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“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus’ words are still relevant today. It is the question that is splitting the Christian Church in two. I say this because we Episcopalians may think that we are the only denomination that is being divided over the understanding of who Jesus is. This is not the case.
Other mainline denominations are also struggling with this identity crisis of the Jesus we as Christians proclaim to the world. Such basic Christian doctrines as the Virgin birth, the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the identity of the Three Persons of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth are being challenged. So if you are thinking about fleeing the Episcopal Church to seek out a safer place, I just want to give you a heads up that other denominations are facing the same issues and questions that we are facing. It is just that our denomination seems to be the one who gets the most headlines.
Now many may think that this struggle in the Christian Body is a modern phenomenon that comes from our more open society and culture of political correctness. Christians today are chastised for being intolerant if they believe that Jesus is the Savior instead of one savior among many others. Christians who believe that Jesus is the Christ are derided for their insensitivity towards other religions. Yet, these same people who accuse other Christians for not being sensitive towards other peoples’ beliefs seem to have no sensitivity to how their perception of Christ is affecting Jesus.
As much as this modern movement wants all to believe that this is a New Thing, its historical roots go back to the time of Arius. Like all heresies the New Thing has taken on a shape of its own, but its original source comes from such heretics as Arius and Nestorius. Since Arius came before Nestorius it is only fair that we look first at his teachings and just who he was.
Arius was ordained deacon in 311 AD by St. Peter the Last Martyr, who was the Patriarch of the Alexandrian See. Later, concerned over Arius’ unorthodox teachings and having had a vision of Christ’s garment being torn; Peter excommunicated Arius. Peter’s vision was of Christ wearing a torn garment. When Peter asked Christ about His torn garment, the Lord told Peter that Arius had torn His garment.
According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Arius taught that Jesus was not God, nor a part of God, but that He was a creation of God. Arius believed that God created the Son of God to help in the creation of the world. Arius also believed the title Son of God was given by God, because of his “foreseen abiding righteousness”. As for the Holy Spirit, Arius believed that the Holy Spirit was an inferior god to the Son of God. These teachings were in direct opposition to the belief of the fullness of the Divinity of the Three Persons in One known as the Trinity.
Arius’ state of excommunication proved to be temporary. After Peter, the Patriarch of Alexandria, was beheaded during the persecution of Maximin, Achillas became Peter’s successor. Achillas not only reinstated Arius, but also ordained him priest. This gave Arius authority to spread his heresy much easier. In fact, Arius’ heresy was so well accepted by the general populace that the Emperor Constantine, who had made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, called a special emergency Council of the Churches to meet in Nicea in 325 AD.
It was at this special Council of the Churches that a young deacon by the name of Athanasius from Alexandria became hated by the followers of Arius, known as Arians, for his persuasive arguments against Arius’ teachings. The result of Athanasius’ defense of Jesus’ full divinity in the Godhead known as the Nicene Creed is upheld in modern times as a basis for ecumenical unity among the Body of Christ.
Although Athanasius eventually rose to Patriarch of Alexandria, during his forty-six years as Patriarch, he was exiled five times for his strong stance against the teachings of Arius. As different rulers came into power, the battle over the heart and soul of the Body of Christ took place. It was evidenced by who was in favor – Arius or Athanasius. Eventually, Athanasius won when he outlived Arius who died in exile in Constantinople in 336 AD.
As for Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, he was not born until 351 AD many years after Arius’s death. However, he enhanced on Arius’ heresy against the Son of God by endorsing a teaching that taught that there were two separate persons in the Incarnate Christ. One was divine, while the other one was human. This teaching was in opposition to the Nicean belief of the One Person of Christ both Divine and human in the Godhead of the Trinity. At the Church Council of Ephesus in 431, Nestorius was deposed of his see in Constantinople, his teachings were condemned and the Nicene Creed was reaffirmed. In 436, Nestorius was banished to Upper Egypt where he died in exile.
History has taught us that how we answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is relevant not only to us personally, but to the history of the Church and more importantly to Jesus Christ the only Begotten Son of God. In today’s reading from the gospel of Mark, Peter responds to Jesus’ question. The scripture reads, “Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’” In Matthew’s version of today’s reading from Mark, Jesus tells Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Today we no longer banish or send into exile those who teach against the faith of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Christians have the freedom to believe whatever they want to believe. There are plenty of traditions, denominations, and ever New Revelations to satisfy the masses. Yet, Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, not just a Messiah, is what will stand the test of time.
Because Jesus is the Messiah, in Mark’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples what He must do. The scripture reads, “Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Apparently, being the Messiah is not an all fun job! Can you imagine folks fighting over a job requirement like that one? Only Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God was not only willing, but He was the only one worthy to be the Messiah for all of humanity.
For those who continue to protest that proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah is offensive to others, Jesus gives those who are ashamed of Him and His words a most serious warning. The scripture reads, “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
In the gospel of Luke, chapter twelve, verses 8 and 9, Jesus gives an even stronger warning. The scripture reads, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.”
In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verses 32 and 33, Jesus’ words are the strongest on this matter. The scripture reads, “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”
No matter which gospel reading you choose to accept as closest to the authenticity of Jesus’ teaching, I believe that the prevailing message remains clear. Failure to stand up for Jesus as the Messiah is not acceptable behavior by Jesus Christ. In all three of these gospels, negative consequences face those who deny Jesus as the Lord and Savior. Now I ask you, “Who would you rather offend? Jesus, the Messiah? Or others who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah?” Who do you say that Jesus is?
Jesus Christ alone is the only Way back to the Father God. This is what Jesus means when He states in the gospel of John, chapter 4, verse 6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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