Who am I?

[Jesus] 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.” (Mark 8:27b-29)

We are doing quite a lot these days at Thanksgiving/Knox/United by Grace!

We are doing this: a book discussion group about Mary Magdalene for Spirit Talk; many activities sponsored by the Queer Committee, including the Queer Café (safe place for teens) and new life to our Prayer Services for Healing; being thoughtful and intentional about how we approach and do ministry, including our recent ministry review at Church life and our upcoming Asset-mapping workshop; many events for the holidays, including Harvest Dinner, Trunk or Treat, and Pie Night!

In fact, we might say that we are discovering who we ARE, the newly-forming United by Grace Community Church, through what we DO.

But still, we are challenged by that question that Jesus asks of the disciples, and of us: “Who do you say that I am?” (the gospel reading for Sept. 15th).

Now, in the story from Mark, Peter perks up with just the right answer: “You are the Messiah.” Good job, Peter! But then a few minutes later he is lecturing Jesus – “rebuking” him, says the text – when Jesus has told the disciples that he will suffer, be rejected, will actually be killed, and then will rise again. We get the feeling that this is NOT what Peter had in mind as the appropriate road the Messiah should travel. Jesus says it’s really all about taking up our cross and following him.

Taking up our cross doesn’t mean enduring with a smile our daily burdens and annoyances. It has to do with keeping our eyes and hearts and minds on being people of the Way, people who DO, in the name of Jesus. And in that quest, on that road, we learn for ourselves what “Messiah” means to each of us.

Today Jesus asks us: “Who do you say that I am?” How will you answer, and how will I? And how will that change how we see the world, how we respond to our call, what we DO? Who is Jesus, and who are we?

Pastor Janet