By: Vicki Courtney
In Mark 8:27, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.” You can hardly blame Jesus for asking. By that time he had performed plenty of miracles. He had healed Simon’s mother-in-law of fever and a man with leprosy. He had healed a paralyzed man who had been lowered through a roof by his friends. He had healed a deaf and dumb man, another man who was blind, fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, raised a twelve-year-old child from the dead, and healed countless sick people, including a hemorrhaging woman who barely touched the cloak of his robe. He cast demons out of many people, including a man who was possessed by a “legion” of demons. It was quite a show when Jesus redirected the demons into a herd of two thousand pigs and the rushed down a steep hillside into a lake and drowned. Oh, and did I mention that he had walked on water? Any one of these events would have been front-page news in today’s world. Likely word had spread from village to village of this man, Jesus and his many miracles.
Stop for a minute and imagine what sort of answers Jesus would get if he posed the same question, “Who do people say I am” to his disciples today. “Well, let’s see Lord, Madonna says you are a great teacher. Ashton Kutcher sports a trendy T-shirt that boldly proclaims you are his homeboy. In the movie Bruce Almighty it talks a lot about God, but you didn’t get a part. Ditto for the popular show, Touched by an Angel. You did, however, get a part in South Park—as the host of a cable access show called Jesus and Friends. Unfortunately, they didn’t always portray you in a positive light. Hollywood will occasionally take a stab at making a made-for-TV movie or a feature-length movie that depicts your life. Unfortunately, most producers fail to consult with you and end up fashioning their own custom-made Jesus. The exception is Mel Gibson-his movie would make you real proud.
When it comes to pop music, Jessica Simpson sang that you are her portion in the hymn, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” She included the song on one of her CDs—you know, the one called “Irresistible,” where she poses seductively on the front cover in a see-through blouse. Popular retailer Urban Outfitters sold you as a refrigerator magnet dressed in white briefs and hanging on the cross. The $14 “Jesus Dress-Up Kit” came complete with a variety of magnetic costumes including a hula skirt and a Satan mask. Abercrombie and Fitch mentioned you in their controversial quarterly catalog that advertised “Group Sex” on the front cover. Their reference made to you in the catalog is so blasphemous; we cannot bear to repeat it in your presence. You are available on e-Bay as a dashboard bobble head doll for a mere eight dollars. When it comes to the people searching for information about you online, you are googled slightly more than The Beatles but sometimes less than Britney Spears. Wand when it comes to American teenagers, 82 percent call themselves Christians, but unfortunately 53 percent of these same teenagers claim that you committed sins while on earth.
Perhaps with a tear in his eye, Jesus would reply in the same way he did to the disciples so many years ago when he said, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” And in the end, this is the million-dollar question for each and every person. The answer will determine whether or not we spend eternity with God or apart from God, so the question must be pondered carefully. Will you answer correctly as Peter did when he said, “You are the Christ” (the Messiah, the Son of God). Scripture is clear when it says
“for this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:9-11)Regardless of who those in Hollywood and today’s pop culture say Jesus is, in the end, whether in heaven or hell, every knee will bow and every tongue confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Who do you say he is?
B&H Publishing Group grants permission to use this excerpt as originally printed in the book TeenVirtue c. 2005.
Click here to purchase. http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=0805430563
Comments (13)
Wow! those are some pretty shocking facts - thanks for telling it like it is and keeping it all in perspective. The world will always try to make us look like them - Jesus wants us to be like Him.
Posted by Andrea | June 5, 2007 3:55 PM
Thanks for putting out those facts you defenatly keep it real
Posted by Amanda | October 4, 2007 3:30 PM
People need to get real about who Jesus REALLY is. Stop playing Christians and act like one, so others can see Jesus in you.
Posted by Emilee | November 5, 2007 8:55 PM
I just want to say Praise God that he gave you such a powerfull gift to just speak the truth about our generation and yet relate to us as young women searching God's heart. You're really cool, never stop!
Posted by jessica torres | March 3, 2008 1:59 PM
Wow. Thanks for this article. It makes me think a little harder about what people say, just to get laughs, or wear, just to get looks.
Posted by Allie | April 19, 2008 11:00 AM
WOW! when you put those facts that way it really tells us that people in hollywood really don't know who Jesus really is!
Posted by Molly | May 13, 2008 2:53 PM
Wow...Jesus is way more than anything any TV show or movie could ever portray. He is my savior, my best friend, my everlasting hope, the one thing in my life that NEVER EVER changes. He is the best listener, gives the best advice, and never gets annoyed by our LONG chats. So really, nothing can portray who Jesus really is.....he is soo many things. I do wish that shows would not use him as "just another character." He receives so much more. He receives honor, and praise, and love. This article truly points out how misguided and lost so many people are. It just goes to prove that our work as missionaries (as Christians) is never really over!!!
Posted by Kayla | July 21, 2008 6:37 PM
This is very powerful i hope more teens read this article!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Emerald | September 28, 2008 4:16 PM
Thank you so much for posting this article. This is really something amazing to think about. God has given you an amazing gift, keep using it for him!
Posted by Laura | May 27, 2009 8:30 PM
this article really makes you think...yes, Jesus is the best Friend you'll ever have, but walking around with T-shirts that say "Jesus is my homeboy" is kind of like saying that he was just a regular person. and, yes, you may be saved, but a lot of people need to find balance between knowing that Jesus is your friend and still treating Him with the respect He deserves. a lot of people get a little too comfortable around Jesus and forget who's in charge.
Posted by Anonymous | July 19, 2009 11:14 AM
wow, its worse than i thought! i thought that making fun of Jesus was on just Family Guy!!!
wow the world today is really slapping Jesus in the face!! we are no better than those who crucified him!!!the only difference between us and them is that they had the audacity to come up and do it!!
Posted by mellie | July 28, 2009 7:01 PM
Wow! I can't believe what the world is coming to! I can surely tell that Jesus is coming very soon. I didn't know any of those things of Hollywood making fun of Jesus. It also made you really think about what do u think Jesus is to you.
Posted by Mandi | August 29, 2009 4:37 PM
Wow, it is so sad that the world mocks Christ this way! I don't shop at A&F because of their advertising style, but here is another reason to say away from the store.
I am so thankful that Jesus came and died for me, and to think that many of the people around me think that He is a sinner is shocking. I am so thankful that He came to earth to save me, even thoug He knew what people would say about Him.
Posted by rachel | December 8, 2009 9:44 AM