Communion Meditation: Who do you say that I am?

by Russ Moncrief

Who Do You Say I Am? In Mark chapter 8, Jesus asks His disciples: 'Who do you say I am?' Jesus was not the Messiah that the Jewish people expected-----they wanted an anointed king, a royal figure to come with political and military power to free Israel from their oppressors and restore its national glory. Jesus however, tries to make it clear that He will be rejected by the people, suffer greatly, and be put to death by His adversaries, but then rise again. Not cool. Definitely not acceptable. 

We call ourselves Disciples of Christ. If we have chosen Christ, then Why? Who is He to us? It matters who we understand Jesus to be because His identity shapes our own. That's what being a disciple means: embarking on a lifelong journey of allowing His identity to gradually shape our own. 

Jesus speaks of losing our lives for His sake, and for the sake of the Gospel: “If you want to be My disciple, you must put aside your desire for fame and fortune, and you must be willing to follow me into death, if that's where it ends up. I am not looking for people who simply want to benefit themselves. The world already has enough of those people.” 

Jesus instructs us that our perspective in this life should be based on eternity. It means giving our lives by spending them for others----using our time, resources, gifts, and energy so that others may experience God's Love made known in Jesus Christ. Our mission and the mission of the Church is to invite others to embark on this 'Way' with us. 

But how can we possibly do this? Our instinct for self-preservation and desire for worldly success fights it at every step. In this sense we are no different from the first Disciples. They certainly tried to save their lives. Though Jesus tried to prepare them for what was to come in Jerusalem, they all deserted Him and even denied they ever knew Him. 

Yet, the Gospel story is still proclaimed as 'Good News'. The whole story tells us Jesus was faithful unto death, even while all around Him proved faithless, and that God raised Him to new Life. And these disciples that had denied Him received from Him forgiveness for their abandonment and energy for future discipleship and sacrifice. And so will we. 

References: 

Lutheran Seminary Commentary on Mark 8: Elizabeth Johnson, Alyce M. Mckenzie 

Russ Moncrief is a semi-retired veterinarian and a member and Elder at Mapleton Church of Christ (Disciples) in Ontario. He and his spouse, Lesley, are the parents of two adult children, Scott and Whitney.