When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,he asked his disciples,'Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 'Well,' they replied,'some say John the Baptist,some say Elijah,and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.'Then he asked them,'But who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered,'You are the Messiah,the Son of the living God.' -Matthew 16:13-16.
What Do You Think About Jesus?
When Jesus Christ asked what people thought of Him,it was not out of curiosity.He had a purpose in mind.
The disciples were well informed and answered in these terms:"Some see in you John the Baptist,others regard you as Elijah,some,on the other hand,think you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
People had formed their opinion of Jesus of Nazareth.It was so then and it is the same today.One believes Him to be a good Man,others see Him as One sent by God,yet more regard Him as someone who wanted to improve the world.
"But you. . .?" The Lord is not concerned about such superficial opinions.His first question was simply an introduction,and its answer set the background for the second question: "But who do you say that I am?" This personal question goes to the heart of the matter.What others think of Jesus is insignificant.What matters is what I think of Him.Peter gave as his answer:"You are the Messiah,the Son of the living God."
That was not just Peter's opinion.It was a confession from the heart,and that is what is important.Peter knew that Christ not merely man.He realized that the Master he followed was the promised Messiah,the Redeemer who was to come,indeed,the Son of God.
Jesus replied,"You are blessed Simon son of John,because my Father in heaven has reaveled this to you.You did not learn this from any human being." -Matthew 16:17.
Peter had not thought out this answer by himself.He had not reached this conclusion,that Jesus is the Son of God,by any philosophical argument,nor by any conversation with others.God Himself had brought about this conviction in his heart.
Now someone might think,"Oh! Then it depends on God.So I need only to wait to see if He chooses to do the same with me.Till then I shall stick to my own opinion about Jesus."
This may sound logical,but it isn't! Something had happened before Peter's confession of Christ.Through his brother Andrew he had heard of Jesus,and had then accompanied him to see Jesus,where he made His acquaintance.He had not shut his heart to God's working through hostility,stubbornness or indifference.On the contrary,he wanted to get to know Him.So God showed him who Jesus really is.Against this background the Lord said,"Blessed are you,Simon."
Where can we find Jesus today? Jesus Christ is no longer here on earth.So how can we get to know Him? How can we find faith in Him and become blessed? We have Holy Scripture,the Bible.Whoever wishes to learn about Jesus Christ can do so by reading the Bible.He Himself said,"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life.But the Scriptures point to me!" -John 5:39.
What many people think of Jesus today is really sad.The hatred they have for Him keeps growing whenever someone speaks to them about Him.Even the Bible said,"They hate me without cause" -Psalm 35:19.Christ came for good,but His goodness receive hatred in return.What do you think of Him? Will you join the majority who hates Him for no meaningful reason at all? Or will you join the few who believe in Him and thus say,"He is the Messiah,the Son of the living God."
What Do You Think About Jesus?
When Jesus Christ asked what people thought of Him,it was not out of curiosity.He had a purpose in mind.
The disciples were well informed and answered in these terms:"Some see in you John the Baptist,others regard you as Elijah,some,on the other hand,think you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
People had formed their opinion of Jesus of Nazareth.It was so then and it is the same today.One believes Him to be a good Man,others see Him as One sent by God,yet more regard Him as someone who wanted to improve the world.
"But you. . .?" The Lord is not concerned about such superficial opinions.His first question was simply an introduction,and its answer set the background for the second question: "But who do you say that I am?" This personal question goes to the heart of the matter.What others think of Jesus is insignificant.What matters is what I think of Him.Peter gave as his answer:"You are the Messiah,the Son of the living God."
That was not just Peter's opinion.It was a confession from the heart,and that is what is important.Peter knew that Christ not merely man.He realized that the Master he followed was the promised Messiah,the Redeemer who was to come,indeed,the Son of God.
Jesus replied,"You are blessed Simon son of John,because my Father in heaven has reaveled this to you.You did not learn this from any human being." -Matthew 16:17.
Peter had not thought out this answer by himself.He had not reached this conclusion,that Jesus is the Son of God,by any philosophical argument,nor by any conversation with others.God Himself had brought about this conviction in his heart.
Now someone might think,"Oh! Then it depends on God.So I need only to wait to see if He chooses to do the same with me.Till then I shall stick to my own opinion about Jesus."
This may sound logical,but it isn't! Something had happened before Peter's confession of Christ.Through his brother Andrew he had heard of Jesus,and had then accompanied him to see Jesus,where he made His acquaintance.He had not shut his heart to God's working through hostility,stubbornness or indifference.On the contrary,he wanted to get to know Him.So God showed him who Jesus really is.Against this background the Lord said,"Blessed are you,Simon."
Where can we find Jesus today? Jesus Christ is no longer here on earth.So how can we get to know Him? How can we find faith in Him and become blessed? We have Holy Scripture,the Bible.Whoever wishes to learn about Jesus Christ can do so by reading the Bible.He Himself said,"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life.But the Scriptures point to me!" -John 5:39.
What many people think of Jesus today is really sad.The hatred they have for Him keeps growing whenever someone speaks to them about Him.Even the Bible said,"They hate me without cause" -Psalm 35:19.Christ came for good,but His goodness receive hatred in return.What do you think of Him? Will you join the majority who hates Him for no meaningful reason at all? Or will you join the few who believe in Him and thus say,"He is the Messiah,the Son of the living God."
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