Skip to main content

149. Peter's Clarity


Mark 8:27-30, Matthew 16:13-20, & Luke 9:18-20
Key Verse: Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16

Just as Jesus asked the blind man yesterday, "Do you see anything?" (Mark 8:23C), today, He asks His disciples, "Who do people say I am?" (Mark 8:27B) Just as Jesus knew what was going on with the blind man, He knew what was being said about Him. Gossip always finds its way back to its victim. Jesus may have been searching them to know how aware they were of those around them. This would be an important part of fulfilling their mission in the future. It's always a good thing to pay attention and take in as much information about your surroundings as possible.

"Some say that You are John the Baptist." Well, this would have been an amazing feat, since John had been a contemporary of Jesus and had been beheaded.

"Some say You are Elijah." Well, Elijah was prophesied to be the forerunner of the Christ.

"Some say that You are Jeremiah." Ah, the Weeping Prophet, who had taken on many religious leaders in his day. He was the last and boldest prophet before the exile. Jesus did seem to talk about coming disaster often, so this would be understandable.

Now, is the moment of truth for Him and for the disciples. They have been walking and serving for some time now, probably more than a year and perhaps two. He has camped with them, walked with them, eaten with them, ministered with them and talked with them. Now, He wants them to show if they still see with fuzziness, as if they were seeing men “walking around like trees,” or if they are finally beginning to see clearly.

"But what about you? Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16)
Once again, Matthew gives credit where credit is due by recording Peter's answer most completely. Jesus is not just, "the Christ," the anointed one, a man. Jesus is the anointed one who is the direct connection with the One and only living God Himself. This makes Him Messiah, the one they have been waiting for. All Israel's hopes rest in Him. With Peter's confession, he is clearly saying, "The wait is over. The Kingdom of God is at hand through the Anointed One."

Once again, Peter steps out of the boat ahead of the others. Once again, Jesus praises him for his statement of faith. "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, (which means rock) and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18-19)

Wow! What if we were that bold for Jesus? How would we be rewarded if we were bold for Christ? God longs to be gracious. What blessings would we receive if we could shake off our timidity and step out as well? And note, Jesus said the "gates" of Hades will not overcome. Gates are a defensive part of the wall of a fortress. Gates are the focal point of an army laying siege to a city on the defensive. Hades is holed up. The Church is on the attack! This does call for boldness! And we have reason to rejoice in a good hope! In Christ, the victory is surely ours!

Hymn: "Hail to the Lord's Anointed"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

258. "Remember, Always Remember!"

Exodus 12:1-30 Key Verse: "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14 "Celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17) "And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:27) The original act was an act of worship as the first true act of freedom for the people of Israel. They had been brought to Egypt by Joseph during a time of famine so that through Joseph God could preserve their lives. ( Genesis 37 , & 39-50 ) After Joseph died, however, instead of heading back to C...
Post a Comment
Read more

August 13 What Is Fitting

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ~Proverbs 19:10   On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. ~Acts 12:21-23  Wow! Well, what in the world can there be to benefit us here? First of all, perhaps we should review the first Biblical definition of a fool, penned by no other than Solomon’s Father, David himself. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1) It is not fitting for the fool to live the blessed life. Why should they when they deny from whom all blessings flow?  King Herod was a fool. Now, just to be clear, this is not the Herod who ruled at Jesus’ birth and ordered the slaughter of the male children in Bethlehem. He ...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 26 Time for A Wellness Check Up

This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ~Ecclesiastes 5:16-20  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everythi...
Post a Comment
Read more