Feb. 25, 2024

Who is Jesus?

Mark 8:27-38

One of the two most important questions one can ask is: “Who is Jesus?” If you were to go around and ask people today, you would get many answers. Some would be like the answers the Pharisees and Sadducees gave: “He was a crackpot.” “He was a narrow-minded bigot, just like Christians today.” Yet, there are many who would answer as Peter did: “He is the Christ.” To answer this question, one needs to consult the Scriptures about what is said of Jesus as well as what Jesus said of Himself. Jesus asks His disciples: “Whom do men say that I am?” This was an indirect way of getting to the question He really wanted them to answer, which was “But whom do you say that I Am?” They answered with several possibilities, Now Jesus asks the disciples for their opinion. Peter answers for them and says “You are the Christ.” This is true about Jesus. But what exactly does “Christ” mean? The Greek, the translation is “The Anointed One.” This word also translates the Hebrew “Messiah”. It is interesting to note that “Messiah” occurs only two times in the entire New Testament, both times in John’s gospel. In Aramaic, Peter is “Cephas” which means “a pebble.” Jesus in the Gospel of John had already given Simon the name “Cephas.” It was always Gods plan to include the Gentiles alongside the Jews. Jesus is LORD and Christ of all. 

Questions:

1.    How did the disciples respond to Jesus questions?

2.    What does “Christ” mean?

3.    What was always a part of God’s plan?