LENT 2 – Feb. 28, 2021 – Mark 8:27-38
“THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHO JESUS IS”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 8. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There was a program on television called “Undercover Boss.” The show was about business owners who disguised themselves as newly hired employees and then went to work at the lower levels of their business to find our how things really were in the company, what his real employees actually thought. He also checked up on who was productive and who wasn’t.
- It is important to know who people are. Some people got fired. Some people got raises and promotions. The world is like this. Some people say that “it’s not WHAT you know and can do, but WHO you know that enables you to get ahead in the world.” Social networking, and websites like Linked-In connect people who may be able to give you recommendations or even potential jobs.
- Even more important is knowing who Jesus is. That is the main import of our text for this morning. And in the case of Jesus, it is not just a matter of casual acquaintance, or knowing some things about Him. Rather, it is a matter of knowing Who He is and what He has accomplished for us. To know these things is actually to have a huge treasure!
- But sadly:
I. Many People Have False Notions About Who Jesus Is
Text: “Jesus asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they told Him, ‘John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
Statement: It is no different today. If we were to go around the world asking people what they think about Jesus, we would likely get even more far-fetched answers. Even in America, which used to be well-versed in what the Bible taught and knowledgeable about the basics of Christianity, we would many people who know very little about Jesus. And of course, we have the various cults and sects who present a Jesus much different than the One we believe in, the One described in our text and the rest of the Bible.
Application: I suppose some people might not think that this such a big deal. They might reason that since it’s impossible to meet Jesus and know Him personally, that it doesn’t really matter Who He is. They are unaware of the huge role that He is playing in their lives, their existence, and their eternal fate.
But even worse:
II. Even Among Those Who Know [Or At Least Confess] That Jesus Is The Christ, There Can Be Misunderstanding
A. Jesus Is The Christ, The Christ Is The Savior, And The Savior Must Suffer And Die
Text: “Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed.”
B. Jesus Is The Christ, The Son Of God, And He Rises Again From The Dead In Victory
Text: “And after three days He will rise again. And He said this plainly.”
C. And Jesus, The Christ, The Son Of God Calls Us To Follow Him
1. In self-sacrificial commitment
Text: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
2. Putting Christ and the Gospel as our first priority
Text: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s sake will save it.”
3. And we know that the time of judgment and glory is coming
Text: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Statement: The purpose of Jesus’ suffering and death is well attested to in the Bible. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. His shed blood cleanses us from all sin. He is the blood atonement for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world. This is Who He is and what He came to accomplish for us.
Application: To know this is to have peace with God right now, right here in this life! To know this gives us great peace and joy about Judgment Day and the life to come. In the case of the Last Day, Who we know will be of critical importance! What is offered to us, by Jesus Himself, is to know the Judge, the great King of the universe, Who judges and determines all things! He offers us not only forgiveness but also eternal life in His heavenly kingdom!
This is true for all who believe in Him, all who follow Him. But:
III. Those Asserting And Living Otherwise Do The Devil’s Bidding, No Matter Who They Are
Text: “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
Statement: Peter’s response would be our own, if a loved one predicted his/her own rejection, suffering and death. In fact, Peter’s response is about how we respond when Jesus speaks of us having to “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him,” even to the point of losing our life for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel! When first confronted with this we likely think: “Well, I didn’t sign up for this.”
Application: But after a time, as we age and find out that clinging to our own pleasures, pride, and privilege isn’t all that pleasant, we perhaps begin thinking about living for a larger and nobler purpose. Jesus puts one directly in front of us, with promises too! And if we know Him, then we can see how His self-sacrifice has benefited us and changed the whole world! Then we can see what a blessing and privilege He affords us to be a part of His work, His mission.
Conclusion: And in the end, on the Last Day, what joy and glory will be ours also, we who sided with the Lord in this life and followed Him! On that day it will very much be a matter of Who we know, and not what we can do. For we confess our sin, even our selfishness and reluctance to follow Jesus. We live in His gracious forgiveness day after day.
And we will live with Him in glory forever – all because of the Gospel, all because of what He did for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection! So, come, let us follow Him. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting. Amen.