Sermon - Who Is This Jesus, Anyway? (Mark)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the Gospel of Mark.  Mark is an evangelistic gospel, which hopes to encourage people to recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Jewish messiah.  However, Mark seems to understand that some people who have never heard of Jesus might come to different conclusions.  So Mark openly encourages consideration of several identities for Jesus, including a prophetic teacher, Elijah reborn, or even a crazy man.

No where is this openness more obvious than when Jesus directly asks his disciples who people say that he is. After giving several options, they are asked who they understand Jesus to be.  Peter boldly declares, "You are the Messiah."

Mark finds the life of Jesus to be overwhelming proof that he is -- as Jesus is identified at three key moments -- the Son of God.  Still, he understands that for Jesus' life and example to transform other lives, people must come to that recognition for themselves.  Even today, we must come to understand Jesus identity -- it matters how we answer the question, "Who is this Jesus, anyway?"

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and benediction.