Who do people say i am

‘Who do people say I am?’

Canon Graeme Winterton at Holy Trinity Kew 13th September 2015 1. Does Public Opinion Matter? It would be safe to assume that the most welcome, and the very best gift, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition could receive at the moment, ( or for that matter, at any time) would be a crystal ball! That is because politicians are always concerned to know what people think.

Survival in office depends upon the approval and vote of the people.

2. A whole industry revolves around determining what people think.

Opinion pollsters only exist because politicians are dependent upon information to determine the popularity of their policies and to reinforce their hold on power.

Market Research is in demand because commercial interests are hungry for information to strengthen their hold on market place dominance. Investors wouldn’t commit a cent without data analysis, and the AFL wouldn’t have even considered Easter football unless the gate numbers and advertising returns stacked up! Is there a single one of us who has not been buttonholed mid-track to ‘answer a short questionnaire’, or had a meal interrupted by someone from an Indian call centre to ask if we wanted to change our electricity provider?

3. Public opinion matters so much in our society that it determines government policy as well as the colour and style of everything – from houses, furnishings and the clothes we wear right down to the stock on the shelves at Bunnings and Woolworths. (‘I’m sorry Madam, there is insufficient demand for that item and we no longer keep it in stock.’)

4. “Was it at all possible that Jesus was hoping for a crystal ball response when he asked the disciples? ‘Who do people say I am?’”

Did Jesus really want to know, and was he asking the disciples to help him gauge public opinion? Was it important for him to ensure he really did have the people behind him?(after all the crowds in the villages and towns had been swelling all the time and there had been demonstrations where the people had sought to force the throne of David upon him.) Did he need to adjust his policy to take account of the negative Jewish and Roman leadership? Or was Jesus no different from today’s modern politicians and celebrities – fishing for compliments, wanting the disciples to reassure him of success and of their personal commitment to the proposed visit to Jerusalem?

5. ‘Who do people say I am?’ Why did Jesus ask this particular question?

It is an important question, especially when you take into account St. John’s comment about a previous visit to Jerusalem. John wrote: ‘Jesus did not trust himself to the people because he knew them all, and that there was no need for

anyone to tell him about them, because he himself knew what was in their hearts.

(John 2:24 ) In the light of John’s comment it is quite clear that Jesus was not in any respect concerned about public opinion; nor for that matter was he daunted at the prospect of facing the Government and Religious authorities and could you ever imagine Jesus being in need of a counselling session or a spin doctor in order to boost confidence in his mission?

6. The timing is important and the reasons are found in the Gospels: They are about to make their way to Jerusalem — and this particular trip will be different from previous visits. a. Different because Official opposition had become openly hostile. The disciples had tried to dissuade him because they knew it would be dangerous. He resisted their objections and we are told he ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem’. In exasperation Thomas said “Let us all go along with him, so that we may die with him!” b. Different because events were moving toward their climax.

Samaritan and Greeks who were representative of the Gentile nations were emerging and Jesus knew that they were part of the Divine plan for the salvation of the world, c. This proposed visit to Jerusalem was also different because Jesus had decided it was time to act!

7. ‘Who do people say I am?’ is the question which marks a dramatic change of attitude in every aspect of his relationship with the disciples, the people and the authorities.

Until Jesus asked this question his whole approach (apart from some encunters with Scribes and Pharisees)had been characterised by a quiet, gentle, unfolding explanation of the Kingdom of God and the love of the Father expounded by parable and demonstrated by healings, miracles, and warm friendship. From this point onwards, the Gospel narrative is noted by determination, confrontation, warnings, prophecy, direct and specific teaching and the unfolding of dark and tragic events.

This is the context of the question ‘Who do people say I am?’

8. Jesus put this well thought out question to his disciples to Test them, draw a declaration from them and to Instruct them 9. Jesus had always been an enigma. Controversy surrounded him.

His origins had been questioned from childhood; The power and authority of his teaching backed up by healing nd miracle were significant reasons for the intense jealousy and argument which surrounded him.

10.

However, the ultimate reasons the authorities moved against him were political and theological.

The people called for official recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. The claim to deity; to be the Son of God, was a far more damning reason for condemnation in the eyes of the Priests and the religious parties.

11. Jesus was not ignorant and naïve. He was well aware of the mood of the people and of the bitter animosity of the authorities . He was even more closely aware of the ongoing dispute concerning his identity which divided the disciples. He had been very careful not to talk about it. And now was the time — he had made up his mind this visit to Jersualem would be to fulfil his destiny.

12. The first step. He picked the moment when they were all walking between villages in the Northern Galillee, near the Syrian border. 8:27 “On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ For the disciples - this was it - the test the moment of truth. The answers were to be in the open. They now had to commit themselves in front of the others. An end to dropping back out of earshot on the road to gossip with agitators like Simon the Zealot and Judas, No chance of buttering him up for an answer which might provide inside knowledge in the one upmanship game some, like the Zebedee brothers James and John, played. No more whispering and dreaming of future possibilities around the evening fire. Jesus had forced them to declare themselves. v. 27 ‘Who do people say I am?’ Imagine the silence - who would be first to speak? The response was typical - they side stepped the issue - v. 28 W e l l , Some say John the Baptist; ‘others say Elijah;’ and,‘still others are saying, you are one of the prophets.’ Jesus wouldn’t let them off the hook — He insisted on a direct answer to his direct question v. 29 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’ Good on you Peter, honest and dependable as always, but as yet, not fully aware of the implications of his commitment and profession of faith. It was probably why Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him because they just couldn’t see that their commitment to Jesus as Messiah would lead to betrayal and death. More significantly even after three years of discipleship they still had not grasped God’s intended plan for humanity’s salvation.

13. At this point the Gospel narrative alters and becomes direct as Jesus moves from testing through commitment to instruction. v. 31 ‘He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ‘ It was too much for Judas.

Jesus was not his kind of Messiah and therefore he betrayed him. Peter just didn’t get it. He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him.’ and Jesus then had cause to rebuke Peter’s merely human Satanic concern.

14. Nothing has changed. ‘Who do people say I am?’ confronts every person considering the claims of Jesus Christ. Jesus asks it of you today, and it is so easy to sidestep the question and answer as did the first disciples: Some say: He is a

myth and symbol of humanities hopes. Others say :He was merely a man — yesterday’s political inconsequential nobody. Still others say: He was one of the world’s greatest teachers to be admired and followed The Question Remains for Jesus won’t let any of us off the hook v. 29 ‘But what about you?’ Who do you say I am?’ Jesus does not leave the question hanging in the air. Today’s Gospel passage makes it clear that discipleship is costly and demands complete identification with his life and sacrifice: 15. Mark 8: 34 He called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’