The Greatest Question of All Time- chapter 25

A BBC magazine answered the “101 greatest questions of all time.” 1 What did they include? Well,
questions like “What is OK short for?” Answer? “OK comes from ‘oll korrect’, a deliberately misspelled writing of ‘all correct.’ It was popularized in Boston newspapers around the 1840s when it was fashionable to go around spelling things incorrectly for humorous effect.” The #1 “greatest question” was “Where is the safest place to stand outside in a thunderstorm?” And, in case you must know the answer, it is “A car or other enclosed metal structure is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm.”

Jesus asked a question that should have been first on the list. He and the disciples were in Caesarea
Philippi. Call it the shopping mall of religion. It was located in a region known as Paneon, or the home of the Greek god Pan. Once it had been a center of Baal worship. A temple was located there dedicated to the godhead of Caesar. And other temples of Syrian gods dotted the landscape. Plenty of gods to choose from in Caesarea Philippi.

 So Jesus asks his disciples this question: “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27). The answers came back in rapid fire: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” But Jesus was more concerned with their answer to his question, so he asked, “Who do you say I am?” They all looked at this homeless carpenter and thought about that question. We don’t know how long they thought before Peter replied, “You are the Christ.”

 Who do you say He is? Have you given it much thought? It’s one of the most important questions any of us can ask. Once you know who Jesus is it demands a response,  it defines who you are in relation to Jesus and it determines how you are to live.

 Some say he was crazy, claiming to be God but just a man like everyone else. Some say he was a liar; that he knew exactly what he was saying but was deviously misleading those around him.

But there are those who have said, along with Peter, that Jesus is the Christ. He is “God in the flesh.” He is the King. He is the Savior, He is Lord. Liar, lunatic or Lord- “who do you say He is?”

You may know where to stand in a thunderstorm. And you may think your life is OK. But if you have not answered this question from Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” then do it. Read what He said, look at what He did, evaluate how He lived and decide. Who do you say He is? Liar, lunatic or Lord.

1 “Greatest 101 questions of all time: 1-20” found at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/

4696372/Greatest-101-questions-of-all-time-1-20.html

Breaking Free from the Kingdom of Me- chapter 24

Only 14.3 acres in total land mass, it is a small kingdom unto itself. Located in three separate areas in the United States—part in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Northern California—you can leave the United States and enter the Republic of Molossia. It is considered to be a micro-nation . . . a “nation within” our nation. Molossia has its own flag, its own signs, and its own boundary markers. It even has its own tourist attractions.

Kevin Baugh is the president, or Sovereign, over his own little kingdom. His space program consists of model rockets. The basic unit of currency in Molossia is the valora. The valora is linked in value to Pillsbury Cookie Dough. Three valora has equal value to one tube of cookie dough. There is a railroad—model sized. The national sport is broom ball. And although his nation is landlocked, he claims a navy that is merely an inflatable boat. You can visit anytime you like. But—although it sounds fun—don’t think you can move there. He says there is not enough room. Kevin affectionately calls his nation “The Kingdom of Me.”

Don’t laugh too quickly. We may not have gone to the same extremes as Kevin Baugh, but we mostly live our lives as if we are rulers of our own kingdoms. What a surprise it is when we discover that we are living in a kingdom but it is not ours. That’s the message of Jesus. He came saying, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). Literally he says the kingdom is “at hand.” It is that close. All around us. Within reach.

His kingdom is not as a nation with armies and weapons but as a farmer who comes with seed and the seed falls on soil (Mark 4:3-9). Finding his kingdom is like finding a treasure in a field (Matt. 13:44). And his kingdom is worry-free (Matt. 6:25-34). Best of all, this kingdom has a king who is in control (Mark 4:35-39). Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. . .” (28:18). Kings say things like that. Unlike Molassia, if you want to enter and live in this kingdom, there is room for everyone. That’s not the problem. There is plenty of room in this kingdom for everyone.

But you need to know that there is only room on the throne of this kingdom for one King.

