Week 15 - April 6-12, 2025: What’s Your Opinion?

This week’s daily readings:

April 6-12, 2025

This week’s devotional:

What’s Your Opinion?

by Nicholas Ambrose

Scripture:

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 

— Mark 8:27-29 (NIV) 

Reflection:

When it comes to certain ‘important’ people in society like celebrities, athletes, and politicians, people form a lot of differing opinions about them. People like to pick a side – either positive or negative – when viewing and evaluating that famous person’s character. Movie and television celebrities are often evaluated by their looks, their acting prestige, or the scandal they may be going through at the moment. With athletes, they are often judged by how well they perform at their sport, and sometimes also by their personal actions and character. And, as it relates to politicians... well, you probably know how that works! Because we live in a social world, these judgments and views of various well-known people in our society largely take center stage on social media where many different opinions are expressed. It can be easy to be caught up in this social game of battling views over famous people in our modern world. 

Interestingly enough, Jesus’ disciples had to deal with this same thing. This time, however, it was much more personal because the battle of views was over Jesus himself. When Jesus asked his disciples what people said of him, they offered the standard answers. But what Jesus did next made the matter even more personal, and the question he asked extends to us even today. The question was “Who do you say that I am?” Peter boldly answered, “You are the Messiah.” 

Each of us needs to decide for ourselves how this question should be answered. Some of us might not have a ready answer but, if we are willing, we can take the first step to truly know and encounter Jesus. Peter’s answer was a declaration of faith in the face of uncertainty, risking backlash from the world around him. Jesus is calling us to have that same bold faith that goes beyond the shouting match of opinions over who he is. It’s rooted in Jesus' own declaration and who he showed himself to be: The Messiah! 

Prayer:

Dear God, there are many differing opinions over famous people in our society, and that includes the most famous of them all: your Son, Jesus Christ. As we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, give us a clear picture of the man he was and what he accomplished on our behalf. Help us to encounter you, the Triune God, in a way that we would truly know and be able to declare to Jesus, just as Peter did, “You are the Messiah.” Let the Spirit of Jesus fill us and empower us with boldness to live out the Gospel message. Lead us to show the world what it means to have Jesus as our Savior and to experience his love and grace in our own lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen