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27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." 34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."(Mark 8:27-38 NRSV Bible)
Dear Friend, Happy Monday! As we pray today, please pray for Mr. Juan Lerma, uncle to our son-in-law Jesse. Mr. Lerma has inoperable cancer and is losing the battle against that dreaded disease. Pray for God's will to be done, and for comfort and peace be with Mr. Lerma. May the Lord bless you for blessing others with your prayers.
Most of us have faced some of the toughest questions that life can throw at us. From the routine: Are you ready to get up? What are you going to wear? What do you want to eat for breakfast? What are you going to do today? To the most difficult: Are you in love with me? Will you be my girl/boyfriend? Will you marry me? Do you want to have children? What happens when we die? Is there really life after death? And this passage has Jesus asking the question that would define the disciples and their faith; "Who do the people say I am?" The question was valid because Jesus knew everyone was asking, "Who is this man named Jesus?" They were amazed by what he could do and what He was doing, so Jesus asked them the question about what others were saying about Him. The disciples had heard and so they answered readily, "Some say 'John the Baptizer,'" "And others say 'Elijah.' Still others say 'one of the prophets.'" Then the hard question, "And you - what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Whoa! Now Jesus is prying! Or is He? It was good ole Peter who answered first with his answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah."
Our pastor's sermon this morning (Sunday as I write this) reminded me that the demons know His name, they also know His power, and they're fearful of Him! Pastor Matt also pointed out that Jesus did not want the unclean spirit saying His name. Jesus wanted to hear from those whom He had called to be alongside Him in ministry and service. He knew that they knew His name, but did they truly know Who He was? Peter's answer was right on target, for he said the right answer (gold star by his name!); "You are the Christ, the Messiah." Jesus is the long awaited and anointed Son of God, who would die for humanity's sins and Who would become the Redeemer of the world.
Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah reveals a profound truth, yet it is only part of the picture. Peter’s expectation of a conquering hero contrasts sharply with Jesus’ prediction of suffering and rejection. This moment highlights the gap between human expectations and divine reality. How is it with you? The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, when asked pointblank if he knew who Jesus was, said, "I know Him to be the savior of the world." John Spandenberg, who was asking, then had to ask, "But do you know Him as your Savior?" It was easy to provide a "Sunday school answers" versus a personal knowledge of Jesus.
Jesus then explains that true discipleship involves taking up one's cross and following Him. This imagery of the cross, a symbol of sacrifice and suffering, challenges us to reconsider what it means to follow Jesus. It’s not just about recognizing Jesus as Lord but about living out that recognition through our own sacrifices and commitment.
Jesus further emphasizes the paradox of discipleship: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” Here, He calls us to let go of our self-centered pursuits and embrace a life of service and surrender.
This all begs the question, yes again, who do we say Jesus is by the way we live? Are we making Jesus truly the savior of our lives by our words, deeds, and thoughts? If we feel that we are failing, this is the time to ask God for help. God can and will bless us reach that point that Jesus wanted His disciples to be. That will bring the world to Jesus. After all, we don't want to be an embarrassment to God the father
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself as the Messiah and for showing us the way of true discipleship. Help us to understand and embrace the cost of following You. Give us the strength to take up our cross daily and to live in a way that reflects Your sacrificial love. May our lives be a testimony to Your grace and truth. Guide us in making choices that align with Your will and bring glory to Your name, this we pray in Thy strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Are there areas where you need to align more closely with the way of the cross? Consider what it means for you personally to “take up your cross” and follow Jesus. Perhaps it’s letting go of certain comforts, forgiving someone who has wronged you, or serving others in need. Take a moment today to pray about these areas and seek God's guidance on how to live out the costly grace of discipleship.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
