eFollowingJesusFeb27 - Who do you say that I am? (read Matthew 16:13-17)

   On a retreat far north to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  The crowds had whispered fantasies that he was some prophet back from the grave.  Peter answers correctly:  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

   "Christ" isn't Jesus' last name, but the Greek translation of "Messiah" - befuddling, since he turned out to be the opposite of what Scripture readers expected.  Instead of crushing his foes, he washed their feet; instead of rounding up the holy, he befriended tax collectors and prostitutes; instead of ruling with an iron fist, he let his fists be nailed to a cross.

   "Son of the living God": Jesus is not just Israel's Messiah; somehow he participates in the very being of God.

   Peter hadn't figured this out yet.  The facts don't add up to the deep confession of the heart that Jesus is the ultimate One.  To understand Jesus requires God's revelation, inspiration - and the hard lesson of experience, at which Peter will flounder in his new role we'll investigate tomorrow.

   Lord, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Reveal this in my mind, heart and life.

James

james@mpumc.org

Sunday's sermon on Matthew 13:53-58, "Jesus' family," may be heard here.  And you can also download a podcast.

Here is the full text of Matthew 16:1-17 -  1: And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2: He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, `It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.' 3: And in the morning, `It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4: An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed. 5: When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6: Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7: And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." 8: But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9: Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10: Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11: How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12: Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14: And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say 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 replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17: And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.