060917 Sermon - Mark 8:27-38 Jesus Is The Messiah

Jesus’ chose disciples to be fishers of men (Mark 1:17). Simon would be a Rock (John 1:42). But, James and John wouldn’t always be unloving sons of thunder (Mark 3:17).
Peter eliminated wrong choices for identifying Jesus like “John the Baptist, Elijah and other prophets, “You are the Chosen Messiah.” Names (“nomen”) are the essential Law of a person’s very existence in the ancient world.
Just as Betty Robinson and Margaret Dunbar are beautiful smiling people, others show gifts and graces in differing ways.
Jesus leads us to chosen-ness. He is “the Chosen One” (in Greek Christos, and in Hebrew the M’shiach – whence comes “Messiah”).
Something in us resists keeping His true identity quiet, even if the Jewish tradition says to keep God’s name holy and unmentionable. The good news that Jesus is the promised Messiah is so dramatic that the stones would cry out to God (Matthew 3:9; Luke 19:40), all knees will bow and tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:11), and all creation groans as if in childbirth to this end (Romans 8:19-22).

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

Jesus prophesized His suffering, death and resurrection. Then Peter tried to deny it. Jesus said, “You have no idea how God works,” then invited us to be His disciples by letting Him lead. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow Him and He will show you how to embrace suffering. Self-sacrifice is better than Self-help, because saving your true self happens when you lose yourself in Him. Don’t lose the real you by trying to hold on to the things of this world.
If you are embarrassed about where Jesus is leading you, then you’ll experience greater embarrassment in the end times when Christ comes with His host of holy angels.

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

We can’t afford to appear to be a case of “mistaken identity" or a “wrong choice,” like King Saul, who when he was about to be presented to the tribes of Israel as their new king, he could not be found. And God told those seeking him, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage" (1 Samuel 10:22) like Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden.
God chose Adam and Eve to be the crowning good of creation, but we failed. God chose Saul to be the leader and ruler of His people, but his failure was foreshadowed by his hiding and shirking responsibility.
Maybe you’re intimidated by the magnitude of tasks before you, fearful of the unknown, doubtful of your ability to follow God’s will successfully. Or maybe you’re just waiting for the approval of Israelites or someone else before really casting your lot in with Jesus.
Don’t "hide among the baggage" of reluctance, self-doubt, insecurity, fear of failure. Step up to do what God has chosen and empowered you to do.

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

Peter said you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Ambition, acclaim, recognition - wars are fought over titles and privileges. Real and fictional tragedies always display human weakness or hubris to cling to self-importance or “l’onore” (honor).
Honor is temporary. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior makes you and me permanent children of the Lord God of all creation. Some of us might live an unfortunate and fearful existence like the homeless people around us, but each person is invited to be permanently adoption into God’s family. God has chosen us to be children of the King of kings.
God claims each of us and names us holy saints to "proclaim the mighty acts of him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light."

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
Stressful situations at home or work may have left some of your relationships broken or unworkable. Now, you’re challenged from within to help bridge the gap and restore relations so God's work is done.
Jesus chose you to be a peacemaker, because you are supposed to be a child of God. The prophet Isaiah says, "You will be called repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets to dwell in." God chooses you to dwell in peace with restored relationships and communication.

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

Brian J. Mayper of Texas reported in the Upper Room that he was raised in the Jewish faith and had never known Christ as Savior and Lord. Many people and circumstances led him to a walk with Christ. He finally opened his heart to Jesus and was born again. But he feared sharing the Good News with his Jewish family who had not accept Jesus as the Messiah. He didn’t know how they would react. . . how to put the words together that would help them understand. But he remembered Paul asking the Ephesians to pray that he would open his mouth so that words would come and he would be “fearless to make known the mystery of the Gospel” (Ephesians 6:19).
In casual conversation, Brian’s family asked him if he was going to church. He said yes, and he was able to talk about his transformation. In fact, since then a few of his family members have accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior too.
He constantly shares his faith with others and feels it is one of the things God has called him to do. Through casual conversation, the Lord helped him speak of something he feared. This taught him that we should not fear what others think but trust that the Lord will give us the words to speak.
Once you are born again (John 3:7) then no matter who we are or what sins we are guilty of, Jesus receives us just as we are. Salvation is a gift that awaits each person who comes to Christ. We do not have to work out all our questions; we just come to Jesus and listen to his words of welcome: "Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37).
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to respond with confidence to Your choosing us for Your work and rest. May every moment of our life be dedicated to pleasing and serving You in Christ's love. May each of us say, “My identity comes from Jesus Christ: I am a child of God.” Teach to repair and make peace in our own times and places, so that broken relationships are restored. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that helps us accept by faith that you love us and offer us new life. Great Communicator, thank You for grace beyond our understanding. Give us courage to be fearless in our mission to spread the Gospel. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.