According to anthropologists, worship is found in every culture. Deep within us lies an impulse to offer ourselves to someone or something that will give us meaning, security, and identity.
The Golan Heights, a region between modern-day Israel and Syria, is an area rich in worship history. More than a dozen temples dedicated to the Old Testament fertility god Baal have been uncovered there. A nearby cave is said to be the birthplace of the Greek hunting god Pan. Herod the Great built a temple to Caesar there (from whom the earlier name Caesarea Philippi originates).
Jesus and His disciples were walking through this region one day when Jesus stopped and asked this question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). They gave Him the public’s best guess—that He was one of the ancient prophets returned from the dead (Mark 8:28). “But who do you say I am?” Jesus probed. “You are the Messiah,” Peter replied (Mark 8:29), “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). What a significant place for the identity of Jesus to be revealed! As the words echoed off the pagan altars around them, the disciples knew that here stood One greater than Baal, Pan, or Caesar.
Most people today don’t worship emperors. But the worship of physical idols continues as well as our veneration of movie stars, professional athletes, and high-achieving colleagues, or through our worship of work, physical exercise, hobbies, or romantic partners.
Jesus walks among our modern idols and altars and calls for our sole allegiance. Will we bow?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 1:1-25
More:
Read Matthew 16:13-20 and pay particular attention to the new name Jesus gave Peter in verse 18. When Jesus becomes our focus, we discover our own identity as well.
Next:
Which idol do you wrestle with, and why is it so attractive to you? How will you give up your idol for Jesus?
eppistle on June 9, 2011 at 5:19 am
”The” is the scandal of Christianity. If we were content to call Jesus “a” son of God, we wouldn’t be so offensive. If we were willing to call Jesus “a” way, “a” truth, “a” life, our tolerant society would tolerate us. But when we call Him “the” Son of God, the way, the truth, and the life and nobody comes to the Father except through Him, we are seen as arrogant, exclusive and intolerant. But if we change “the” with “a,” the Gospel loses all its power.
dabac on June 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Excellent point!
tim gustafson on June 9, 2011 at 6:52 am
eppistle, you have got it exactly right. But our “exclusive” Jesus never forces anyone to believe in Him. The choice is left entirely to us.
I’m with Peter.
Aganos on June 9, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Yes, when our focus is Jesus, He gives us a revelation like Peter and we can boldly proclaim ‘YOU ARE THE MESSIAH’ amidst this crooked and wicked generation. And not only that, we are given a new identity like Peter. We are called the children of God, His inheritance and heirs in His Kingdom. I pray that God will give us a revelation.
daisymarygoldr on June 10, 2011 at 8:32 pm
We don’t have to physically bow down to an idol. The idol is set up right in our hearts (Ezekiel 14:3). We can worship idols internally while worshipping God externally. Although Christians know Jesus as the Son of the living God, we stand guilty of worship at the altar of the god called “self”.
Lovers of self, is what characterizes people who live in the last days. When the church resorts to programs that entertain people, Christ is dethroned and we are enthroned. In the name of worshipping God, we actually promote ourselves and our interests in the body of Christ. It is all about me, my rights, my opinions, and how I want to be treated. How else does one explain the reason most go to church is to seek what we can get out of it?
Idolatry is more than just praying to pagan gods. In the church, it is expressed in our craving for worship experience that gives us an emotional high. If the sermons convict us of our sins, then we are offended and quit church. We want to be inspired with psychological sessions to make us feel good and happy about ourselves. Honestly, have we even once wondered if God ever felt good to be in our midst? Do our music and the preaching of the word glorify Him?
Self-worship is a very subtle form of idolatry. In my life, this idol of “self” has to be knocked down daily. And sometimes, this idol is masked in a pious disguise. However, every time I get offended by something or someone, it is proof that my self has not been fully put to death. It is very difficult to deny self. I need to keep reminding myself that my old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And that I must decrease and He must increase.
God is jealous for His own glory and will not give it to another. And when our I-dolatry robs God of the glory that belongs to Him alone, we forfeit His grace that could be ours. For, “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.” (Jonah 2:8). Thanks sheridan voysey for exhorting us to examine our hearts and give up our idols.
mike wittmer on June 11, 2011 at 2:01 pm
What a terrific history lesson, Sheridan! Thanks for opening my eyes to the context of Jesus’ question to the disciples, and how he means to overturn all competitors.