Jesus the Christ

Mark 8:27-37

PETER’S confession that Jesus was the Christ is thought provoking when studied in the light of the divine plan of salvation. It was given in response to a question which the Master had addressed directly to his disciples as to who they thought he was. Just before this, Jesus had asked them what the general public thought of him, and whether or not they had any opinions as to who he might be, prophetically speaking. In answer to this question they reported that some thought he was John the Baptist, others that he was the foretold Elias, or one of the other prophets.

Those who believed that Jesus was John the Baptist evidently thought that John had been raised from the dead. A misidentification of Jesus by the public could easily occur at that time. While many had seen both John and Jesus face to face, thousands had not, and without such contact they lacked a clear impression of their personal appearance. The art of photography was unknown then, and there were no newspapers to display the pictures of those prominent in the daily happenings of Judea.

It is noteworthy that the public had favorable viewpoints concerning the identity of Jesus. All the reports indicated that they believed Jesus was a man sent by God, a great prophet and teacher. This was good, and how like this have been the viewpoints of millions throughout the centuries since. The whole civilized world looks upon Jesus as one sent by God: Their opinions as to just who he was have varied widely. Some have claimed that he was no more than a brilliant member of the fallen and dying race; one, nevertheless, who was devoted to God and unselfishly interested in the betterment of his fellow men.

Others claim that Jesus was God himself, incarnate in flesh. Between these two extreme views all sorts of opinions have been held concerning Jesus, all of them good in the sense that they give recognition to him as a servant of God. Millions have called him Christ, and confess him as such, even as Peter did; but when questioned, the vast majority of these are found to be using the name Christ simply because it is given in the Scriptures, and have no clear idea as to its real significance.

Very seldom, indeed, has anyone spoken a derogatory word against Jesus since the enemies of his own time caused him to be put to death. However, simply recognizing Jesus as a servant of God is not enough on the part of those who wish to be his true disciples. Probably Jesus was glad that “men” thought so highly of him, but he was concerned about his disciples. Was their vision any clearer than that of the world? “Whom say ye that I am?”

Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ!” Matthew tells us that in response Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, but that he had received it from the Heavenly Father. (Matt. 16:17) This was just another way of saying that Peter had not reached this conclusion upon the basis of human reasoning alone, but that God had enlightened his mind to understand this vital truth. Yes, Peter was one to whom it was given by God to know the mysteries of the kingdom.

The fact of Jesus being the Christ is a very basic and vital truth. It means that he was the sent of God—not merely a prophet whom God was pleased to use, but the One whom all the prophets had foretold, the Messiah, the King of kings, the Savior, and the great Judge of all. This great One in the divine plan had been promised in many ways in the Old Testament. He was to be the “seed of the woman” which would bruise the serpent’s head. He was to be the “seed” of Abraham through which all the families of the earth were to be blessed. “Shiloh,” “that prophet,” the “root of David,” the “morning Star,” the “arm of the Lord,” “The everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace,” and many others, were names and titles which the prophets had ascribed to this One whom the Heavenly Father had promised to send to redeem and bless Israel and all nations.

When Peter said to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ,” it meant that he recognized in Jesus the One who had come into the world to perform all the services which were represented in these many names and titles. His declaration was a marvelous display of spiritual vision, a vision which he could possess only because it had been especially given to him by the Heavenly Father.

Peter’s confession was more than merely applying the name Christ to the Master. Millions have done this, yet believed that Jesus was a third person in a trinity of gods, and that he had manifested himself in the flesh for the purpose—in some mysterious way—of rescuing sinners from eternal torture in a hell of fire and brimstone. Holding to such a view in itself proves that one has not properly identified Jesus as the One whom the Father sent to bless all the families of the earth, and to be the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Undoubtedly Jesus was pleased with Peter’s confession, but he cautioned his disciples against making the fact too public. Opposition against the Master was growing, and he took this occasion to explain to those close to him that it would be necessary for him to suffer many things, to be rejected by the elders, and finally to be put to death. While Peter’s vision was sufficient to enable him to identify Jesus as the Christ, he did not as yet recognize that the Christ must suffer and die before he could enter into his kingdom glory, so Peter said to Jesus, “Be it far from thee Lord.”—Matt. 16:22

Then Jesus turned and rebuked Peter, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan: … for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” In other words, Peter here expressed a viewpoint based solely upon human reasoning—human reasoning, moreover, strongly influenced by selfishness. Such reasoning dictates that self-interest must be given first consideration.

But the “things which be of God” are not always the most pleasing to the flesh, or seemingly to the best interests of self. In Jesus’ case it was the divine will that he should die as the world’s Redeemer. Any planning on Jesus’ part which would circumvent the divine will for him would be contrary to his covenant with God. And while by such planning he might temporarily save himself from falling into the hands of his enemies and being put to death, he would thereby lose the smile of his Heavenly Father’s approval, and that would be disastrous indeed.

Jesus explained this viewpoint further, adding that those who seek to save their lives shall lose them, while those who lose their lives for his sake and the gospel’s shall save them. The application of this principle during the Gospel age is limited to the true followers of the Master, those who have consecrated to follow in his footsteps even unto death. For such consecrated ones to endeavor to save their lives after covenanting to give them up in sacrifice, would mean that they were like the man who put his hand to the plow and then looked back. In this connection Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.”—Luke 9:62; 17:32

“What shall it profit a man,” asked Jesus, “if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Those who have entered into a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice might mistakenly suppose that they could do much better for themselves by withholding that which they have given to the Lord; but such will find, ultimately, that they have instead suffered a great loss, the loss of their “soul,” or life. They endeavored to save their lives by not carrying out the terms of their consecration, but lost their spiritual life because they did not, by self-sacrifice, continue to “seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”—Rom. 2:7

While the application of the principle set forth in our lesson is particularly to those who are now sacrificing earthly life, and are pressing toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, it will always be true that the course of selfishness, self-interest, will lead to death. No one will enjoy eternal life on any plane of existence who is not motivated in all things by the divine principle of love.

The opportunity of laying down life in God’s service will cease with the full end of the present Gospel age, but even those who attain restitution life by walking over the highway of the Millennium will need to have hearts that are willing to sacrifice their all that others might be blessed. It will be the operation of this principle of divine love in the hearts and lives of the entire restored race that will assure everlasting peace for all mankind.

QUESTIONS

Why was Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ so much more important than the opinions expressed concerning him by others?

Could anyone who believes in the Trinity make a true confession that Jesus is the Christ?

Why did Peter try to dissuade the Master from going to Jerusalem where he expected to be arrested and killed?

How can one lose his life by saving it?

Why would one who gained the whole world be in danger of losing his own soul?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |