September 15, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

“Who do people say I am? Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:27, 29)

The Jews expected the Messiah to have the military might of Joshua, Saul and David, only on steroids. If Saul killed his thousands and David his ten thousands, He would wipe out entire armies of would-be conquerors. That was the old Jewish thinking, a product of a thousand years of enduring foreign oppression.

But when the true Messiah came, He clarified who He was - Someone who would give His back to His torturers and allow them to pull His beard and insult Him. And forgive them for it. And teach His followers to bless those who curse them and pray for those who revile them.

What kind of Messiah do we believe in? A genie, butler, sugar daddy, our bully against our enemies? Or is He Someone we obey as He tells us to love our enemies and forgive and accept them just as He has accepted us? Who do we say He is?