“Who is this guy?”- chapter 23

As we step into the pages of the New Testament, we’re doing so after 400 years of silence. God has been silent since Malachi’s last prophecies; no prophets speaking for God, no prophets, foretelling God’s Upper Story, only silence, until now. God uses four separate authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to introduce us to the next main character- Jesus; the illegitimate son of Mary and Joseph, or is He?

  

As Jesus begins His public ministry people are wondering about this new rabbi- who is this guy? He’s a different kind of rabbi, teacher, than they’re used to. He came to the ordinary (fishermen), the outcasts (Samaritans, women, children). He came to the rejected (lepers), and the despised (tax collectors and sinners).

He disregarded many of the customary religious laws that defined proper Jewish behavior; He put people before laws. Who is this guy?

He spoke with authority; “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”

He had miraculous power to heal, forgive, and raise the dead. Who is this guy? His compassion knew no limits, His kindness flowed freely.

Who is this guy who talks with a Samaritan woman?

In a day when women were 2^nd class citizens- at best and Samaritans were detested by Jews; most would not associate with them; not so with Jesus; He breaks the rabbi mold.

Who is this guy who turns water into wine- really good wine?

Who is this guy who heals all manner of sickness and disease?

Who is this guy who liberates the demonized? And sets captives free

Who is this guy who restores the paralyzed?

Who is this guy who forgives sins?

That was the big question for the religious leaders- who does this guy think He is forgiving sin- only God can forgive sin. (see Luke 5:20-26)

People today may answer, “Jesus is a moral leader, a good teacher, a prophet sent by God.” But who is He according to the testimony of those who met Him?

The witnesses make it pretty clear-

God the Father said- “This is my beloved Son…”

John the Baptist said “Behold the Lamb of God”

John also called Jesus “God’s Chosen One”

Andrew called Him “The Christ”

Philip said He was “…the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote…” (God’s promised Redeemer)

The Samaritan women called Him a prophet… “who told me everything I had ever done. Could this be the Messiah.” To which Jesus replied “I am He”

Her friends said “…we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Do you believe He is who they say He is? What steps will you take to align your life with what you believe? What does it mean in your everyday life that He is who He says He is?

He is so much more than a good teacher, a moral leader, or a prophet sent by God. And who He is can dramatically change your life.

It’s Time- chapter 22

For 400 years between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament there were no messages from God- just silence, waiting; waiting for the Promise to be fulfilled. But now it’s time. The Lord would come Himself, fully man and fully God. It’s time for the promised Messiah. After 400 yrs. of silence it’s time, just the right time.

“But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son… God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4:4-5

 He came to buy us back, to restore His original vision; to be in relationship with His beloved creation, to do life with us. But-

 “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 1:10-13

Some didn’t recognize Him, His people didn’t receive Him.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

The choice today is the same as it was then. What will we do with Jesus? Receive Him or send Him away? It’s time; time for you to decide what you will do with Jesus.

The knock came at the door of the inn. It was late. We can imagine the innkeeper had been burning

both ends of the candle. The census crowd had packed Bethlehem and he had finally locked the doors for the night. Until the knock. He shuffled his feet through the dark and made his way to the door. Opening it with the slightest of cracks he peered out to see a young couple. Looking more closely he saw a young woman who was about to give birth to a child. Rooms were full. It was late. And they didn’t look very special. He had to decide whether he would find room for them or not.  And you will too.

Each of us has the same decision to make as the innkeeper. Will we find a place for Jesus in our lives or will we send Him away?

Some send Him away because He looks too plain. Nothing special about Him. Don’t make that mistake. He comes to common places like your home and common places like your heart.

Some send Him away because life is crowded. So many demands, so many deadlines, so many responsibilities. And you’re not sure if you have room for Him. But He only comes to give you what only He can- forgiveness and eternal life.

And some send Him away because they think it’s too late. They’ve already done too much that can’t be forgiven. They’ve already gone too far away. But it’s never too late. It’s time, just the right time. You need only to open the door and invite Him in. Let the Savior save you and let the Lord lead you- it’s time.