The Big Mo

 Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen continues to use his trial before the Sanhedrin as a God given opportunity to tell them that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah (Acts 7:17-44).  

He has told the council how Almighty God sovereignly used goofballs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the twelve patriarchs and Joseph as players in His divine plan of salvation.

Don't miss two VERY important points.  First, the Old Testament is about Jesus.  All of it.  Second, God is the Hero of the story.  Not the human agents he uses.

Stephen then tells the very familiar story of Moses.  He reminds the council how the clock counted down to "the time of the promise" (v17).  

This is the promise God made to Abraham (Acts 7:5; Gen 17:8; 48:4), what we now call the Abrahamic Covenant.  

As the second hand moves closer to God's fulfillment of His covenant, something amazing happens.  "The people increased and multiplied in Egypt” (v17).  God’s chosen people explode in number.  

Again, this was all part of God's promise to Abe.  The Israelites apparently grew from about 76 people (Acts 7:14) to upwards of a million in their 430 years in Egypt.

There was one big problem for God's people.  There was a new king in town, one "who did not know Joseph" (v18).  This new monarch saw these people as a threat and decided to do a little ethnic cleansing (v19).

This was the scene into which Moses was born.  "And he was beautiful in God's sight” (v20).  Did you know that our heavenly Dad sees each follower of Jesus the very same way?

Steve describes the amazing story of God's hand on this Prince of Egypt.  Set afloat on the Nile to avoid infanticide.  Rescued by Pharaoh's daughter and raised in royalty (v21).  As a result, the Big Mo has life by the tail.  

That will soon change.  At age 40, Moses murders an Egyptian slave driver for abusing an Israelite (v24).  He believed this was the first step in his liberation of his native people (v25).  

But instead of hailing Moses as the leader of the rebellion, the Israelites saw him as a killer (v27-28).  The would-be liberator turned fugitive and headed to Midian (v29).

Fast forward 40 years and we see Moses stumbling onto a burning bush (v30-31).  It turned out to be God's angel (probably pre-incarnate Christ).  

The voice from the flame states, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob" (v32).  

God Himself has heard the cries of His people in Egypt, "and I have come down to deliver them" (v34).  And He's going to use Moses to do it!  

Once again, God uses jacked up people in jaw-dropping ways.  Moses is in a long line of losers the Lord loves.  

This is what Paul meant when he wrote, "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1Cor 1:27-30).  

Remember, God is the Hero of the story.  Not the Big Mo.

God uses this not-so-mighty Mo as "ruler and redeemer" to His people (v35).  Stephen tells how Moses performed "wonders and signs" just like the apostles in the early church (v36).  

Moses is what theologians call a "type" of Christ.  He exhibits certain characteristics, qualities and behaviors that give us a hint of the One who is to come.  

Moses himself says, "God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers" (v37; Dt 18:15).  Scripture clearly tells us that Mo is talking about Jesus.

After God uses Moses to lead His people from bondage, the Israelites then stun their leader with one of the most ridiculous moments of mutiny in all of history (v38-41).  

While Mo was on the mountain with God receiving the "living oracles" (God's Word is truly living and active according to Hebrews 4:12), they molded a golden cow and began to worship it.  

Stephen describes God's reaction to their rebellion.  It is frightening.  "But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven" (v42).  

This same God was with Joseph (Acts 7:9) rejects the people He graciously chose.  And when He "gave them over” (v42), this is an example of what is called the Passive Wrath of God.  

That means the Lord doesn't punish them directly.  He allows them to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.  This is His way of letting them have their way.  It's God's use of boundaries.

Steve then quotes the prophet Amos.  Through Amos, God warns His people that their rejection and idolatry will have dire consequences.  

"I will send you into exile beyond Babylon” (v42-43; Am 5:25-27).  In other words, He will actively punish them if they continue in their rebellion.  

We have seen how our gracious God has used a series of messed up men in His plan of salvation.  

Now the very people He has chosen and through whom He will raise up His Messiah have fully rejected Him.  His chastisement of them is for their own good.  And ultimately, it is for our good.  

Stephen tells the council that just as they have rejected Jesus, the people rejected God.  He is the Hero of the story. 

©2011

Jay Jennings

An Average Joe

Stephen continues his amazing sermon before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:9-16.  The high priest has basically asked him how he pleads to the charge of blasphemy (Acts 7:1).  

Instead of answering the question, Steve begins by flipping open the Bible and proving to the council that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah that God promised throughout the Old Testament.  

In other words, Steve says the entire OT is about Jesus!

We must not get sidetracked when we study the OT.  These are not a series of moral stories about great men and women who are to be emulated.  Not at all.  They are not the heroes of the story.  

