Thoughts for the Day

Leaving Bethsaida Jesus went on with his disciples to the village of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that I am?' And they answered him, 'John the Baptist; and others, Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.' He asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Messiah.' And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus is near Caesarea Philippi, a very Roman area outside Galilee and part of the territory of Philip. We are half-way through Mark's short Gospel at the turning point of the whole Gospel. Jesus knows where he is heading, he can no longer wander around Galilee but needs to see if his work and his words are having any effect upon the people, and upon the disciples in particular. So Jesus puts them to the test. "Who do people say that I am?" and before they have time to think he asks "But who do you say that I am?"

Have you ever asked yourself "What does the Church say about Jesus?" Well I have. In my twenties he was an extremely good man, for me. I had no problems with God the Father, or the Holy Spirit, but wasn't sure I could place Jesus as God. It took some prayer and much struggle before I felt comfortable with accepting God as the Father, God as the Holy Spirit, and God as the Son. Many people struggle about the Holy Spirit, or perhaps the notion of the Trinity.

But the bigger difficulty is, once you accept Jesus as God, what are you going to do about it, and how will your life change as a result of your belief? And if your life doesn't change, then what does it say about your belief?

Lord Jesus,
knowing You as the Christ, the Messiah,
and the Son of the Living God,
is to accept that we must
make changes to our life
if we are to follow You.
All too often we make the right noises,
but do not change our life.
Forgive us and help us to change!
Amen.