Who do you say I am?

Have you ever played Follow the Leader? Other than Red Rover, Follow the Leader is my least favorite game to play. Inevitably, the leader makes us copy goofy motions that force us to jump in place while tapping our noses and waving our arms. I never understood why I would follow a leader that made me look so ridiculous.

So when I heard that we are to follow Jesus, I wanted to know what type of leader He is. Mark chapter 8 helps us understand that the call to follow Jesus as our leader is personal, public, and imitates Jesus’ life.

The first 26 verses of this chapter showcase the authority that Jesus had while He was on earth. Mark retells the story of Jesus feeding 4,000 people with just 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. We even read about Jesus’ ability to restore sight to a blind man. Then we get these verses:

Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
They answered Him, “John the Baptist; others Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
“But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”
And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him.
– Mark 8:27-30

This passage helps us understand that following Jesus is more than rattling off a list of what other people believe about Jesus. The call to follow Jesus is personal. Let’s look at the list His disciples made.

Some people said Jesus was John the Baptist. In other words, Jesus isn’t the promised Messiah. He’s a famous prophet who came to preach the Message and prepare the way for the Lord.

Some said He was Elijah. Again, Jesus is another prophet. Granted, Elijah’s one of the most impactful prophets recorded in history, but still not the promised Messiah.

Other people said Jesus was one of the prophets. Finally, they downgrade Jesus to just another one of the many people who have preached throughout history.

But Jesus pressed further after they answered His initial question, “Who do people say that I am?” He then asked, “But who do you say that I am?”

I once asked a friend if she believed in God and she responded that she goes to church. Walking into a sanctuary doesn’t make you a follower of Christ any more than stepping inside a car repair shop makes you a mechanic. We cannot rely on our church attendance or our parents’ belief in God to save us. We must make a decision for ourselves about Jesus’ identity.

We don’t make this decision lightly and then hide. The call to follow Jesus is public.  These disciples left their families and careers to literally follow Jesus. Their decision changed the plans they had for their futures. If you’re like me, that’s a scary thought! I like to remain in control, especially when it comes to my future. But as the disciples followed Jesus, He equipped them with everything they needed to teach and perform miracles. He then sent them into the nations after His death to tell others about Him.

So what type of leader is Jesus? Once I follow Him, is He going to leave me on the playground jumping up and down while bystanders laugh? No. Let’s continue reading in chapter 8. In verses 31-33, He predicts His death and resurrection. Then in 34-35, He makes this well-known statement:

“If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it.”

The call to follow Jesus is a call to imitate His life on earth. These verses give us three steps: 1) deny ourselves 2) take up our cross and 3) follow Him. And let me tell you, sister, these three steps are not that simple! When we deny ourselves, we declare that God and His desires are more important than our wants. When we take up our cross, we determine that any persecution we face for the sake of the Gospel is worthwhile because we know that God’s way is true. And when we follow Him, we decide that God’s plans for our future are best, even if they don’t line up with what we had planned.

Jesus was the perfect example of a follower. He, too, was following God’s plan when He came to earth. I’m sure Jesus was quite comfortable in Heaven. But He came to earth to live as a human. He faced a death full of betrayal and physical pain. And He rose again triumphant over sin so that we, too, can live a life free from the bondage of sin. We can choose to follow Him daily and live for His glory.

The call to follow Jesus is personal – no one can make it for you, it’s meant to be made public, and it’s about acting the way Jesus did on earth.

Let’s be sure we all answer this question for ourselves: who do I believe Jesus to be? How does my answer affect my daily life?

Lord, I pray that we will follow you every day of our lives. Help us to live a life that follows your pattern of selflessness. Continue to strengthen us when situations are difficult and open our eyes so that we might see You at work in our lives today.