This is God's story!  He is the Hero!  Through the OT, He shows us how He consistently does amazing things through the lives of jacked up, stiff necked, sinful people.  

God is the Hero of the story! 

Steve first tells the story of how God graciously interacted with Abraham, his son Isaac, grandson Jacob and his great grandchildren, "the twelve patriarchs" (Acts 7:2-8).  

Again, don’t take the bait and see these men as great examples.  This is messed up bunch that God graciously used.  

Abraham lied about his wife to save his own skin, not once, but twice.  Isaac was the head of horribly dysfunctional family.  Jacob was a conniving backstabber who schemes to get his brother's birthright.

At this point, I would strongly encourage a reading of Genesis 37, 39-49.  This is the story of Joseph that Steve is about to relate.

This leads us to the twelve patriarchs.  Surely the dozen sons of Jacob were the pillars upon which the nation of Israel stands.  These twelve men are so famous and respected that the twelve tribes take their names from them.  

But there's just one problem with all of that.  It's not true.  Jake's boys put the funk in dysfunction.  These so-called twelve patriarchs are probably better understood as the Dirty Dozen.  

Stephen tells us that "the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt" (v9).  Not exactly the behavior you'd expect from the founding fathers of your faith.

The reason this shouldn't surprise us is that the twelve patriarchs aren't the heroes of the story.  And neither is their brother Joseph.  

Sure, he is less culpable but he's brought some of this on himself with all this immature talk that his brothers and parents would bow down before him (Gen 37:6-11).  Talk about a cocky kid brother!

Joseph is just, well, an average Joe.  There's just one thing different about the boy.  "But God was with him" (v9).  An average Joe accompanied by our awesome Jehovah.  God's great big hand is strongly on little Joe as he rolls into Egypt.  

The presence of God in someone’s life means nothing but lifestyles of the rich and famous, right?  Wrong.  

It’s not long before Joe is wrongly convicted of raping his boss’ wife and tossed into prison for decades.  But he was able to stand strong because "God was with him” (v9).

Joe didn't use any great skill or wisdom to break out of prison.  Nope.  This was God at work.  

Don't forget, God is the Hero of Joe's story.  It's God that "rescued him out of all his afflictions" (v10).  

But this amazing comeback story of our average Joe doesn't stop there.  God then "gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt” (v10).  From the prison cell to the throne room.  Talk about a turnaround!

God eventually places Joseph as number two in authority of the Egyptian government under Pharaoh.  Our sovereign Lord then brings Joe's family to town looking for food during a famine.  Eventually, Jacob and the entire fam pack up and move to Egypt.

God is not only the Hero of average Joe's story, He's the Hero of the Old Testament.  He's the Hero of the entire Bible.  And He's the Hero of my story.  Hopefully, He's the Hero of your story.        

The story of Joseph reminds us that any average Joe that God chooses to use will do great things.  Because He is the Hero of the story.

©2011

Jay Jennings

The Perfect Missionary

Jesus is the Perfect Missionary.  No other person in history crossed such a wide divide on such a mission of love.  The Son of God left behind the unimaginable riches of heaven to travel to the landfill of sin we call Earth.  

Any mission trip we might take to a third world country pales in comparison to His radical journey.  Here in these verses, Paul describes the Perfect Missionary.  

He describes the timing of His trip.  He describes the One who sent Him.  He describes conditions of His mission.  

We can't forget the big picture here.  Paul is firing off a quick and blunt letter to the Galatian church network after he receives the horrible news that these new believers have fallen prey to a counterfeit gospel (Gal 1:6).  

He has just returned from Galatia after telling them how Jesus has thrown the door of salvation wide to not only Jews but the entire world (Acts 13:13-14:23).  

Spiritual snake oil salesmen rolled into town just as he left.  They told these new disciples that Jesus may have gotten them into His kingdom but they must keep themselves in by following the law (Gal 1:7; 3:1-3, 11).  

The apostle walks through the pages of the OT to explain that the way of salvation has always been simply trusting in God.  Theologians call this justification by faith.  

We're not self-saved by meticulous rule following.  We simply place ourselves into God's hand like Abraham, who "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" (Gal 3:6; Gen 15:6).  

The man from Tarsus tells the Galatians that all of the covenant promises God made to Abe found fulfillment in Jesus (Gal 3:16-17).

All of the OT points to the day when the long awaited Promised One will arrive.  Page after page.  Prophecy after prophecy.  Promise after promise.  

Never forget that Jesus is THE Hero of the story.  Everything in the Law and the Prophets points us to and prepares for His arrival.  Jesus said so Himself (Jn 5:39, 46).  

We read the Torah and wonder when our Hero will arrive on the scene.  How much worse could it get?  How much longer will He wait?  When will Messiah get here?  

