"Practically Divine" - Week 4

Today, we are going to read an important piece of Scripture. The passage we will begin with includes a question Jesus asked His disciples. Any time I read red-letter questions from Jesus, I like to read them as if He is asking them directly to me. After all, I am a disciple.

Read Mark 8:27-30.

Can you imagine Jesus is sitting right in front of you and asking you to tell Him who your family, your friends, your co-workers, and even your church say that He is? How would you answer?

The world has many different descriptions for Jesus. The Body of Christ has many different descriptions for who Jesus is. We’d probably have as many different answers as Peter; a prophet, Elijah, John the Baptizer, a good person, a teacher, etc.

Then, imagine that He looks right into your eyes and says, “Who do YOU say that I am?”

How would you answer? How would I answer. The answer to this question is important, and I love that Jesus demonstrated in this passage that He cares about us knowing who He is…. Personally.

I would love for us to spend some time today contemplating who Jesus is to each of us. Corporately, Jesus is our Savior, Messiah, the Son of God. He also has His way of dealing with and relating to each of us as individuals. I think it would be appropriate to end this week of study with a personal confession to Jesus.

Studying Scripture is important. Fellowship with other believers in a church setting is crucial. But, nothing else can take the place of a one-on-one, personal, and intimate relationship with Jesus. He’s invited us in, and we ought to take Him up on that invitation.

John 5:39-40 says, You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Jesus was talking to a group of people that was clinging so desperately to the written Word that they missed the living Word, and He was there to commune with them personally. He lived among them in the flesh, but they wanted to focus on Words written about Him. We have the Living Jesus inside of us in the form of Spirit, and He wants us to experience WHO He is in our actual life.

Who do you say Jesus is?

How does Jesus want to interact with you today?

Thank Him for all the ways He has personally interacted with you and ask Him to open your heart and mind to know Him even more.

Before you end your time today, finish Mark 8. There aren’t many verses left. But, they’re important. Jesus predicted His death with the disciples at the end of this chapter. Then, He began telling them how they’d need to live in His absence.

Jesus explained His upcoming suffering and then introduced to the disciples to the idea of sharing with Him in their own suffering. It didn’t go over well! See for yourself.

On Monday, we will move into chapter 4 of our book. I look forward to seeing you then.

God, give us grace to know You more. Give us the strength to surrender to Your ways. Often, they are completely contrary to the way we’d choose to live for ourselves. We are so grateful that You stick closely, and you guide us as we go.