Answering Jesus from the heart!

Reflecting on Mark 8:27-30

“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?'” (Mark 8:29)

These words stand out to me, as if Jesus were asking me this.
Notice Jesus first asks what other people believe.
He is not looking for the right answer, but our real answer.
We have been trained to give right answers.
I have so much theology in my head, I can give an answer easily.
I can give the Reformed answer, Catholic answer, Baptist answer, etc.

“But what about you?”
Am I permitted to give a different answer?
Am I permitted to be honest, to answer as I see it?
Yes, because Jesus is asking me for my answer.
What do I actually believe about Jesus?
Do I actually believe the answer I give to Jesus?
Do I even understand the answer that I give?

“You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29) is the answer Peter gives.
Maybe this is the right answer, but does Peter understand what it means?
And if his understanding of messiah is wrong, can his answer be right?
It seems to me that no one ever fully understands their answer.
In the next section Jesus rebukes Peter for not understanding (Mark 8:31-33).
Even if we get the words technically right, the answer is so much more.

Jesus knows our weaknesses and limitations (see yesterday’s post).
Jesus does not test us for accuracy, to pass an exam.
Jesus, like God, looks to the sincerity of the heart.
If the heart is sincerely open and seeking, Jesus can work with that.
We will spend the rest of our lives learning and growing with Jesus.
And when Jesus returns, we will realize how much we failed to understand.

In my experience, we spend too much time looking for the right answers.
People are trained to give the right answers, but not to be honest.
We separate people based on the answers they give.
Muslims believe in Jesus, so do Mormons and Unitarians.
Christians in the 40,000 denominations in the world believe in Jesus.
Is anyone right, do any understand, how wrong is too wrong?
Did the Zoroastrian wise men believe in Jesus correctly?

Jesus invites us to be open and honest.
Jesus welcomes us to walk with Him, even if we understand incorrectly.
Jesus by His Spirit continues to teach us, to lead us closer to Himself.
Instead of frightening people from saying it wrong…
Instead of pressuring people to say it right…
Jesus encourages them to speak from the heart, to say what they think.

This is what I hear Jesus asking me.
And I gladly share with Jesus my thoughts, my humble and sincere ideas.
Including the ideas that would lead others to call me ‘heretic’.
I fully expect the church to continue to do what it has always done.
But my confidence is not in the church, it is in Jesus.
And Jesus is asking me, full of grace and truth.
My humble and sincere ramblings are enough for Jesus to work with.

I do not want to be in a church that claims to be right.
I want a church that welcomes all humble seekers to Jesus.
A church where humility and grace are central.
Not a church that prioritizes orthodoxy and certainty.
The only criteria is a sincere commitment to know Jesus and the Jesus Way better.
All else is garbage, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus.
Not understanding Jesus, but knowing Jesus as a sincere seeker.

Jesus starts with us where we are, and graciously helps us grow from there.
“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?'” (Mark 8:29)

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, my beliefs and ideas about You are still incomplete. I have not already attained knowledge and understanding, but I press on to take hold of that for which You have taken hold of me. Help me not to be convinced that my theology is faultness. Rather, help me to honestly, sincerely and openly confess You. And help me to grow in knowing You and reflecting Your goodness and love more and more. Not from the head, but from the heart.