Quick Note – Mark 8:27-30 – Who Is Jesus to You?

Mark 8:27-30 – ²⁷ And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸ And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” ³⁰ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

Being that I grew up in a Christian family, I have gone to church my whole life. I went to a Christian private school; I attended Sunday school almost every Sunday; I was taught to read the Bible every day; I watched Christian TV shows and movies, read Christian books, and had Christian friends. My relatives believe in God. My parents believe in God. My father is even a pastor. I have been surrounded by Christianity my whole life. I was always told who Jesus was, is, and will be. So knowing who Jesus Christ is, knowing the facts about this Person, knowing about God was not hard, but making it personal was. From birth till I was about a teenager, Jesus was someone I knew in fact but not in relationship. I knew all about Him, but I didn’t know Him.

However, when I was around 14-15, I personally gave my life to Jesus Christ after having some internal struggles as to whether I truly wanted to place my faith in Him. After a personal night of struggle, which I can recall another time, I chose to make Him my Lord and Savior. Jesus was no longer only my father’s God, my mother’s God, my teacher’s God, my friend’s God; He was mine. And that was when I truly became a Christian. That was when I could say, “Jesus, You are the Christ.”

In our passage today, Jesus asked His disciple first, “Who do people say that I am?” The answer to that question was that some thought that He was Elijah, a prophet of the Old Testament reincarnated. Some thought that He was a resurrected John the Baptist, a preacher of repentance who was beheaded. Some thought that He was one of the prophets of old. Everyone at that time had their opinion on who Jesus was. None of that was true. But interestingly, Jesus didn’t immediately take that time to correct these false assumptions about who He was; instead, He asked His disciple, “But who do you say that I am?” It didn’t matter what others thought about Him, Jesus wanted the disciples to realize the only thing that was important was what they personally thought about Him. Who did they believe Jesus to be?

It was then that Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” To Peter and to some of those disciples, Jesus was their Messiah. It wasn’t, because what they thought about Jesus defined Him. No, He was the Christ regardless of who placed their faith in Him. But He wanted them to realize that a relationship with Him was personal. It should not be dependent on others. It should be a decision, a relationship, a personal faith in Him.

Christianity is not something you inherit. It is not something you believe in because others pushed you to it. Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is you choosing to answer the question, “Who do you say that I am?” with the words, “You are the Christ. You are my Christ.” Jesus saved each and every individual on this earth who has been and will ever be. He is the Savior of the world, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God. He loved you so much that He died for you. He resurrected three days after His death. And He promises that those who put their trust in Him will be saved. These are all true facts about Him. These are all things said about Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t matter if you know the facts. What matters is that you truly believe it. That you personally choose to make Him your Christ!

Some in this world say Jesus was a great teacher, a miracle worker, a prophet. Some in this world think of Him as simply a man. Others who have already placed their faith in Him, see Him as the Savior of the World, the Messiah, the Christ. But who do you say that He is?