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•27耶稣和门徒出去，往凯撒利亚腓立比的村庄去。在路上问门徒说：“人说我是谁？”28他们说：“有人说是施洗的约翰，有人说是以利亚，又有人说是先知里的一位。”29又问他们说：“你们说我是谁？”彼得回答说：“你是基督。”30耶稣就禁戒他们，不要告诉人。
“你认为耶稣是谁?” 在与别人的谈话中，如果你有机会问别人这个问题，这会是一个有趣的问题。基督信仰起始于对这个问题的回答。对于当今世界上的许多人来说，他们的答案就像耶稣的门徒所说的那样。耶稣是一位伟大的宗教领袖。耶稣是一位伟大的老师。
在1980年代初期，在我们教会的坚信礼课程上有一个八年级的学生，他在学校里参加了批判性思维课程，那时专门为聪明的学生所开设的。老师在课堂上举了低级思维和高级思维的例子。最低级的思考者是那些盲目地遵循规则，别人说什么他们就做什么。还有一些人可以跳出思维定势，比如阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦和托马斯·爱迪生。最高级别的思想家，真正的领导者，是那些不盲目跟随别人，而是自己制定规则的人。你知道老师举了谁的例子吗?耶稣。我很好奇今天这个时代，孩子们在学校都在学些什么!
耶稣是弥赛亚。耶稣是神差派到世上来拯救我们的，救我们脱离自己的罪，因为我们坚持制定自己的规则，而不是遵守神的诫命。耶稣听从他的父，做了天父吩咐他做的一切事。他不仅仅是一位老师，或者一位伟大的宗教领袖，或者一位自由思想家。耶稣是基督，是神的儿子。
你觉得耶稣是谁？这是一个问你自己的好问题。
祷告:主耶稣，你是基督，是永生神的儿子!求你赐我勇气，叫我在这个世界和那些不认识你的人面前，表明我的信心。阿们。
Mark 8:27-30: Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (NIV)
“Who do you think Jesus is?” That is an interesting question to ask someone if you are able to insert it in your conversation. Christian faith begins with the answer to that question. For many people in the world today, the answer would be like what Jesus’ disciples said the people were saying. Jesus is a great religious leader. Jesus is a great teacher.
In the early 1980’s an eighth grade student in my confirmation class was in a critical thinking class for bright students. The teacher gave examples of lower forms of thinking and higher forms of thinking. The lowest form of thinkers were those who just blindly followed the rules and did what others told them. There were examples of others who could think outside the box, like Albert Einstein, or Thomas Edison. The highest form of thinkers, the true leaders, were those who didn’t blindly follow others, but who made up their own rules. Do you know who the teacher cited as an example? Jesus. I wonder what kids are learning in school today!
Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the one God sent into the world to save us from ourselves because we insist on making up our own rules instead of obeying God’s commandments. Jesus is the one who listened to his Father and did everything his Father told him to do. He is not just a teacher, or a great religious leader, or a free thinker. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Who do you think that Jesus is? A good question to ask.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God! Give me the courage to make a good confession of my faith before the world and before those who do not know you. Amen.