historical title
of Jesus. So in our New York State Social Studies Curriculum, there is an
admission of the person of Jesus of Nazareth in the world religions section of
the curriculum, who is seen as the founder of the Christian religion.
If we are
honest with ourselves, how often have we really thought about who Jesus was and
still is? Some people that I talk to will say, “Well pastor, Jesus is God’s
Son”. When we say Jesus is God’s son though, what do we mean by that? Who is
Jesus? Why do we believe what we believe about him?
The fancy
seminary term that is used is “Christology”. The suffix “ology” means “study
of”. So in this case, “Christology,” is the “study of Christ”. The study of who
he was and is. We all have a view of Jesus, but this morning, Peter says to
Jesus:
“You are the
Messiah” (Mk. 8:29b, NRSV).
Who do you say that Jesus is? You know I have many identities
myself. I am a husband, and many people would say that I am a good husband. I would
like to say I am good husband, but only Melissa can say if this is the case. Maybe
it depends on the day you ask her! I am a pastor. I am an uncle. I am Chicago
Cubs fan. I am a golfer, or close enough to one. I am a coffee drinker, and
etc. and etc. Who we claim that someone is, is very significant for what we
believe about them and how we communicate who there are to others. How many of
you see you based upon the job you have or had? They you as that role only?
Also, does every have the same opinion about who a person is?
For example, I say that Adolph Hitler was a hateful, murderous, and rage filled
person. Yet, there are some that probably say otherwise. What you say about
someone, what you believe about someone, can often dictate how you think about
them, relate to them, and speak of them.
If you think that Jesus was just a
man, or just a prophet, or a man that divinely inspired but not God, then this
will affect how you understand, interact with, and speak of Jesus.
Why was the Rev. Billy Graham for
example so excited to preach and tell people about Jesus? He was so excited to
do this, because he believed like the Apostle Peter that Jesus was and is:
“the Messiah” (Mk. 8:29b, NRSV).
The Rev. Billy Graham believed that
Jesus Christ, was God in the flesh on earth, who died for the sins of humanity,
and that through him we can have the fullness of salvation and the love and the
grace of God. If Rev. Graham believed that Jesus was just a man, he wouldn’t
have been so emphatic about who Jesus was and is.
What I am asking us to consider this
morning then, is who is Jesus Christ? Well certainly, like how all of us are
many things, so is Jesus. So who was and is Jesus. Here is a list:
1. Almighty
One – “…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev. 1:8
2.
Alpha and Omega – “I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13
3.
Advocate – “My dear children, I
write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1
4. Author
and Perfecter of Our Faith – “Fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2
5.
Authority – “Jesus said, ‘All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt. 28:18
6.
Bread of Life – “Then Jesus
declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35
7.
Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice
from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt.
3:17
8.
Bridegroom – “And Jesus said to
them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The
days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will
fast.” Matt. 9:15
9.
Chief Cornerstone – “The stone which the
builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” Ps. 118:22
10.
Deliverer – “And to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to
come.” 1 Thess.1:10
11.
Faithful and True – “I saw heaven
standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called
Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Rev.19:11
12.
Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
13.
Great High Priest – “Therefore, since we
have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb. 4:14
14.
Head of the Church – “And he put all
things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Eph.
1:22
15.
Holy Servant – “…and grant that Your
bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your
hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy
servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30
16.
I Am – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
17.
Immanuel – “…She will give
birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.’” Is. 7:14
18.
Indescribable Gift – “Thanks be to God
for His indescribable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15
19. Judge – “…he
is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42
20.
King of Kings – “These will wage war
against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords
and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and
faithful.” Rev. 17:14
21.
Lamb of God – “The next day John saw
Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
22. Light
of the World – "I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12
23.
Lion of the Tribe of Judah – “Weep no more;
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so
that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev. 5:5
24.
Lord of All – “For this reason
also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every
name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11
25.
Mediator – “For there is one God, and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5
26.
Messiah – “We have found the
Messiah" (that is, the Christ).” John 1:41
27.
Mighty One – “Then you will know that
I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Is. 60:16
28.
One Who Sets Free – “So if the Son sets
you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
29.
Our Hope – “…Christ Jesus our
hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1
30. Peace – “For
he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the
barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Eph. 2:14
31.
Prophet – “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not
without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own
household.” Mark 6:4
32.
Redeemer – “And as for me, I
know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the
earth.” Job 19:25
33.
Risen Lord – “…that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the
third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4
34.
Rock – “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that
followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4
35.
Sacrifice for Our Sins – “This is love: not that we
loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for
our sins.” 1 John 4:10
36.
Savior – “For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
37.
Son of Man – “For the Son of Man
came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10
38.
Son of the Most High – “He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the
throne of his father David.” Luke 1:32
39. Supreme
Creator Over All – “By Him all things were created, both in
the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for
Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.…” 1 Cor.
1:16-17
40.
Resurrection and the Life – “Jesus said to her,
"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live,
even though they die.” John 11:25
41.
The Door – “I am the door. If
anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
John 10:9
42.
The Way – “Jesus answered,
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” John 14:6
43.
The Word – “In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
44.
True Vine - "I am the true
vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
45.
Truth – “And you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free." John 8:32
46. Victorious
One – “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to
sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father
on his throne.” Rev. 3:21
47.
– 50. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace – “For to us a child is born, to us a
son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Is. 9:6
(https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/50-names-of-jesus-who-the-bible-says-christ-is.html).
Friends, this morning in the gospel of
Mark reading, Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am”? Our answer to that
question will dictate how we live our lives, and how important Jesus is to us
and to the world. If Jesus is all of the things that I just read, which are all
from Biblical passages, then I would conclude that Jesus is pretty magnificent.
So magnificent that I preach his goodness, his gospel, the hope that we have in
him, and the idea that you can invite him into your heart and be transformed by
his love. A new life where we are forgiven, renewed, restored, and set at
liberty to serve our neighbor and the world. The idea that everything that you
have ever done wrong, can be forgiven, for he is mighty to forgive, and is
mighty to save.
Jesus even goes on in our gospel
reading from this morning to predict his own death and resurrection when he
says:
“the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be
rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and
after three days rise again” (Mk.
8:31, NRSV).
Jesus then goes on to describe who he
is and the nature of who he says. Jesus says:
“If any want to become my followers, let
them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want
to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and
for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit
them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give
in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in
this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be
ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mk. 8:34-38, NRSV).
To me, these
are powerful statements from Jesus about who he is. So who we say that Jesus is
affects us, affects our beliefs, and affects how we interact with the world. So
my friends, my brothers and sisters, who do you say that Jesus is? Amen.
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