The wonderful Christian author, C.S. Lewis, was talking about the dilemma of deciding who this Jesus of the Bible really is. People either describe him as a good moral teacher rather than the actual Son of God. Lewis said this: “That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice: either this man was and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.” Lewis was right. We cannot believe two different things about him at the same time. And so it is up to us to make that decision…who is this Jesus? Jesus was with his disciples one day and he asked who people were saying he was. Some of them were saying that he was John the Baptist, or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets who had come back to life. But then he made it personal. He said to them “So who do you say that I am?” And good old Peter jumped in first and said “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And then Jesus replied in a way that probably surprised all those first disciples and maybe many of us today. He said “Blessed are you Peter. Because this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.” A person’s decision about this Jesus of the Bible is not primarily an emotional response. But a decision based on a rational, intellectual conclusion based on God revealing himself to hearts and minds that are open to want to know him and love him and follow him. And at that point we can answer that question with “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Matthew 16:13-17 BSB When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (14) They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (15) “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” (16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (17) Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
Matthew 16:13-17 BSB When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (14) They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (15) “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” (16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (17) Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