Title: The View From Here
Bible Book: Mark 8 : 27-38
Author: Vince Hefner
Subject: The Nature of Jesus; Who Is Jesus?
Objective:
Introduction
“The View From Here” is what you can see from where you are standing.
You have a physical view of life.
You have a political view of life.
You have a financial view of life.
You have a spiritual view of life.
Each of these is often simply a point of view identifying personal preferences. But here is the question, “How do you receive God’s point of view?”
In order to get God’s point of view, you must know the right questions and find the right answers. We see this happening in Mark 8:27-38. Jesus asked two questions in this passage that lead the disciples to see God’s point of view on the nature of Christ rather than depending on public opinion or personal opinion.
I. The First Question - What Do Other People See In Me?
Jesus asked His disciples to share with Him what others were saying about Him. Jesus knew what people were saying but he wanted His disciples to think about what others were saying. He was asking about popular opinion but was really concerned with personal conviction.
The disciples answered and shared what the public had been saying about Jesus. Their responses were interesting.
A. John The Baptist
Some said that Jesus was John the Baptist, a preacher of repentance but fully man and not God.
B. Elijah
Others said that He might be Elijah, a preacher of repentance and miracles, but also fully man.
C. Jeremiah
Apparently others were saying that He was Jeremiah, a preacher of repentance, but again only a man fully man.
The world has some strange views of Jesus. We must be careful not to allow public opinion to shape our view of Jesus. That leads us to the second question Jesus asked.
II. The Second Question - What Do You See In Me?
This is the question that matters when it comes to Jesus. It comes down to personal conviction in our own hearts rather than public opinion.
A. The Detection
Naturally, it was Peter who spoke up quickly – he was always quick with an answer. Peter detected who Jesus was and openly stated that fact by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Peter saw Jesus as more than a preacher, more than a man, more than a prophet and more than a teacher. He detected that Jesus was the Son of God! By saying that Jesus was “The Christ,” Peter was noting, however, that Jesus was also human – He was a man. In other words, Peter had detected the amazing fact that Jesus was fully man and fully God. How could Peter have such knowledge? Did Peter know this about Jesus because he was intelligent, educated, and had some secret facts others did not have? No, there was another reason.
Jesus praised the observation of Peter. He told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this, but it had been opened up to him by the Heavenly Father. To know who Jesus is to detect His divine nature, and you must open your mind and heart to God for this knowledge to come to you. It is not a matter of intelligence; it is a matter of faith. To truly know and detect the human and divine nature of Jesus, you need more than education – you need illumination from God. That only comes when you are open to personal conviction and not just public opinion.
B. The Correction
What happened next is truly amazing. Jesus began to explain the suffering He was going to experience on the Cross. He told His disciples that He was going to suffer many terrible things. He was going to be rejected by the elders, leading high priest, and teachers of the Law. Finally, they would kill Him. But, He assured His disciples that he would rise on the third day!
But here is where the events become somewhat puzzling. Peter, who had clearly identified Jesus as the Son of God, now begins to correct Jesus. He, in essence, begins to instruct the Son of God on what will and will not be allowed to happen.
Peter’s view of Jesus, life and the spiritual world was a worldly view. He wanted glory without suffering. He wanted needs met by the world instead of being met by God. He wanted sin without cost and saw life as being apart from God. Peter was trying to correct God – that is how ridiculous we appear when we try to tell God how life ought to be and what the world ought to be like. So Jesus had to step in and straighten Peter out, and for that matter, all of us out on these issues.
C. The Direction
Jesus shared God’s point of view and told Peter that the proper place for a disciple is to follow – “Get behind me, Satan.” Our direction is not out in front of God telling Him what to do but is behind Him following obediently, even if we cannot understand the path that He is taking.
Jesus taught His disciples that salvation is not free – it cost Jesus everything on a Cross. It cost us nothing because we don’t have anything with which to pay for our sins. We cannot pay for our sins, but Jesus can and Jesus did.
True discipleship is not free; to be a disciple will cost us everything. Being a disciple means to learn of Jesus – to be directed by Him – to follow Him.
Only Jesus can save us, and the saved will be required to surrender to Him. Peter needed to learn this: “Peter, it’s not about you!”
Friend, the Christian life is not about what I think, what I want or how I think things ought to be. Jesus is Lord! To be a disciple is to trust Him. I cannot “make” Him Lord – His “is” Lord. I can either follow Him or rebel – those are the only choices.
Jesus was teaching us through this encounter with Peter that suffering produces fruit. Also, there are no short-cuts to following Him. Wherever Jesus leads, we must follow. Peter didn’t like the idea of Jesus on the Cross. But, the Cross as the only way for salvation to be made available. We must follow God’s direction, even when it leads in paths we do not wish to walk. His way is always the best way!
You can admire Jesus as a great figure in history, or you can follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. What will you do with Jesus?
