What Will You Do with Jesus?

I trust you have your Bibles this morning, and I want you to find Mark 8:27.  I want to share with a message entitled, “What Will You Do with Jesus?”  I would suggest this is the most important question that you will ever answer and perhaps the only question that every person who has ever lived will have to answer. 

 

Last Sunday, we saw that from Mark 8 and Jesus healing a blind man that salvation is a process.  Spiritual maturity is a process.  Jesus touched the blind man three times before he could see clearly, and remember that physical blindness in the Bible was often symbolic of spiritual blindness.  Jesus touching the man three times does not say that Jesus’ single touch was insufficient.  God had ordained not only the end but the means as well.

 

I also pointed out last Sunday that we see the salvation and spiritual maturity process in the life of the disciples.  In Mark 8:16, they had not understood what having just one loaf of bread meant.  They didn’t understand what Jesus could do with just their one loaf because of who He was.  Today, you will see in Mark 8:27-30 that they understand.  Salvation is a process.  Spiritual maturity is a process.

 

 

1. A Question for the Public, Mark 8:27-28

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”  28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 

 

Jesus and His disciples were now in a predominately Gentile area when Jesus asked His disciples about what others were saying about Him.  That question is found in verse 27, “Who do men say that I am?”  In other words, what is the word on the street? 

 

In verse 28, we find their answers.  In other words, in verse 28 we find the public consensus.  Some said that Jesus was John the Baptist.  Actually, there was one main person who said this, and then everyone else followed his lead.  See Mark 6:16.

 

“16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”  

 

The Jews then followed Herod’s lead and thought that Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated continuing his ministry of announcing the Messiah.

 

Others said that Jesus was Elijah reincarnated.  Elijah was considered by most Jews to be the supreme Old Testament prophet, and according to Malachi 4:5-6, Elijah was going to come again before the Day of the Lord.  See Malachi 4:5-6.

 

“5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

 

Third, there were others who thought Jesus just to be one of the other prophets.

 

The answers of public consensus in the first century are not much different than the twenty-first century.  Today, many religious Jews and Muslims think that Jesus a major and very important prophet.

 

Even secular people believe that Jesus was a great moral teacher in the line of Socrates and Aristotle. However, all of those understandings are inadequate.

 

 

2. A Confession from Peter, Mark 8:29

29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 

 

In verse 29, Jesus looked directly at His disciples and asked them, “But who do you (plural) say that I am?”  That question is one that every person in the room will have to answer sooner or later.  That question is the most important question you will ever answer. 

 

It is fine to talk about who Jesus was to your mom and dad or who He was to your grandmother or grandfather or who He was to your aunt and uncle.  However, at some point, even today, you will have to answer for yourself, “Who do you say that Jesus is” or “What will you do with Jesus?”

 

Speaking on behalf of the entire twelve, Peter answered, and this is one of Peter’s shining moments.  “You are the Christ.” 

 

Notice that Peter answered differently than the crowds.  His answer was not one of public consensus but of personal conviction. 

 

Jesus wasn’t just a great prophet.  He wasn’t just a great moral teacher.  He was THE Christ.  He was the promised Messiah.  He was the Anointed One who was promised foreshadowed in Genesis 3:21 to save humanity from their sins.

 

21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

 

And He is only way to be at peace with God, to have forgiveness of sins, and to have a home in heaven for eternity. 

 

 

3. A Concern about Publicity, Mark 8:30

30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

 

Jews in the first century had an idea about a coming Messiah, but it was not Jesus.  They were expecting a military deliver.  Jesus came with Messianic directive, and that was to give His life as a ransom for many.

 

Therefore, in order not to preserve God’s timetable, He instructed the Twelve to tell no one yet. 

 

 

Conclusions/Invitation

I want to conclude today by reminding you of the consequences of your answer to this most important question.  If you answer today’s question, “What Will You Do with Jesus” like the public, your destination will be Hades or Hell. 

What is Hades?  It is a place of distress, of defeat, of death.  Ultimately, it is a place that is devoid of God in Christ for eternity. 

 

Luke 16:23, 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 

1 Corinthians 15:55, 55 “O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?”

 

Revelation 20:13-14, 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

However, if your answer is that of Peter that Jesus is the Christ and your Lord and Savior, your destination is Heaven.

 

This morning, you must answer that question.  What will you do with Jesus?

 

Will you be saved?  Will you share that message with your lost family and friends?  Will you join a church that believes and preaches that Jesus is the Christ?