But we don't see the river of time from God's perspective.  Timing is everything.  And His timing is perfect.

Just when things are at their darkest, the Light of the World shines His brightest (Jn 8:12; 9:5).  "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son" (v4).  

At just the perfect time, God the Father sent His Son out the door of heaven on the most radical and revolutionary mission trip history has ever seen.  

Paul uses the Greek verb εξαποστελλω/exapostello.  This is a compound term meaning away, out of or from (εξ/ex-) to send as an official representative, ambassador or apostle (-αποστελλω/-apostello).  

This mission was so critical, so important, so urgent that the Father sent His one and only Son as His hand-picked representative.  

The holy Son of God is the only One for the job.  Because of His love for His Father, the Son submits to His request.  He willingly accepts His divine assignment.  

Jesus is the Perfect Missionary because He is perfectly God.

But the conditions of this mission are brutal.  The Second Person of the Trinity leaves the perfect and palatial opulence of heaven for a trip to the sin-sick third planet from the sun.  He is to be fully human, in other words, "born of a woman" (v4).  

Just like you and me, Jesus had a mom.  This means that the God Man didn't exchange His godliness for humanity.  He added humanness to divinity.  He is 100% God.  He is 100% human.  

People much smarter than me call this the Hypostatic Union.  Fully God.  Fully man.   How is that possible?  Add it to the list of things we can never fully understand on this side of heaven.

Being born to a human mother is an important fulfillment of God's prophetic promise about Messiah.  Back in the opening days of human history, God warned Satan that one day this long-awaited Son "shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heal" (Gen 3:15).  

And it wouldn't be just any woman who would give birth.  "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Is 7:14).  

And "when the fullness of time had come," God handpicked a teenager named Mary as the mother of His Son.  

Jesus is the Perfect Missionary because He is perfectly human.

But the conditions of His mission don't just stop with His humanity.  He is "born under the law" (v4).  The law.  God's law that He hand-delivered to Moses on a mountain called Sinai.  Not just the Ten Commandments but 613 commandments.  

God didn't give these to His people as a means of salvation.  He gave them to His people to make it blatantly obvious that they needed a Savior.  

The law was back breaking.  The law was impossible.  To miss on any one part of it meant disobedience to all of it (Dt 27:26; Gal 3:10).

There was no way anyone could ever keep such a perfect, mind-numbing standard.  Oh wait.  Yes there is.  His name is Jesus.  Only His complete obedience to God's law on our behalf could do what we could never do (Rom 8:3; 2Cor 5:21).  

Being "born under the law," Christ was obligated to fully obey the law.  And He did.  Every bit of it.  That's what He means when He says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Mt 5:17).  The Spirit-filled Son of God is sinless and perfect.

Jesus is the Perfect Missionary because He is perfectly obedient.

And because of what He has done to save me, how can I not serve Him as a missionary of the gracious Gospel to those around me?

©2012

Jay Jennings

Mega-JOY-normous

Working Christmas Eve

I’m not sure there’s anybody who loves the idea of working Christmas Eve. Oh, I’m sure there are a few of you out there. But I’ll be honest, I’ve always had a sense of dread waiting on the holiday schedule to come out.

The only thing worse might be pulling the overnight shift. Outside. With livestock. That’s exactly the scene we see in chapter two of Luke’s bio of Jesus (Lk 2:8-11). A group of smelly shepherds pulling an all-nighter with a flock of equally smelly sheep.

One thing they have going in their favor that night is they have no clue that it’s Christmas Eve. That will change soon enough. For the moment, they’re just doing their job, caring for the herd.

Down in Town 

The good doctor paints a picture of the scene that silent night. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (v8). That little phrase which starts the verse, “and in the same region,” connects what’s about to happen with what just went down in town.

What these dudes don’t realize is not far from them are an unmarried teenage girl and her carpenter fiancé have just given birth to a Baby (Lk 2:6-7). Why would they know? Why would they even care? I mean, they’ve got a job to do. Running off to a baby shower in the middle of their shift is NOT part of the job description!

Not Easily Scared

Just who are these guys anyway? Most of us have a picture in our heads of shepherds as wimpy and weak. For years, I saw them sorta like sandal-wearing hippies hanging out at Woodstock.

Wrong. Think cowboys. They spend most of their lives outside, protecting the rams, ewes, and lambs from sneak attacks by predators like wolves, mountain lions, and bears (oh my!). And they’ve got mad ninja skills with those shepherd crooks.

In other words, this bunch isn’t easily scared. They’ve seen it all. Well, until tonight. That’s all about to change.

A Heavenly Ambush

Luke then tells us about what can only be described as a heavenly ambush. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear” (v9).

