18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
If Jesus came to us today and asked “Who do the crowds say I am” what would our response sound like? Who does our sphere of influence claim Jesus to be? Jesus was quite the stir in this group’s surrounding crowds. Rushing to touch Him, wanting to be with Him, observing His power yet not fully understanding its source – these crowds realized that He was more than just a good man. The power He manifested was proof enough alone for those who saw to believe that He was no ordinary human. Luke tells us in the next verse:19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." Luke 9:19 (NIV)
At this point in time, John the Baptist had been beheaded; Elijah the Tishbite had been taken in a whirlwind to heaven into the presence of God in a chariot of fire; and, of course, the prophets of long ago were no longer to be found. These people knew that Jesus’ power had to be attributed to God somehow yet again they were not sure how. Do the throngs of our day perceive the power of Christ within us? Are they familiar with the saving power of the cross? Do we manifest in their presence the Holy Spirit’s all achieving power subsequently showing a changed heart which, I might add, is one of the biggest miracles God performs? Do our lives point to Christ and His glory alone? Does our sphere even recognize a difference in our lives? Through the Holy Spirit’s power, we are to be Christ to our crowds today, pointing them to Him through our actions and with our words. I love a quote by Charles Spurgeon regarding this very issue: "Jesus’ return is not a reason for star-gazing, but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost.” We are warned by the writer of Hebrews:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. Heb 12:14-17 (NIV)
Paul also tells us In Colossians:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col 4:4-6 (NIV) Lastly, Jesus gives us this instruction: 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:13-16 (NIV)
Make no mistake about it, what we do and say points ultimately to what we believe (ouch) and on Whom we rely and place our trust. The fruit that is produced in and through our lives should point directly to the Producer of it. Our job is to empty ourselves of us so that we may be filled with His Spirit in order to manifest His fruit and His life to a decaying, dying world. Indeed, we are to be a “Planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3). Speaking of Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot writes: “Amy felt that the world had far too many run-of-the-mill Christians, cool, respectable, satisfied with the usual, the mediocre. Why bother to lay down one’s life to multiply the number of those?” Very convicting indeed! We are issued a strong warning, again by Jesus, in Matthew: 33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matt 12:33-37 (NIV)
I can so feel Isaiah’s pain when he states: 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)
When the reality of God’s holiness comes face to face with the reality of our sinfulness, true humility is the only acceptable response. As a coal from the altar purged iniquity from Isaiah’s lips (because the drops of blood from the sacrifice had fallen upon it) so too, the blood of Christ purges iniquity from ours. Praise Him!