Mark 8:27-29  Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (NIV)

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To you, who is Jesus?

Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was. Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Peter got it right when he answered, “You are the Messiah.” 

Three verses later, Peter got it wrong. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Peter rebuked Jesus. Peter rebuked the Messiah. 

Do you notice anything wrong about that encounter? 

The next verse says Jesus, in turn, rebuked Peter. And he didn’t do it nicely. He did do it kindly. It would have been unkind to let Peter linger with the idea that Jesus would not do what he came to do. So, Jesus said plainly, “Get behind me, Satan.” 

Of all the things you want Jesus to say to you, this may be number one on the list of things you don’t want him to say to you. 

Jesus didn’t simply say those hard words and walk away like some television character. Instead, he explained what he meant. He said, “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 

More was going on than Peter yet understood. 

Peter named Jesus the Messiah. The ability to name something indicates some measure of authority. We name our children, we name our dogs, we name our cars, our houses, our boats. We name all kinds of things. Peter, in naming Jesus, felt a measure of authority he did not have. 

Jesus kindly stopped him right there. He didn’t wait for an opportune time later to get Peter alone quietly and say, “Hey, you probably shouldn’t say those kinds of things to me in public in front of other people. You should probably have that kind of conversation with me privately.” 

Nope, he didn’t do that. 

It was important for everyone to know that Jesus was the Messiah, and as the Messiah, he was in charge. In fact, he was in charge of what was going to happen next. He came for this very purpose. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. (See Mark 10:45.)

Let’s return to our question: To you, who is Jesus? 

As the Messiah, he gets to make the plans. He gets to execute the plans. He gets to fulfill his purpose. 

As the Messiah, he’s in charge here, and I am not. Jesus doesn’t belong to me. I belong to him. He is not my servant to do my bidding, but I am his. 

Jesus knows what we cannot know. Jesus sees what we cannot see. What Jesus wants for Himself and for me is better than anything I could ever dream possible. 

Life goes a whole lot better when we see Jesus for who He really is and relate to Him on that basis. 

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I will learn to see Jesus for who He really is. 

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Our Father, thank you for correcting us when we are confused. Thank you for opening our eyes when we are blind. Thank you for opening our ears to hear your wonderful words of life. You are in charge of my life. Deploy me as you see fit. I belong to you. Amen.