When God’s messenger suddenly shows up, the Lord’s glory floods the blackness of night with the brightest of light! Imagine your eyes adjusting to seeing in the dark when out of nowhere you’re hit with the most dazzling brilliance. You can bet these boys are seeing spots and rubbing their peepers.

In the Sky or Eye to Eye?

I don’t know about you but I’ve always pictured the angel as hovering in the night sky above the shepherds. But the truth is, there’s absolutely nothing in the original text to suggest that.

The author simply says the angel makes his appearance to them. And yes, I did say “his” appearance. The Greek word for “angel” (Gr. αγγελος/aggelos) is a masculine noun. The only named angels are Gabriel and Michael. Sorry if that blows your angelic stereotype.

While Scripture does say angels have wings and can fly (Ex 25:20; Ezek 10:5-21; Is 6:2, 6), there’s every possibility that this angel is simply standing in the middle of the boys. Not hovering. Face-to-face. Eye-to-eye.

Afraid with Mega-Fear

We then read what I think might be one of the great understatements in history. “And they were filled with great fear” (v9). This divine sneak attack has these rough, tough herdsmen suddenly shaking in their sandals!

Luke goes out of his way to make sure we know these are totally freaking out. You can easily translate the original text here (Gr. ‘εφοβηθησαν φοβον μεγαν/‘ephobethesan phobon megan) as “they were afraid with mega-fear!”

While we don’t know exactly how many shepherds there are, we do know that there’s only one angel. Apparently the intimidating presence of this messenger from God flying solo has the herdsmen totally outnumbered.

Take a Deep Breath

The angel does his best to calm things down. Before they do anything rash, he has something to say. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (v10).

Calm down, boys. Let’s all take a deep breath and take it down from Defcon 1. The divine being says to the shepherds that there’s no reason to be afraid…ESPECIALLY not now!

Sound Familiar?

“Fear not” (v10). Sound familiar? Well, it should. We see God remind us to do just that on just about every page of Scripture. It’s all over both the Old and New Testament documents. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry.

It’s there in the beginning. In the prophets. In songs. In wisdom literature. Gospels? Yup.  Letters to various churches. Encouragement to pastors and the followers of Jesus.

We’re Gonna Need These

Here’s just a few of my “no fear” faves…

• Genesis 46:3
• Deuteronomy 3:22
• Deuteronomy 31:6
• Joshua 1:9
• Psalm 23:4
• Psalm 27:1
• Psalm 34:4-7
• Psalm 56:3-4
• Psalm 118:6-7
• Proverbs 29:25
• Isaiah 35:4
• Isaiah 41:10-14
• Isaiah 43:1
• Matthew 6:25-34
• Mark 4:39-40
• Mark 5:36
• Mark 6:50
• Luke 12:22-26
• John 14:27
• Philippians 4:6-7
• 2Timothy 1:7
• 1Peter 3:14
• 1Peter 5:6-7
• 1John 4:18
• Revelation 1:17

Can I make a suggestion? Bookmark them. Put them somewhere on your phone or tablet. Here’s a crazy idea. You might even memorize a few of them! Yeah, I know. It’s radical.

But here’s the deal. You may not need them now…but you WILL need them. I certainly know it won’t be long before I need punch fear in the face with the truth of God! So why not be ready?

Fearing God

On the other hand, some of you may be wondering about how we’re commanded to fear God (2Chr 19:7-9; Prov 1:7; Is 11:2-3). What’s up with THAT?!? On one hand, this kind of fear is about reverence and worship.

But recently I heard someone (I wish I could remember who it was so I could give them proper credit) say that it’s safe to fear God because He’s the only one who won’t use it against us.

Mega-JOY-normous

Meanwhile back under the night sky in the Judean countryside, the angel’s come straight from heaven with breaking news! This just in! And this is not some disturbing report about a heartbreaking tragedy. This is GOOD NEWS! We’re talking GREAT JOY for EVERYBODY!!! Let’s just say this is the ultimate push alert!

Remember how the shepherds were afraid with mega-fear? This news is so VERY good that they can replace that with mega-joy! When we look at the original Greek, we see the very same adjective (Gr. μεγα/mega) describing their fear as the joy contained in the angel’s report. You could say it’s mega-JOY-normous! Okay, maybe not.

Not Limited to a Select Few

This breaking Good News isn’t limited to a select few. It’s not just for the rich. Not merely the powerful. Not just for season ticket holders. Not only for certain races or religions. Nobody’s getting left out. This is “Good News of great joy that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE!” (v11 emphasis added).

For those of us who think God’s kingdom is some sort of exclusive club for people who look like them and act like them, you might want to sit down. It’s open for anyone who places their trust in Jesus. That’s the ONLY requirement for entry.

