“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 
Peter answered, 
“You are the Messiah.” 
Mark 8:29 

Do you agree with Peter? Do the meditations of your heart, the ruminations in your mind, and the declarations of your mouth all proclaim, “You are the Messiah!”?

Whether your translation says “Messiah” or “Christ” (the former is Hebrew and the latter, Greek), both words mean the same: “anointed one.”  

The key point is that Peter finally gets it. He declares his belief — his knowing — that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the anointed one of God.  

To be “anointed” is to have a call on your life, a purpose. Jesus was anointed to face death — to accept responsibility for the debt owed by every human being. Sin runs up a big tab. A huge debt is due. We are, individually and collectively, spiritually bankrupt. In stepping up to pay the bill, Jesus halted the penalty of death.  

He took our sin. He became our sin. He took the verdict that should be ours.

It was horrifically painful.

It demonstrated a love with no limits.

It changed everything.  

We tidy it up, in a sense, by throwing it all in one box and labeling it “sin.” But take off the lid to peek inside … and you will see the ugly, hideous, dreadful, nauseous, toxic truth. 

When Jesus became sin, He became gossip, lying, and stealing. He became adultery, extortion, and gluttony. He became murder, sex-trafficking, and pornography. He became greed, selfishness, pride, and rebellion.

He took the guilt, shame, and penalty for every bit of that. No wonder the Father looked away.  

We may sanitize sin. We may rationalize and justify sin. We may think some are “biggies” and others, “not a big deal.” Did you read the list above and think some are worse than others? I don’t think God classifies sin as “felony” and “misdemeanor.” Sin is sin.  

Perhaps having a one-size-fits-all label — “sin” — makes it more palatable for polite conversation. But it’s horrific. And the price our Messiah paid to wipe each of our slates clean was His life.  

Stopping to ponder who we are, what we have done, and what we deserve should stir up profound gratitude. Especially now, as we look forward to Easter and simultaneously endure times of great uncertainty, this is a good time to be reminded to hold fast to what we know to be true.  

Slave-traded-turned-preacher John Newton said it well:  “I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior.” 

That’s Christianity 101. That’s the gospel in one sentence.  

We are all sinners and only Christ can save us. Hard times reveal our hearts. If you are a follower of Jesus, He has cleansed your heart from sin. Your bill has been paid. Your destiny for eternity is secure.  

Because of our identity with Christ, you and I have nothing to fear. Because we can declare with Peter, “You are the Messiah,” we can also gratefully proclaim, “He is MY MESSIAH.”  

Let that truth never grow stale. Let it bring peace to your heart that trumps panic, and faith that eclipses fear. 

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!

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Watch for the next installment
in our monthly Write The Word series,
coming this Thursday!

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