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?” Matthew 16:13
Ever wonder what people are really thinking about you? Yeah, me too, but I'm not sure I really want to know. I'm afraid it might be a little ... humbling. Or even worse, accurate.
Of course, Jesus didn't have the problem you and I have: ...and [Jesus] needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:25 But He did ask, probably because He knew it was weighing upon the hearts of these, His closest companions. So they proceeded with the scuttlebutt.
Remember the classroom game called "Gossip"? Teacher would write down a short message, then whisper it in the first kid's ear, who would then whisper it to the next, who would do the same until everyone in the group had passed it on. The last kid would say aloud what he had been told and they would compare it with the original, revealing their serious lack of communication skills - or maybe their fitness for a career in TV journalism! That's kind of what it looks like happened in the public forum. Zombie John the Baptist. Reincarnated Elijah/Jeremiah. Recycled Prophets. And those were probably just the most popular theories! No telling what else was making the rounds.
But then He asked them about their opinion.
The ones who spend the most time with you know you best. They say that if you really want to get to know someone, take a trip with them. After three days in a car, you'll know more than you ever wanted to! And His disciples had been walking, talking watching, and working with Him, 24/7 for months! If there were any peccadilloes or shortcomings, this would have been a great time to bring them up, but no...
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
I wonder if Pete had ever put it into words before. I have no doubt he'd been thinking it. No hemming. No hawing. Just blunt Truth, straight from the Father's heart to Pete's mouth. Revelation, pure and simple.
Christ - the Anointed One, specially chosen and equipped to perfectly fulfill the eternal plan of God the Father and to fill up the measure of God's prophetic word throughout the ages.
Son - in the Hebrew/Aramaic (probably the vernacular Pete was speaking in) it meant "Builder", so a Son was "building" the future for his Father.
living God - not of stone, metal, or memory, but Alive, Active, and Personal.
And Revelation like we all must come to. True Christianity is not rote religion or dusty philosophy. It's Relationship. The living God of Pete's confession is still around, still looking for worshipers in Spirit and Truth, and still revealing Himself in real and personal ways. When you get right down to it, until and unless you know Him, you're part of the speculating crowd, ignorant of the REAL Jesus. Good news, though: You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Seek Him today, He really wants you to find Him!
