April 22, 2017: The Christ
Today’s Bible Reading: Judges 20-21, Psalm 91, Mark 8:22-30, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 Mark 8:22-30: This section is the first half of an enacted parable and section of teaching about spiritual sight. The blind man (8:22-25) first does not see at all. Then he sees partially. Finally, he sees “clearly” (8:25). A similar pattern is experienced by Peter. He sees that Jesus is the Christ (8:29), but he does not see that Jesus must be crucified (8:32). For us to see or understand spiritual truths, our eyes need to be opened. Do we worship Jesus as the King, the Messiah? It is not enough simply to admire Jesus as a great leader, or a good teacher. He is more than that. He is not simply another prophet. He is “The Christ.” That is, the Messiah, God’s anointed King, long predicted, and now arrived. We are to see him as this King, and yield the sovereignty of our wills to his Divine Royal Sovereignty as our King and Lord. Have we done this? Do we see him as the Messiah, or do we merely see him as a “prophet,” like the crowds who viewed him as another John the Baptist or Elijah? Millions of people around the world today admire Jesus as nothing more than a good man or a great prophet. But he is much more than that, and claims much more than that. We cannot logically merely admire him as a good man or as a good teacher. For a merely good man to claim to be God is to deny his goodness—is to make such a man appear mad or malevolent. We can conclude that Jesus was mad or evil, but we cannot merely admire him as a good man or great teacher. He claimed much more than that. Logically we are left with the option that he is who he claimed to be: the Messiah, the Son of God, God incarnate. And worship him as our King! Tomorrow we will see the other aspect of this seeing “clearly” who Jesus is—which is understanding what kind of King he is: the crucified King, the saving King. But for now, this morning, would you (again) bow before Jesus as your King? How much comfort there is knowing that he rules the destinies of man and the times and tides of all life and the entire universe. How joyous it is to have him as your King and Lord. Take the time now to worship and yield your life (again) to Jesus who is The Christ! To receive God Centered Bible devotionals directly in your inbox, sign up here.]]>