OzThoughts Thursday 19th February 2009

OzThoughts Thursday 19th February 2009

How often are we challenged about our faith? I had a fellow decide he would challenge me about my faith and he was going strong. When I suggested the story he was telling about Jesus saying to Paul “sell everything you have and give to the poor” was not about Paul but about the “Rich young ruler”, he lost interest in his challenge. However, I gave a brief statement of my faith in Jesus and who he was to me.

In today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus challenged his Disciples very directly "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"

Peter answers and it seems very quickly "You are the Christ, the Messiah."
We cannot escape answering the same question. We must answer it for ourselves. I believe we must also answer it for others who question us.

David Pawson says that god all-matey has replaced God Almighty. Others have suggested that in none of all the “I am” statements in the Gospel does Jesus say “I am your best friend”. Even others have suggested that the “Jesus is my (boy/girl?) friend theology in some choruses is no theology but just another song aping popular culture.
Even Peter’s statement "You are the Christ, the Messiah." needed development by Jesus and Jesus outlines what being the Christ would mean. When Peter challenges that development, Jesus does not hesitate in saying “"Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (NIV).
How do we answer Jesus question "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Does our answer reflect our thoughts are the things of God, or the things of men?
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3888.mp3 ]

I know thee who thou art,
And what thy healing name;
For when my fainting heart
The burden nigh o'ercame,
I saw thy footprints on my road
Where lately passed the Son of God.

Thy name is joined with mine
By every human tie,
And my new name is thine,
A child of God am I;
And never more alone, since thou
Art on the road beside me now.

Beside thee as I walk,
I will delight in thee
In sweet communion talk
Of all thou art to me;
The beauty of thy face behold
And know thy mercies manifold.

Let nothing draw me back
Or turn my heart from thee,
But by the Calvary track
Bring me at last to see
The courts of God, that city fair,
And find my name is written there.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 59

Mark 8:27-33 (The Message)

27 Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, "Who do the people say I am?"
28 "Some say 'John the Baptizer,'" they said. "Others say 'Elijah.' Still others say 'one of the prophets.'"
29 He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"
Peter gave the answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah."
30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive." He said this simply and clearly so they couldn't miss it.
32-33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works."


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