A woman went into a restaurant and ordered the breakfast special, "I want my pancakes well done," she said. "You need to cook them all the way through and golden brown on both sides. Use the light syrup because the regular syrup is too sweet. Make the bacon crisp and thin, not oily or soggy and put it on a separate plate. The eggs must be over-easy, not broken or runny."
"And would you like butter or margarine?" asked the waitress.
The woman answered, "Oh, it doesn't matter; I'm not that picky." (1)
A guest in an expensive seaside-hotel breakfast room called room service one morning and placed a breakfast order: "I want two boiled eggs, one of them so undercooked it's runny, and the other so overcooked, it's about as easy to eat as rubber; also grilled bacon that has been left on the plate to get cold; burnt toast that crumbles away as soon as you touch it with a knife; butter straight from the deep-freeze so that it's impossible to spread; and a pot of very weak coffee, lukewarm."
The person taking the order said, "I'm sorry, sir, but that's a rather strange and complicated order, and it might be a just little bit difficult to fill."
To which the guest replied, "Oh, but that's exactly what you gave me yesterday!" (2)
Have you ever noticed that's there's really only two kinds of restaurants in the world? There are those places which offer an all you can eat buffet. In these places, you pay your $6.95 to $35.95 and you have a license to gorge. And you don't feel like you've gotten your money's worth if you don't waddle out.
Then there are those restaurants in which you actually take a seat and a waiter or waitress comes over and asks, "What'll you have?" And if you've been eating there, the waiter or waitress might say: "do you want the usual?"
In fancier restaurants they're more polite but it's all the same question, "What'll you have?"
Last week we came to the "All You Can Eat Buffet of God's Grace" as we shared in the Lord's Supper. In today's Scripture lesson we're given a menu of sorts. We're given a menu and then we're to make a choice. Let's look at the passage.
Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)
[27] Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
[28] And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
[29] He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
[30] And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
[31] Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
[32] He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
[33] But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
[34] He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
[35] For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
[36] For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
[37] Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
[38] Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
The cartoon, "Frank and Ernest," showed a man in a fancy restaurant looking at the menu while the waiter stood with pencil and order pad in hand. The customer says, "I'll have a plate of Escargots and a blindfold." (3)
We know how he felt don't we. You might be one of those who could only eat escargot with a blindfold on. But the questions asked in this passage of Scripture are far too important for us to make with a blindfold on.
Today as we examine the menu of answers and choices about Jesus, we need to have open eyes as we make that choice. And we need to examine the passage through three questions: "WHO AM I? WHO IS HE? WHO ARE YOU?
I. Who Am I?
A. Remember the old game, "Who Am I" or twenty questions, where you had to guess identity of a historical or fictional person based on the "yes" or "no" answers to questions you asked. There used to be a couple of TV game shows like that. "To Tell The Truth" where three people would enter and all solemnly say, "My name is Joe Schmoe." Then host read article about his life. Then the questions would begin and at the end, the panel would have to guess.
Then there was "I've Got A Secret" hosted by Gary Moore. "Will the contestant sign in please." It was sort of a reverse of the I've Got A Secret." In this one, you knew the person's name, but there was something else you had to guess about him or her. Their unusual job, a hobby, the item he or she invented. Something like that.
Today's passage has always reminded me of those game shows. As they are traveling from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing those in need, one day Jesus stops, turns to the disciples and asks, "WHO AM I?" Actually he says: "Who do people say that I am?"
That was the question on everyone's mind. That was the one thing everyone wanted Jesus to answer. That was the question gossips and scholars alike wanted an answer to. Inquiring minds wanted to know.
B. You remember the answers. It sounded like a menu of choices.
Scripture doesn't say who spoke first. It doesn't really matter but I think it was probably Simon the Zealot, he said: "Well, some of them say your John the Baptist reborn and carrying on his ministry."
That's when Thaddaeus popped up and said, "Others say you're Elijah, the one who is supposed to tell us when the Messiah is coming."
And then Judas Iscariot said, "Still others think you're just one of the prophets."
Then it got silent. It was a nervous silence because each of them had their own understanding of who Jesus was buried deep in their hearts and minds. But they had probably never voiced it before, even to themselves. They weren't sure Jesus even wanted to hear what they thought and felt and believed. Not only that but it was a nervousness born of the fear that if what they believed was actually voiced, it would disappear like dust in the wind.
Just when t he silence was getting painfully uncomfortable, Jesus asked another question. "But who do you say that I am?"
The question jumped in and pummeled their nervousness unmercifully. That was when brash, bold Peter stepped out on faith again. Like walking on the water with Jesus, he spoke out and said, "You are the Messiah."
I think there was a collective sigh because Peter had voiced what everyone was thinking.
The question is still pertinent today because people are still asking that very same question about Jesus. "Who do people say that I am?" "WHO AM I?"
