The Rev. Robert Lundquist Proper 19B 9/17/06 St Paul’s, Ft Collins

“Who do you say that I am?” asks Jesus.

This is the midpoint of the Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus shifts his focus from teaching and healing to training his disciples. This is the cusp of Mark’s story, and we see it in the two questions. “Who do others say that I am?” Who am I in the eyes of the world? And “Who do you say that I am?”

Who are the others? Well, there’s John the Baptizer. Perhaps this reflects the people’s desire for Jesus to continue John’s preaching on repentance, calling the faithful to turn back to God. Another is Elijah, the prophet who was assumed into heaven. His return would symbolize the completion of God’s work left unfinished. And some say Jesus is one of the other prophets, another messenger sent by God.

We still hear from those who say that Jesus is a primarily a healer, a philosopher, a teacher, a guru, a nice guy, a rebel, a role-model… All of these descriptions of Jesus fall short. Our words of the world cannot capture the Jesus we behold in faith.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Impulsive Peter blurts out, “You are the Christ, God’s anointed one, the Messiah (all meaning the same thing). And Jesus neither confirms nor denies the title, but begins teaching on the difference between an earthly messiah who will rule a kingdom and the Son of Man, the humble servant of God. He talks about how this Human One will be rejected, killed, and raised from the dead. German theologian Hans Küng refers to Jesus as the Crucified/Risen and Risen/Crucified One. One term cannot apply without the other when speaking of Jesus.

“Who do you say that I am?” Such an intimate question, one that invites the hearer into relationship. Ultimately each of us comes asking, “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” This is the question in each of our hearts – “Why am I here? Why do I exist? Who am I?” In good rabbinical fashion Jesus answers our question with a question. And in answering his question we receive our own answer. Who I am is intertwined with who I say Jesus is. Where I hold Jesus in my heart determines who I am. “Who do you say that I am?”

Jaroslav Pelikan wrote Jesus Through the Ages, a survey of the ways in which Christians have beheld Jesus through the centuries. Warrior, child, homeless one, plague victim, victorious king… Jesus is seen through the eyes of the beholder, colored by the wants and needs of believers in their time. This is portrayed in the sacred art of each generation. Jesus is not merely a mirror for human hopes and dreams, of course. But there is something to our identification with Jesus and his compassion for us all that makes each lens understandable.

Mother Theresa was once asked how to pray. “How do you do it, Sister?” She shrugged. “I listen; God listens.” In relationships we listen. So… listen. “Who do you say that I am?” asks Jesus. Listen to your answer.

An East Indian holy man was accosted early one evening as he was walking. “Give me the stone!” shouted the crazed man. “Give me the stone!” The holy man was taken aback – “What stone?” he asked.

“In my dream last night I was told to find a holy man on the outskirts of town at dusk, and he would give me the precious stone that would make me rich forever!” said the man.

“Ah, you must mean this one. I found it on the forest path a few days ago.” And the holy man handed a large jewel to the other. The man’s jaw dropped, and he stared at his hand for a moment. Then he fell to his knees and begged, “Give me that wealth that makes it possible for you to give away this diamond so easily!”

Who is Jesus? Perhaps Jesus is the wealth that makes it possible for us to give ourselves away so easily. And isn’t that what taking up the cross, denying oneself and losing life for Christ’s sake all about anyway?

Who do you say that Jesus is?

A Parish For All People!