Peter’s Confession
Photo by tommao wang, from on Unsplash.
Who do you say Jesus is? Do you believe Jesus is who he says he is? How have you responded to Jesus because of your belief in him?
What we believe about Jesus is the most important thing we can think about. Who we think Jesus is shapes everything about us and our lives. This was the case with Peter’s confession of Jesus as the messiah. Peter’s belief in who Jesus is changed everything.
In the district of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13, ESV). This is the most important question that can be asked. More important is how we answer this essential question for ourselves.
The disciples answered Jesus with a deflection, saying, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:14, ESV). However, Jesus was not interested in what other people thought about his identity. He was concerned about who each of them thought he was. Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15, ESV).
Simon Peter answered Jesus with the correct answer, saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15, ESV).
Jesus answered Simon Peter and blessed him, saying, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18, ESV).
Peter made his confession that Jesus was the messiah, “the Son of the living God.” This truth was revealed to Peter by the Spirit of God. It is upon this truth of the identity of Jesus, the Son of God, that God builds his church, and nothing, not even hell itself, will overcome God and his people.
May the Spirit lead us as we confess Jesus as Lord of all and Lord of our lives, and may we experience the blessing of God as he changes everything for his kingdom in the world.
A Collect for the Confession of Peter the Apostle: “Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Download #Nurture365 a #free #devotional book for each month, a devotional for every day of the year, by subscribing here: www.robbiepruitt.com.
Photo by tommao wang, from on Unsplash. More photography can be found here: https://unsplash.com/.../man-in-robe-statue-under-blue...
