Luke continues to spotlight amazing moments in the life and ministry of Jesus. One of those moments was the moment when Jesus asked the group who people were saying that He was. Jesus knew, of course what the people were thinking and saying, But He wanted His chosen guys to ponder it a bit. So, when He asked, the answers were all over the board–John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the other prophets from old. In Jesus discussion, that was warm up question. Then Jesus asked the main question. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, always blunt and always 1st says, “You are God’s Messiah!”
That statement must have exploded through the group.. It would have been stunning to see the eyes of the other disciples and the reactions they gave. Jesus had performed some amazing miracles. He spoke of life and of God in a way no other prophet or preacher had done. He was a man of authority and His following was great. He calmed storms, cast out demons, healed the sick, fed the masses, and raised the dead. Still, at the end of the day, it was a huge leap of faith to acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter was the faithful one. He rose and took the lead. Scripture shows that Peter was not perfect, but there is little doubt that he was all in.
In our day, we see how the story played out. We know that Jesus is the Messiah. We know he was not simply a prophet, a good teacher, or a Rockstar. We know that Jesus was God and is God. He made himself nothing and took on the form of man. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2).
With the historical perspective that we have, we can be as confident as Peter when we announce that Jesus is the Messiah. We must live our lives in a way that honors the love and sacrifice Jesus made. If we will, He will lead, provide, and protect us until we are with Him, in eternity. Help me, Lord to honor You as my Messiah!!!
God Bless You
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Walking With God 