II. Who Is He?
A. It's a question we have to answer as well. It's fine and dandy to list the menu of options but at some point we have to answer the question for ourselves: "But who do you say that I am?" Or "WHO IS HE." And how we answer will determine our relationship with God and how we live our lives.
If we say he's John the Baptist returned then we can write him off as some weirdly dressed kook with an even weirder diet who we can dismiss as a radical and a fanatic, crying in the wilderness. And if we dismiss him then he has no real authority in our lives.
If we say he is just one of the prophets, then his words do have SOME authority because we know that prophets are from God. But prophets always seemed to speak in allegories and have all kinds of hidden meanings and double entendres. Their messages never seemed that urgent. It was good moral teaching but it just didn't have enough urgency about it for us to really pay attention and act upon it.
If we say he is Elijah, well then there is some very real authority in his message. Elijah is the prophet who will open the door, so to speak, for the coming of the Messiah. Elijah is the one who will announce the coming of the Messiah. There was an urgency as he calls everyone to get ready. There is an urgency but there isn't any immediacy. We know the Messiah hasn't come yet, so we've still got plenty of time. All we have to do is get ready.
So you see, the choice is ours but it affects everything we do. That's why Jesus asked: "But who do you say that I am?" And why we ask ourselves: "WHO IS HE."
B. Years ago I read a story about a waitress at a restaurant who was taking orders from a couple and their young son. She was one of those veteran waitresses who'd seen everything. She would never show outright disrespect to her customers, but she make it quietly evident by her unhurried pace and her level stare that she feared no mortal, not even parents.
She jotted on her order pad deliberately and silently as the father and mother gave their luncheon selection and gratuitous instructions as to what was to be substituted for what, and which dressing changed to what sauce. When she finally turned to the boy, he began his order with a kind of fearful desperation. "I want a hot dog-" he started.
And both parents barked at once, "No hot dog!" The mother went on. "Bring him the Lyonnais potatoes and the beef, both vegetables, a hard roll and . . ."
The waitress wasn't even listening. She said evenly to the youngster, "What do you want on your hotdog?"
He flashed an amazed smile, "Ketchup, lots of ketchup, and-and bring a glass of milk."
"Coming up," she said as she turned from the table, leaving behind her the stunned silence of utter parental dismay.
The boy watched her go. Then he turned to his father and mother and with astonished elation said, "YOU KNOW WHAT? She thinks I'm real! She thinks I'm real!" (4)
Now I don't necessarily condone what that waitress did, but what she did made that young boy's day. It made him feel real. When we answer this question like Peter, when we accept Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of our lives, then all that He taught, all that He promised, all that He preached becomes real in us.
When we answer the question "WHO IS HE" like Peter it determines who we are.
III. Who Are You?
And that leads right into the final point. WHO ARE YOU? Who WE say Jesus is makes a difference in our lives and in our actions.
A local funeral homes in one city placed a larger than life nativity scene on their front lawn each Christmas. The scene is complete with sheep, goats, and three huge camels. Several years ago a young father and his two daughters stopped at the funeral home to take a closer look at the figures. The father talked about the animals as they walked around looking at the figures. Finally, one of his daughters asked, "Who is that baby, Daddy?"
Her father replied, "Oh, that's Jesus."
His daughters continued to stare into the manger at the face of the baby. "Who is Jesus, Daddy?" The father struggled with that question, never really able to answer the question. They loaded back up and headed for home. During the next few days he struggled over and over with that question, "Who is Jesus, Daddy?"
The following Sunday he insisted that everyone attend church, they were going to find out about this Jesus. After the service they made an appointment with the pastor. He went to their home and shared with them the story and belief about Jesus as Savior and Lord.
As a result of that meeting in their home, both parents and children started attending Sunday School. Later they accepted Christ, joined the church and became one of the strongest and most joyful families in the church It all started with something as simple as a manger scene in front of a funeral home, and a child's question. (5)
How we answer that question makes all the difference in the world and in our lives.
How we answer that question determines our understanding of the authority of Scripture, the authority of God, the urgency and immediacy with which we need to answer.
Conclusion
I read a story about a waitress who couldn't get a smile out of one of her customer for love nor money. The old woman was dour, depressed and dejected all through dinner. And the food really wasn't all that bad. As the lady paid her bill and was leaving, the waitress said, "Have a nice day!" And the woman responded snappishly, "I'm sorry, but I've made other plans!" (6)
What are your plans? How will you answer the questions raised by Jesus? Today and every day, you're given the menu and asked to make a choice. And you won't hear, "Do you want fries with that?" But you are given a choice. How you answer is extremely important.
"Who DO you say He is?" And does it show? "So, What'll You Have?"
1. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), February1998
2. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), March 1983
3. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), April 1986
4. The Pastor's Story File (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), October 1985
5. The Pastor's Story File (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), July 1984
6. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), January 1982