November Newsletter: “Who do you say that I am?”
I wonder if Jesus’ disciples said that to each other whenever they passed through the village of Caesarea Philippi. I wonder if, for the rest of their lives, that particular town was seared into their memory.
You see, it was at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus asked his disciples that most crucial of all questions, “Who do you say that I am?” This is the central question of the Gospels, the central question of human history, really. This is the dividing line that separates authentic faith from passing enchantment. The answer to this question will determine, to a certain extent, the level of our commitment as followers of Jesus. Christ asked his disciples, as he asks us today, “Who do you say that I am?”
Focus your attention for a few moments on that crucial question while we provide the context in which it was asked.
Where a question is asked can make a big difference in how it is received. It’s no accident that Jesus asked his disciples this momentous question in the region of Caesarea Philippi. On the hills overlooking the city was a magnificent white temple built in honor of the Roman emperor, Caesar. Like all rulers of his day, Caesar was worshiped as a god. This area was also the center of worship for the Phoenician god, Baal, and the Greek god, Pan. History, religion, politics all came together in this one region to exalt many different gods. Each one of these “gods” was known for having special powers, for being able to grant special favors to his followers.
Now imagine the disciples’ discomfort as they pass through this area. These men are devout Jews who were warned all their lives to stay away from the uncleanness, the condemnation of the pagan lifestyle. They are surrounded on all sides by evidence that many of their neighbors worship sensuous and craven gods other than Yahweh. And in this setting, Jesus asks them a provocative question, “Who do people say I am?”
They have no idea what he is getting at, but they respond, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
Okay, they’re going in the right direction. But it’s time to lay it all on the line. It’s time to get right to the heart of the matter.
“But what about you?” he asks. “Who do you say I am?”
I imagine that all the hosts of heaven are holding their breath. For just a moment, time stands still. The fate of humanity rests on this answer. And who should answer, but the headstrong young fisherman named Peter?
“You are the Christ,” he announces.
And the angels in heaven shout, “Hooray!” Okay, the Bible doesn’t actually say that they shouted “Hooray!” But what else would they do? The plan of God, the one that was set in motion before the world even began, is now coming to fulfillment.
But Jesus doesn’t stop with Peter’s affirmation. Here’s something you might notice about gods, particularly pagan gods. Every god requires a sacrifice. That was obvious in a place like Caesarea Philippi. If Jesus really is the Christ, then what kind of sacrifice does he ask?
Verse 31 reads, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Surprise! Christ is not asking for a sacrifice. Christ is giving a sacrifice and that sacrifice is himself. He announces to them that he will be killed, but on the third day, he will be raised from the dead. His disciples were not ready in any shape, form, or fashion for such an announcement.
“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
This was more than Simon Peter could take. “What’s he saying?” Peter asks himself. “That he’s going to lay down his life? That he’s going to be the sacrifice? It was absurd. What kind of God would do such a thing?”
And that’s the point, isn’t it? That’s the truth that sets us apart from every other religion on this planet. We serve a God who does not ask for a sacrifice, but who IS the sacrifice.
The work of reconciliation requires sacrifice. That is true when we are speaking of reconciliation between nations; that is true when we speak of reconciliation between humanity and God. A sacrifice must be made, and it is God who made the sacrifice. If you do not understand this, you do not grasp the heart of Christian faith. Without the cross, Christianity is just another pleasant philosophy urging people to be nicer to one another. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son . . .” This is the Good News. This is the dividing line between an insipid Christianity that motivates no real devotion, and a life-changing Christianity that causes people to give their lives in the work of reconciliation. Christ lay down his life in our behalf.
There is a dividing line in life. We are recipients of God’s amazing, abundant, luxuriant grace. But it is not a cheap grace. Christ laid down his own life to obtain it for us. We, in turn, are called to live lives that honor that sacrifice. We are to live responsible, accountable lives that bring honor to Christ. If that means we sacrifice many things that are dear to us, so be it. That is what Christ did in our behalf.