DECEMBER 29
WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?
Matthew 16:13-17
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (WEB)
Jesus' life centered on being a Son to His Heavenly Father. His public ministry began at His baptism, when His Father declared... “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” It reached its peak on the cross, where Jesus prayed to His Father, saying... “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
In today's passage from Scripture, Jesus asks His disciples what people were saying about who He was. All of the people's comments were based on what Jesus did, not on who He truly was. Then Jesus asked Peter for his opinion, and Peter's response was exactly what Jesus was hoping to hear... "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Sonship was everything to Jesus. Though He was a prophet, being a prophet was not His identity. Though He healed the sick, this was not who He was. He was simply the Son of God. My prayer today is that each of us would draw our identity from the same source as Jesus. We may do many things in the Kingdom, but it is who we are that truly defines us... not what we do.
Matthew 3:16-17
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (WEB)
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (WEB)
Jesus' life centered on being a Son to His Heavenly Father. His public ministry began at His baptism, when His Father declared... “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” It reached its peak on the cross, where Jesus prayed to His Father, saying... “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
In today's passage from Scripture, Jesus asks His disciples what people were saying about who He was. All of the people's comments were based on what Jesus did, not on who He truly was. Then Jesus asked Peter for his opinion, and Peter's response was exactly what Jesus was hoping to hear... "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Sonship was everything to Jesus. Though He was a prophet, being a prophet was not His identity. Though He healed the sick, this was not who He was. He was simply the Son of God. My prayer today is that each of us would draw our identity from the same source as Jesus. We may do many things in the Kingdom, but it is who we are that truly defines us... not what we do.
Matthew 3:16-17
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (WEB)