Kind of a Big Deal

It’s at this point that the angel gets to the details of the Good News. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v11). This is not average birth announcement. That’s because this is not your average baby.

Just down the road in Bethlehem, something VERY special has just happened. Someone VERY special has just happened! How special? We’re talking about the Savior, the Christ, and the Lord! Yeah, He’s kind of a big deal.

A Savior to Our Rescue

First of all, this newborn Baby is our Savior. He’s the One who’s come to our rescue. The problem is that some of us don’t realize we need to be rescued. The cool thing is that Jesus is ready to respond the moment we do.

According to A.T. Robertson, the Roman emperor loved it when people living under his rule referred to the emperor as “savior.” Sounds like politicians haven’t changed much. Early believers more appropriately applied the term to Jesus.

The Hero from Heaven

Second, the Child is the Christ. The Greek word Χριστος/Christos means the Anointed One and is the equivalent of the Messiah in the OT. This is the long-awaited Hero from heaven the Jews have been expecting for a few thousand years.

We see the first hint of Christ to our rescue moments after first parents buy the lie of a satanic snake and rebel against God. Yahweh warns the serpent of One who will come and crush its head (Gen 3:15).

The Lord in Authority

Third, the Infant is the Lord (Gr. Κυριος/Kurios). This term describes someone who is the master, owner, or chief. Think about it for just a moment. This tiny Baby in the manger is actually the One with controlling power and authority.

And check this out. Did you notice that it’s an “angel of the Lord” who appeared in the dazzling brilliance of “the glory of the Lord” (v9)? In other words, who sent the angelic messenger to tell the shepherds this amazing news? Lord Jesus!

Everybody’s Invited!

There’s absolutely no reason to terrified. As a matter of fact, this news is so incredibly good that we should be jumping for mega-joy! According to the angel, everybody on the planet is invited to God’s party!

As Savior, He’s come to our rescue. From whom and what? From ourselves and our own sin. As Christ, the long-promised Messiah is finally making His appearance. And not a moment too soon! As Lord, He’s in total control.

The angel is right. This is GREAT NEWS!!! See, working the nightshift on Christmas Eve can have it’s benefits. Just ask the shepherds.

©2018

Jay Jennings

Good News Embargo

Breaking News

Did you know there are times when the news media gets inside info and DOESN’T break the story? No, I’m not accusing the mainstream media of being in cahoots to control the news cycle.

What I’m talking about is a little something something called a news embargo. This is an agreement between journalists and the source of their information to sit on a story until it’s appropriate to release it to the public.

Embargoes and Accuracy

News embargoes happen all the time. For instance, companies in the tech sector will give reporters a heads up on the details of their latest software and hardware. This lead time allows various outlets to have their coverage ready to go when the products hit the market.

While that’s incredibly important to members of the media but here’s the big advantage for the source of this inside info. Accuracy. By leaking critical info before the story breaks, they stand a much better chance that the reporting is right.

Leaking Messianic Details

Did you know that Jesus did the very same thing with His disciples? A couple of thousand years before newspapers, wire services, and network news, much less the internet, the Lord leaked major messianic details to His disciples and told them to keep it quiet.

Call it a Good News embargo.

Keeping It on the Down Low

Alone with His closest followers in the mountains, Christ uses a quick Q&A to reveal to His crew who He really is (Mk 8:27-30). He confirms what they’ve suspected. He’s the long awaited Hero whom God has been promising to send to save His people.

And before they can run and tell the world, He immediately commands them to keep it all on the down low. Just wait. This is hush-hush until the time is right. When it is, you’ll know EXACTLY how to explain who He is and what He just did.

Four Bios of Jesus

We pick up the story in what we’ve come to know as the Gospel of Mark. The second document in the New Testament is one of four bios of Jesus. There’s a lot of duplicate stories in them. As a matter of fact, we can find other versions of this same episode in two other Gospels as well (Mt 16:21-28; Lk 9:18-21).

Four Gospels, Four Audiences

You may think that’s a waste of ink. But we need to understand that God originally intended each of these four stories for four different audiences. For instance, Matthew originally wrote to Jewish readers and ties a lot of his details about Jesus to God’s chosen people.

Luke composed his story specifically for a dude name Theophilus (Lk 1:1) and for non-Jewish Greek speakers in general. John wrote the biography of his best Friend a little later than the rest for a broader audience, filling in the gaps and passing along events the others leave out.

A Non-Stop Thrill Ride

So what about Mark? What’s the deal with the second Gospel? First of all, most biblical big wigs believe he’s writing for Roman readers. Back in the day, Romans didn’t fool around. They loved action.

