The Pilgrim Path---Mark 8: 27—30

And 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?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

YOU ARE THE CHRIST…

A decision must be made about Jesus of Nazareth. Exactly who is he? At this juncture all the disciples would have made this declaration that Peter made (except Judas). It seems you would have heard each of them say, “You are the Anointed One of God” (and Matthew’s Gospel adds---“the Son of the Living God”---Matthew 16: 16). This realization made a difference in their lives:

---they started following Jesus

---they left their jobs

---they had to leave old routines

---they did not “see” family as often as before

---they would certainly be misunderstood by many

---they had much they did not yet understand

---they had to learn to deal with exceptionally large crowds

---they had to deal with sick and infirmed people

---they probably never dealt with demon possessed folk before

---they probably did not want to upset the Pharisees

---they were perhaps unaccustomed to such incredible lessons of self-denial

---they had to keep hearing about the Cross

---they had to keep hearing about Death and Resurrection

---they had to learn: the “greatest” is the One who serves

---they had to learn that eternal Life begins now…

“You are the Christ.”

From Robert Hawker (1753—1827) originally educated as a surgeon but then became a vicar in the Church of England near Plymouth (known for the “Poor Man’s” devotionals). A wonderful Prayer entitled, “Jesus My Friend.”

Do you ask me to set you in my heart, and on my arm? LORD Jesus, I wish to wear you in my heart. Never, never depart from my arms.

I wish to feel you inwardly, and to testify to you by every outward testimony. And as seals upon the arm and upon the breast are in sight, so I wish to set you always before me, and tell the whole earth whose I am, and whom I love.

Wherever you go I will go, and where you dwell, I will dwell for I am no longer my own but am bought with a price. Therefore, I will glorify God in my body, and in my spirit, which are yours.

Oh, precious LORD, when I think of your love and my ingratitude…But LORD, it is yours to love, yours to pity, yours to pardon.

LORD, give me grace to take you as my own. And while you are still saying to me, and to your church, “I have called you friends,” may I say, “This is my Friend, and this is my Beloved, O daughters of Jerusalem!” Amen.

Nearer, ever nearer, Christ, we draw to thee,

Deep in adoration, bending low the knee:

Thou for our redemption cam’st on earth to die;

Thou, that we might follow, hast gone up on high.

Godfrey Thring, 1862, 1882

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason