Last Sunday, September 16, I had the privilege again of giving a sermon in my home local church, the ReThink Community, a local congregation of my denomination, the Grace Communion International. Based on Mark 8:27-38, I spoke about who Jesus is and who we humans are in Jesus Christ — especially those who believe in Him.
Here’s my sermon outline. (Right below this text outline, I have also included the Facebook Live video of the message.)
A. Who is Jesus Christ?
At the beginning of the gospel of Mark, we the modern readers have the benefit of reading right away in Mark 1:1 as to who Jesus is. Mark tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
When Jesus baptized, God the Father said in Mark 1:11, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” God the Father identifies Jesus as his Son.
In Mark 1:23-24, an evil spirit identified Jesus and said, “I know who you are– the Holy One of God!” Jesus told him to keep quiet about his real identity. It was not yet time for Jesus to be revealed at that point in time. “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” (Mark 1:25).
When Jesus was alone with his 12 disciples and some others, “He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” (Mark 4:10-11).
Jesus always talked in parables publicly. “But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:33-34)
Jesus and his disciples went around Galilee preaching the good news and at one time they were in the middle of the lake. As Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat, there developed a thunderstorm with strong winds. The disciples were terrified and woke Jesus up. “They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41).
The evil spirits called Legion identified Jesus as the Son of the Most High God (Mark 5:7-9).
At one time Jesus revived a 12 year old girl who was already dead. “He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.” They were told to keep this a secret.
In his own hometown in Nazareth, Jesus was a nobody to his relatives and town mates. “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3) Coming back to his hometown, Jesus was considered as just one of the ordinary guys. That is who Jesus was to them — just a nobody.
A lot of speculation developed as to who Jesus really was.
“King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead.” (Mark 6:14-16)
After miraculous feeding of the 5,000 Jesus told the disciples to go ahead on the boat going to Bethsaida. In the evening, they were already in the middle of the lake rowing hard when Jesus was about to pass them by walking on water! They were terrified thinking Jesus was a ghost! Same question: “Who is this man?” (Mark 6:44-52)
The deaf-mute whom Jesus healed was told to keep quiet, but I guess he was practicing his new skill in talking after being healed of being mute (Mark 7:35-36).
The Pharisees also came to question who Jesus was and asked him for a miraculous sign. But Jesus would not give them any sign at all (Mark 8:11-12).
So, Who was Jesus According to the People?
So, who was Jesus Christ according to people’s views about him? The disciples answered that people thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah or some other prophet. There were a lot guessing. (Mark 8:27-28)
But Who was Jesus According to his Disciples?
But then Jesus asked the disciples themselves for their opinion of who Jesus was. And Peter was quick to answer (Mark 8:29). And then they were told to keep quiet about it. (Mark 8:30)
Who Jesus is According to Jesus
And then Jesus told them who the real Messiah is in Mark 8:31. When Peter said, “You are the Christ,” he had the right answer, but he had the wrong concept of the Messiah. He thought of a conquering king like old times during the time of King David and Solomon.
B. Who Are we in Jesus Christ?
Who are we in Jesus Christ? We are his followers. We are his disciples. But does it entail when we claim to be a follower of Jesus? “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Greek, Christianos, meaning a follower of Jesus. A Christian is a disciple or a follower of Jesus.
What it means to be a follower of Jesus?
At this point in time, Jesus began to go public. He not only talked to his disciples, but he also invited the crowd — the public, to listen as well.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
Here Jesus begins to explain what it means to be a follower or disciple of Jesus: it’s self-denial and cross-bearing. Here we see where this road of discipleship will lead to: losing one’s life. And it’s going to be messy!
Deny Oneself
Denying oneself – not just moralistic changes in behavior or delaying satisfaction for future benefits. But a total change in our thinking. Be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Focused on Christ. Become Christ-centered, not self-centered.
Self-denial does not mean seeking or embracing abuse for its own sake, as if suffering is something we like. Jesus spent over seven chapters in Mark healing the sick and helping people. He was not promoting suffering. He was not endorsing suffering as something to look forward to.
The kind of suffering Jesus is talking about is in Mark 8:35, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
This kind of unjust suffering is because we are followers of Jesus and we are not ashamed of it. We don’t deny Jesus just like Peter denied him 3 times at one time in his life. This kind of unjust suffering is because we are living and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
But if we are suffering because we are sinning and doing wrong, being evil and causing harm to others, that’s not the suffering we are talking about.
Cross-bearing
Taking up our cross does not mean simply enduring unto the end. The cross meant death. It means giving up our own reputation and life.
Conclusion:
So, Who is Jesus Christ? He is our Savior and Lord. He is the Messiah. He suffered and died but was resurrected, ascended to heaven and will return.
And Who are we? We are God’s children. We are followers of Jesus Christ and we are ready deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. And we are waiting for his return when we shall be changed and have glorified bodies just like Jesus has. That’s who we are my friends!
May this good news about who Jesus is and who we are in Jesus inspire us to carry on, deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus.
May I share this Facebook Live video of this message beginning at about 23:48.