As a result, Mark is a non-stop thrill ride with Jesus. It should come with a warning label. Buckle up before reading. Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

Peter’s Version

The fast pace is great but for me the cool thing about this particular book is the source. We may call it the Gospel of Mark but some of the earliest followers of Jesus understood this document to be based on Peter’s eyewitness account.

So while historically John Mark gets the byline, Pete’s the source. A better title might be “The Gospel of Peter as Told to John Mark,” but they didn’t ask me. Could there be a better reference for a story about Jesus than the team captain of the original Dirty Dozen?

Four Different Perspectives

What these four very similar but significantly different biographies of our Savior do for us today is provide four different perspectives on many of the same stories. This specific conversation between the Lord and His team is a perfect example.

We’ll focus here on Pete and Mark’s version but we’ll also take a moment and compare it to Matt and Luke along the way. Ready? Sweet. Let’s dive in!!

A Crazy Couple of Weeks

The camera zooms in on Jesus and the Twelve hitting the road after a brief but eventful stop in Bethsaida. The Lord has just restored the sight to a blind man (Mk 8:22-26). And now He’s about to open the eyes of His disciples like never before.

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks for Christ and His crew. He’s been trying to get alone with the boys for quite awhile (Mk 6:31). But everywhere they go, a crowd gathers.

Need to Get Away?

An audience estimated at 5,000 dudes (and probably at least 20,000 people) assembles and Jesus feeds them one of His legendary miracle meals (Mk 6:30-44). Next stop, Gennesaret, where people immediately recognize the Galilean Healer and plead with Him to cure the sick, diseased, and disabled (Mk 6:53-56).

Then bunch of religious bullies from the Hebrew home office ambush Him and accuse Him of ignoring their manmade rules (Mk 7:1-23). Jesus tries to slipping across the border near Tyre and Sidon to get some time with the Twelve. But even in a foreign country, a desperate mom begs Him to cast a demon from her baby girl (Mk 7:24-30).

A Second Miracle Meal

He then takes them back south to the eastern side of Lake Galilee near the Ten Towns. Local folks bring the Lord a hearing impaired gentleman for yet another miraculous healing (Mk 7:31-37).

The next thing you know, another huge crowd shows up for three whole days of teaching straight from Jesus. That means another miracle meal, this time for 4,000 men and the best guess of 16,000 folks (Mk 8:1-10).

There’s yet another run-in with the Pharisees who demand a magic show (Mk 8:11-13). Jesus follows that up with a pop quiz for the Twelve on a boat ride (Mk 8:14-21). They still can’t fully wrap their brains around what they’ve seen.

Hitting the Road Again

After opening the eyes of a blind dude in Bethsaida, our Savior hits the road with His team one more time. “Jesus and His disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi” (v27).

It’s about 25-30 mile trip up the Jordan River into the mountains. Caesarea Philippi sits at the base of Mount Hermon, near the source of the Jordan. The city is one of several massive construction projects in Palestine during the First Century.

Philip’s Caesar City

It takes its name from both Caesar and Philip, one of Herod the Great’s sons who rules over this little corner of the Roman Empire. It basically means Philip’s Caesar City. This is Phil’s way of sucking up to the emperor, Tiberius Caesar. You ALWAYS want to be on a dictator’s good side.

Caesarea sound familiar? Not surprising. There’s another city along the coast called Caesarea Maritima. That’s where God schedules a divine appointment for Peter with a Roman military officer named Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48).

A Few Moments Alone

Here in the tiny villages outside the big city, Jesus can FINALLY get a few moments alone with the disciples. He’s safe from those pesky Pharisees and Sadducees. And He’s just over the border in Iturea, where Herod Antipas can’t touch Him.

A.T. Robertson believes that Jesus is using this little mountain retreat as the perfect place to tell the guys what’s going down over the next six months. He’s about to make it clear for the first time what He’s come to do and what’s about to go down.

Eliminating Distractions

Alexander MacLaren agrees and says this is Christ’s way of eliminating the disciples’ distractions. He leads them “away from familiar ground into comparative seclusion of the country around Caesarea Philippi, in order to tell them plainly of His death.”

Even then, the Lord does it gently. Before He starts talking about dying a bloody death on a Roman cross and rising from the dead, He needs them to understand one very important truth. His true identity.

A Three-Step Process

Jesus will use a three-step process. First, He asks them who the public sees Him to be. Second, He asks them who they see Him to be. This sets the stage for revealing who He REALLY is.

This Is No Travel Game

Traveling somewhere in the boondocks, Jesus starts pulling back the curtain. “As they were walking along, He asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’” (v29). This is more than just another way to pass the time on the trip.

This might seem to be Jesus’ version of “I Spy” or “Punch Buggy.” For those born after 1990, parents used these little travel games to occupy their kids on long drives. Yes, there actually was a time before portable DVD players in the backseat.

