"Who do you say I am?"

"Different people have different ideas..."

This has become a mantra of our time. Postmodernists and relativists claim that different people have different ideas of truth, and there is no truth. Politicians dodge direct questions from citizens or journalists by making vague statements about how there are different points of views from different segments of society and how it is not easy to "balance" these competing views.

But if there is anything that we can agree with German postmodernist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche on, it is that without Truth, all we are left with is the "will to power". Thus, quietly but surely, the claims of postmodernists and relativists about "different ideas of truth" or of politicians of "balancing" vaguely defined competing views often masks a carte blanche for the imposition of sheer power.

Jesus had a direct question that He asked His disciples, "Who do people say I am?" (Mark 8:27) Although they were not exactly dodging the question like the postmodernists, relativists and politicians, the disciples replied by referring to the different views that people had: "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." (Mark 8:28)

Jesus pressed in further, to which only the straight-talking Peter replied. The Gospel of Mark records:

"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.

(Mark 8:29-30)

The same question that Jesus posed to His disciples is the same question that Jesus poses to us today.

It is easy to simply reply by appealing to what other people think or say about God, about Jesus Christ, or about all the "controversial" moral issues of today. It is easy to reply things like "Christians say this about Jesus, while other religions say that", or to say things like "social conservatives say this, while those who are socially liberal say that".

It is also easy to just repeat what other Christians think or say, by saying things like, "According to my pastor..." or "According to my church..."

But the question that Jesus Christ is asking us today is a much more pointed one, "Who do you say I am?"

Will we, like Peter, proclaim "You are the Christ"? Is He your Lord and Saviour? Is He the Way, the Truth and the Life? Or is He just a good man, or something else?

Do we recognise Jesus Christ and His Words as the way to eternal life, an objective Truth that sets people free? Or are we ashamed of being identified as His disciples in a time when following Christ means exposure to contempt, ridicule or even persecution?

Jesus Himself said:

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it... If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.

(Mark 8:34b-35, 38)

In a time of growing confusion and compromise, let us "fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

Amen and amen.