Who Is Jesus For Me?

 

 

 Matthew 16:13-23

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked 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?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, 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. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

 Jesus chides Peter for his over-confident proclamation of loyalty, reminding him and all of us that we can't put our thoughts or desires before those of God. "you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." Peter had just made his outstanding declaration of faith in Jesus and received his commission as the "rock" on which Jesus would build his church, yet his human weakness made him ever vulnerable to mistakes and failures, as we know in our own lives. Peter's confession of faith and his display of over confidence give us pause and beg us to look at our own relationship with Jesus.  
Who is he for me?

Bro.Rene

Dear Jesus, deepen my relationship with you and help me to serve you with good deeds and not merely in words. Amen.