Looking for Answers

No, Christ’s question has a very important purpose. It’s similar to the pop quiz He gave the disciples on the boat to Bethsaida (Mk 8:14-21). He’s building on that same conversation from a couple of days ago.

“Asked” (Gr. επερωταω/eperotao) is actually a legal term in Greek that describes interrogating someone and get to the bottom of a situation. Luke specifically picks this very same word when the Sanhedrin gives the apostles the third degree (Acts 5:27).

An Ongoing Conversation

And the grammar here in the original language tells us something most translations don’t. The form of the verb is actually in the 

imperfect tense. For those of us who aren’t English majors, the imperfect is the perfect way of saying Jesus is asking them more than once.

Mark wants us to know that this is a lot more than a single question. This is an ongoing conversation between the Lord and His team while they travel. We can easily read this as “He kept on asking them.”

The Time Is Right

Jesus knows the time is right. He’s taking advantage of the opportunity. With no crowd and no distractions, He’s not letting the disciples off the hook this time. Do not pass “Go.” Do not collect $200.

The Savior keeps asking them, “Who do people say I am?” (v27). So what’s the the buzz, boys? What’s the word on the street? What are folks saying about Him?

Slipping in the Side Door

Jesus uses this first question to subtly slip around to the disciples’ side door. He begins by disarming them. He ultimately wants to know what they believe about Him. But He starts by seeing how much public opinion has influenced their view of Him.

How about you and me? Are we allowing our view of Jesus to be shaped by pop culture and secular society? Or do we hold tight to who He says He is and what He came to do?

Who Is Jesus?

Most people really like Jesus…well, at least THEIR view of Him. They see Him as a great teacher. Others as some small-town rabbi. The list is endless. Prophet. Mystic. Revolutionary. Healer. Some folks on the fringe even think He’s an extraterrestrial. But God? Not so much.

Does world’s view of Jesus impact how we see Him? Do your friends, family, and coworkers look at you cockeyed because you believe in Christ? According to MacLaren, “The unpopularity of a belief drives away cowards, and draws the brave and true.”

Feeling Peer Pressure

Did you know feeling peer pressure about Jesus is nothing new. Way back in the First Century, Paul tells fellow Christ followers not to let culture squish them into the mold of belief.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2).

Think of it this way. True change doesn’t come outside pressure and fitting in to how the world thinks. The only real transformation comes when we allow God to swap out the corrupt operating system installed by culture and replace it with His way of seeing His Son as our Lord and Savior.

Putting Their Heads Together

The conversation continues along the winding mountain road. Jesus’ disciples put their heads together and answer His question. “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say You are one of the other prophets” (v28).

Apparently, word has gotten back to the boys about reports to Herod Antipas concerning the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth (Mk 6:14-15). These are the very same guesses by the king’s closest advisors.

Jesus’ Weird Cousin

Baptizin’ John was not just a prophet but Jesus’ weird cousin. He also played a key role at the Lord’s baptism. Nobody who was there that day along the Jordan will forget how the Father and Spirit showed up for the Son’s coming out party (Mk 1:9-11).

John’s brief prophetic career came to quick end when he kept calling out the king for stealing his own brother’s wife. Mark spends a big chunk of one chapter going over the very sleazy details that ends with the prophet’s bloody head on a silver serving tray (Mk 6:17-29).

A Prophetic Heavyweight

The disciples tell Jesus that some believe He’s Elijah. Man, talk about one of prophetic heavyweights of the OT. Just like John would do later, this particular messenger of God shook his fist at evil kings Ahab and Ahaziah.

When Ahab put a hit on Elijah in order to shut him up, God used to singlehandedly used this guy to wipe the floor with 450 pagan prophets on Mount Carmel (1Ki 18:20-40).

Funny thing about Elijah. He never died. God scooped him up in the most spectacular Uber the universe had ever seen to that point. He road home to heaven in a flaming chariot (2Ki 2:11)! Spoiler alert: It won’t be the last we see of this spokesman of God.

The One the Prophets Predicted

Other than Baptizin’ John and the Big E, folks figure Jesus must be “one of the other prophets” (v28). Some people just couldn’t decide which divine messenger He could be. Isaiah? Jeremiah? Maybe Ezekiel?

All of these prophets had a message for people to put an immediate end to their rebellion and disobedience so they could enjoy 

God’s overflowing goodness. Funny thing, just about every prophet predicted our Savior’s first appearance.

Cutting to the Chase

Now that He’s got the disciples’ take on pubic perception, Jesus cuts to the chase. “But who do you say I am?” (v29). He asks the REAL question. The question behind the question. What’s your answer when people ask about Him? What do you say?

