Our Confession

Introduction

At some point in your life you confessed that Jesus was Lord and that you were going to place yourself under his leadership. That confession set the trajectory of your life. But that confession also led to the tension of living in this world. I was baptized on November 5, 1969. At the age of 10 I confessed that Jesus was the Son of God and was baptized. I believed that I wanted to honor God, but two days later I bullied a boy at school. Threatened him with bodily harm if he didn’t comply with my demand. My demand wasn’t personal, it was to follow a rule. But following the rule became personal. I was in charge of rule enforcement. He didn’t wish to comply. I was bigger, stronger, the enforcer. I threatened to break another rule (harming another person) in order to enforce a rule. He complied. I walked home from school that day recognizing my sin and wondering if I really believed what I confessed.

It didn’t take me long to recognize that confessing that I wanted to follow Jesus did not take away the tension of what it really means to walk with him and live in this world that demands different values. What does it mean to confess Jesus? And what are the consequences of that confession? How do we deal with the tension of trying to live for him in a world that still demands that we live in it under a different set of values? Mark explains part of that to us. Our confession requires that we not scan the text but open our eyes and hearts to the teaching of our Lord. Let’s confess that Jesus is Lord and that we want to hear what he has to say.

Confession

Jesus and his disciples travel north of the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Phillipi. A region about 25 miles north of Jesus’ main travel area. Herod’s son Philip built the city or added to the buildings there. It was a pagan area, devoid of Jewish settlements. In Jesus’ day it would have been a resort area. It was a place of water. Originally it was dedicated to the god Baal and then the Romans used the area as a worship center for Pan, the god associated with nature. Philip built a temple to Augustus (the founder of Rome) here. It was completely and thoroughly pagan. It is here that Jesus brings his disciples. Are they finally going for a vacation? Mark doesn’t tell us but on the way to this place, Mark tells us that it is time for his disciples to decide who Jesus is.

Who do people say I am? Away from the crowds it is time for the disciples to come to grips with Jesus. They have been called hard hearted and dull. They have demonstrated faith at times. They have been sent out to preach about the kingdom. They have failed at other times. Failed to respond in faith and failed to recognize the divinity of Jesus.

So the question begins with information from others. John the Baptist resurrected; Elijah resurrected; a great prophet. Now comes the bigger question. “What do you think?” Peter’s answer is for the group. “The Christ” or “Messiah.” Was the answer reflexive? Is it an answer given that is expected or is it an answer given out of faith? Are the words spoken with conviction or with factual monotone. Is there a pause of reflection before he spoke? I would have liked to have been there. Wouldn’t you?

This is pivotal. Jesus’ question isn’t academic. It’s a question of faith. Their answer determines the next words. He admonishes them greatly not to tell. The word used here in verse 30 is the same word that is used in verse 32 and 33 and translated rebuked. It is a stern admonishment. There is a lot of admonishing going on here. Done with love but not to be overlooked. Jesus doesn’t say, “hey, guys, don’t tell anyone.” He says, “Guys, don’t you dare tell anyone.” Do you find this odd? Secret location; secret confession; secret admonishment. What is going on?

Jesus follows his warning with the reason for the admonishment. It comes in the form of teaching. He is the Christ but he is the Christ who will die not in martyrdom but he will die by the plan of God. How do I know this? Look at verse 32. Few translations include a word here—“He spoke “the word” plainly about this. “The word” a concept, an idea, a doctrine—not just any word but “the word.” The real meaning of Christ. The real meaning of Messiah. Not a political and powerful figure but the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14). This vision from Daniel was seen as the Messiah’s reign upon the earth. Daniel, God’s man, in captivity was allowed to see a time when God will reign. It became the focal point for messianic thought for hundreds of years. “You are the Messiah.” “Yes, I am, and my reign will come through death, not political victory. Don’t tell anyone.” This was “the word”—the concept, the idea, the doctrine. And is it no wonder that Peter admonished him in verse 32.

You must hear what Peter is saying. “I am not following a dead messiah. I am not following a weak one. God’s Messiah will reign on this earth. Daniel says so.” Matthew tells us the fuller story by giving words to Peter’s rebuke, but do not think for the moment that this isn’t personal for Peter. There is a lot at stake. His confession has consequences and Peter cannot imagine a dead Messiah. Much less following a dead Messiah.

Consequences

What does it mean to confess that Jesus is the Christ? What are the consequences to holding on to Jesus as Lord? Three things: To confess Jesus as the Christ means to think like Jesus. Jesus rebuked Peter because his view of the Son of Man aligned more with the earthly view of Satan than with the view of God. To confess Jesus as the Christ means that we feel the tension of trying to see things the way God does. And this is tension. It is so easy to see things as the world portrays them. To get an idea about how things are supposed to be and expect that God sees them the same way. If you read Daniel 7:13-14 without Jesus explaining a different way of thinking, you would come to the same conclusion. In fact, even with Jesus, there are those who teach that Jesus will eventually reign upon the earth and still use Daniel 7 as part of the proof. Jesus’ kingdom isn’t an earthly one, but it is one that will never be destroyed. To confess Jesus is to see things differently. Failure to do so, is the same thing as Peter did and none of us want to be in Satan’s camp.

To confess Jesus as the Christ means to act like Jesus. What does Jesus tell the disciples is going to happen to him? He must suffer many things and be rejected. He didn’t run from those things. He faced them with a clear understanding of what his mission was. Suffering led to resurrection. Acting like Jesus means we are not avoiding times of suffering. Paul will pick up on this same thought in multiple places but none so positively as in Romans 8:17, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” or in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Suffering leads to glory.

To confess Jesus as the Christ means to die like Jesus. Look at verse 34-35. Denying self is easy to understand but difficult to do. But this denial requires a daily carrying of a cross. This horrific image would have caused his disciples to recoil. The cross was a sign of death. It was a sign that you were defeated. It was a sign that you lost. There was nothing left to bargain. The walking dead. To die to self means that our goals, our aspirations, our desires every day are set by God. The cross is the sign that we have no life. To drive the point home Jesus promises that to be ashamed of his words will result in Jesus being ashamed of us in his kingdom. Look at 8:12. The generation of the Pharisees asks for a sign to prove Jesus’ validity. In verse 28, it is possible that his followers will be seduced by this generation. It’s too hard. It is asking too much. God would surely want me to be happy. God would not want me to do without. God wants only good things for me. All said with the intent to do what we want to do. Here’s the other thing. Jesus says that we have to die daily (Luke 9:23). While the word ‘daily’ is not here, the tense of the verb for “take up” means once it is taken; it is taken continually. We don’t put it down. Luke adds the word “daily” to make sure his readers got it.

It is hard to see the world through God’s eyes. But our confession is not a mere academic exercise. It is spoken once and daily with reverence and conviction. You are the Christ and my thoughts, my actions, my life are yours. Do with me as you will.

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