I believe the movie Jesus Christ, Superstar was a movie released in the 1980s. My lack of full recall stems from limited interest in movies although I truly enjoy drama. Whether that was the actual debut date or not, I remember a hit song for us youth being, ‘He’s more than just a Superstar’. As I think back on this ‘anthem’ (as in, a song regularly sung by a particular group), I’m reflecting that it might have been a response to a question Y’shua once asked His disciples. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Matthew 16:13, 15 NIV
[13] When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
[15] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Who do we Act like He is?
Despite being His students, Y’shua Jesus’ disciples were not necessarily expecting that question. If they were His woodworking apprentices, they would need to know of His prowess in carpentry, and try to learn as much from Him as possible. However, the disciples were skilled tradespeople, and Y’shua was not a woodworker.
One might even be inclined to wonder why these established career men were willing to follow Y’shua. In some instances, they left all to follow Him. They must have chosen to follow Jesus for a reason. And, when the going got tough, they must also have had a reason why they each remained.
Self-Check
Why did we choose Y’shua, and what causes us to remain, especially in the tough times?
Application
Siblings, following Y’shua is not for the faint of heart nor the fickle. Not only do we face extra trials because we progress Y’shua as Lord, Saviour, and the Son of God, but we also face temptations. Some temptations are much harder for us to distance ourselves from. For many of us, it’s lust – almost uncontrollable desires, including other people’s bodies, for food, or even money. Others of us are challenged by our lust for power, and not necessarily in a healthy way. We seek to demonstrate our power over others in abusive ways. Whatever the temptation is (and I’ve not even touched the surface), it challenges our love for and worship of God.
When the disciples were asked about others’ opinion of His identity, it may have seemed like a question about Haters. Given the context of our Nougat, it might have been the trigger. More than that, I think it invites us to note how the world views Y’shua. Many other faiths do acknowledge Y’shua’s existence. He’s cited as one of the Top 10 gods in Hinduism, if my memories of high school History remain intact. And He’s not number 1, either. Among the Muslims, Y’shua is a prophet. Some faiths seem to be threatened by Him and work hard to eliminate Jesus from their society.
Whatever the others say pales in significance to what we believe. It may be that we think of Y’shua as a Superstar. We may even believe Him to be equal to God. Until we believe in, and take Jesus as our Saviour and Master we have not known Him. I would further suggest siblings, that this knowledge is of little value if our actions negate our belief. And trust me, that’s often where the challenge comes.
So, let’s use Saviour and Master as our examples. If Christ is our Saviour, then what do our actions indicate if we’re constantly fearful? If He is our Saviour, do we communicate that, in word and deed, with others who are dying for need of the Saviour?
If we say Y’shua is our Master (for that’s what ‘Lord’ means), then how often do we remain fully true to His instructions? Are we obedient to His will? Hmmn, or rather, ouch! Our actions may refute our claims of Christ’s identity.
Point to Ponder
As we think about what we would say to introduce Y’shua, YHWH, and God’s Spirit to someone, let’s see whether our actions corroborate our confessions.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