Once again, a little peek at the grammar of the Greek helps us out. The form of the verb “say” (Gr. λεγω/lego) is in the present tense. Because of that, we can easily understand Jesus question to be, “But who are you saying I am?”

Asking about Their Leader

You can bet people are constantly asking the boys about their Leader. What do they tell them? What answer do they give? As the crowds grow larger and His popularity spreads, you know it comes up.

Could Jesus’ question to His disciples be the background for what Peter will write a little later? “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1Pet 3:15-16).

How about Us?

Who are you and I saying He is? In other words, this is a lot more than a one time confession and walking the aisle at a revival back in middle school. Doing it once and never saying it again doesn’t cut it. Who are we still saying He is?

Huddling up

Imagine being there when Jesus asks the Twelve for their answer. Can’t you see them huddling up like folks on the Family Feud? What should we say, Andrew? How ‘bout you, James? Is there any doubt, Thomas?

Peter steps up and speaks for the whole team. “You are the Messiah” (v29). But hold the phone! Does you Bible says something else? Most translations say “Christ” instead. What’s the dealio?

The Anointed One

The word in the original language here is Χριστος/Christos. Pretty easy to see this is where we get Christ. The term comes from a root word meaning to anoint something or someone for a very special purpose. He’s the Anointed One.

Χριστος/Christos is the NT Greek equivalent to the one the OT calls Messiah. He’s the long awaited Hero from heaven God promised to send from the beginning. He’s coming to restore the glory of God’s creation that we trashed through our sin and rebellion.

500-Plus Predictions

The very first hint of Messiah came in the opening pages of Scripture when Yahweh warns the satanic snake that He’s sending One to crush its head (Gen 3:15). God follows that by promising Abraham that Messiah will come from His family (Gen 12:1-3;17:1-8).

Later the Father uses the prophet Nathan to inform King David that one of his sons will not only be the eternal King of Kings but the Anointed One (2Sam 7:9-17). Those are just three of 500-plus messianic predictions in the Old Testament.

The Hero of the Bible

The big idea is that as Messiah Jesus is THE Hero of not just the New Testament but the entire Bible. The Lord says so Himself. He boldly tells Jewish leaders, “The Scriptures point to Me!” (Jn 5:39) and that Moses “wrote about Me” (Jn 5:46).

And just to be clear about the name Christ. Christ is NOT Jesus’ last name. His earthly parents’ names aren’t Joe and Mary Christ. It’s not His name but His title. He’s Jesus Christ, the Anointed One. Jesus Messiah.

Flip Back to the Beginning

So if Pete is Mark’s source, why doesn’t he include what the apostle says in the other Gospels? Matthew quotes Rocky as saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). In Dr. Luke’s account, he declares, “You are the Messiah sent from God” (Lk 9:20).

Before you get too worried that Mark’s pulling his punches, flip back to his opening line of Jesus’ bio. “This is the God News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1). He connects all the divine dots. Jesus. Messiah. Son of God.

Their Little Secret

Back outside Caesarea Philippi, the Lord tells His team that this will be their little secret for the time being. “But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him” (v30). The two other versions of this same story include the very same command (Mt 16: 28; Lk 9:21).

What the what?!? Why doesn’t the Savior want to get the word out? Some folks think this means Jesus never believed He was the sinless Son of God. Yeah, you can drop that thought like a bad habit. This is all about timing.

It’s a Good News embargo.

Not a Radical Revolutionary

There are three important reasons to keep it quiet. First of all, the Jews are desperate to get rid of the boot of Roman rule. The Hebrew people are looking for their Messiah top e a political and military leader.

More than once we see them ready to make Jesus the leader of the revolution (Jn 6:15; 12:12-15). Jesus doesn’t want the people to get the wrong idea about Messiah’s REAL mission. He’s not a radical revolutionary but a suffering Servant (Is 52:13-53:12).

Staying out of the Crosshairs

Second, Christ is wisely trying to stay out of the crosshairs of the local Roman rulers. There’s a lot to do between now and His date with death at Golgotha. They’ll get their hands on Him soon enough. In the meantime, there’s people to heal, demons to exorcise, and disciples to be trained.

An Accurate View of Messiah

Third, Jesus is on the verge of challenging everything they had come to believe about the Messiah. As a matter of fact, that starts in the following conversation (Mk 8:31-32). Just wait until they get to Jerusalem.

The Son of God knows they must see His messianic mission through the lens of His crucifixion and resurrection. He wants them to be accurate in who He is and what He’s done.

If they think Jesus is Messiah now? Just you wait, boys. Just you wait. It won’t be long before the Lord lifts the Good News embargo.

©2018

Jay Jennings