“Now Jesus and HIS
disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road HE asked
HIS disciples, saying to them, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ So they answered, ‘John
the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ HE said to
them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to HIM, ‘You are
the Christ.’”
-Mark
8:27-29, NKJV
Many people today fall victim to the system of religion by
basing their salvation on their works and deeds. As if they have a check list
of Christian “to-dos” such as going to church, attending bible study and giving
the homeless man on the corner a dollar or two. I have heard it as attaining
“Jesus points”. Jesus came to put a stop to all this measuring and weighing of
deeds. It is not uncommon for humans to weigh their deeds because we have grown
so accustomed to weighing our sins and scripture does not mention anything
about the weighing of sin. There isn’t anything regarding which sin is greater
than another, other than unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 12:31-32, NKJV). We have been programmed by our families, society and
media to act as if our deeds will save us a spot in heaven and Jesus informs us
that such acts are considered “in vain”
(v.7) because they are from a heart of emptiness. The root of our actions
should not be to gain “Jesus points” or to even get into heaven but from a root
of love, thanksgiving and gratitude (motive check!). In order to stem forth
acts from these three seeds, it goes back to who do YOU say Jesus is?
We tend to build our perception of Jesus based on what we
hear and see about HIM from others. However, that is not what HE wants from us.
The Pharisees and High Priests served as middlemen and Jesus came to eliminate
the middleman. “For such a High Priest
was fitting for us who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for HIS own sins and then for the
people’s, for this HE did once for all when HE offered up HIMSELF.” (Hebrews
7:26-27, NKJV) Jesus doesn’t want us to gain our full perception of Him
from others but instead from Him. When Jesus asked His disciples “But who do
you say that I am?” there is emphasis on the word “you”, implying that all that
matters is who do they say He is. The only way this can be answered is through
a relationship with Jesus. A relationship such as spending time with Him,
reading and studying His word, praising Him, and growing familiar with His
voice so that we can recognize and take heed when we hear it. If we want to
know who Jesus is, we have to seek Him and pursue Him wholeheartedly and not
just on Sundays, Wednesdays and when times are rough. We are to not only praise
Him when times are good either, but always. This is the only way we are to
know, personally, who Jesus is. While reading the Word (scripture), we are to
take it ALL as truth because He is truth (John 14:6, NKJV) and He is the Word
(John 1:1-5, NKJV). As we develop a relationship with Jesus, like a shepherd
with his sheep, He will guide us along the path of His plan; then, following is
the matter of obedience (acts/works). We are to be transformed through
obedience by His voice and not that of all the voices around us who is saying
who they believe Jesus is. The only one in your life who Jesus is concerned
about knowing who He is, is You.
- Oxford Dictionary (2014). http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/religion. Retrieved on March 3, 2014.
amazing word!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasmine! =)
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