LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 16:15, He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

NorthRock Church is using scenes from the television series, The Chosen, to use as the basis of the message each week. This week Pastor Winston Harris spoke about the question Jesus asked His disciples when at Caesarea Philippi. This question was asked after Jesus wanted to know who people said He was. The answers of the disciples reflect people’s thoughts today – “there are all sorts of thoughts about who people think Jesus is” (WH).

Josh McDowell wrote in his book, More Than a Carpenter, that Jesus Christ was either a liar, a lunatic, or He was Lord (mentioned by WH). Pastor Harris stated, “How you see Jesus determines how you see everything else. There are those who see Jesus as a Santa Claus figure who “exists to give them what they want” (WH). Others “see Him as always angry” (WH), ready to punish a Believer the moment something wrong is said or done. Others get their view of who Jesus is “from social media or from some other public opinion platform” (WH).

But Jesus makes it clear everyone must answer the question for themselves. Be very careful how you answer – your eternity depends on your answer. Being familiar with who Jesus is or knowing about Him is not enough. He wants you to be in a personal relationship with Him, to walk with Him on His narrow way. Pastor’s example about just knowing Jesus “is like chewing someone else’s gum.” Gross, right! He continued, “You have the activity but no juice. The question is never about what Jesus can do for you; but about knowing Him personally!

Peter answered by saying, “Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." In Matthew 16:17, Jesus said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” His answer showed that He understood Jesus to be both the promised Messiah and to be divine. “Peter did not get his answer from just anywhere. It was revealed to Him by His Father in heaven. And so does the Holy Spirit reveal to each person who has placed their faith and life in the hands of Jesus.

In Matthew 14, The disciples are in a boat, being tossed around by the waves. Jesus comes to them by walking on the water, makes sure Peter does not drown, and calms the sea. Their response is “Truly, You are the son of God!” storms in the lives of Believers can be a time of revelation, a time when He can provide only in the way He can. “You cannot be casual in a storm. It may be a time to see Jesus as you never have before. It may be a time when you experience Jesus for yourself, not through the experiences of others. It in those times that Jesus changes your name like He changed Simon Peter’s name to Peter. It is when Believers declare they are His that your identity changes and your destination shifts” (WH).

Pastor Harris concluded by saying “Your destination runs through His Church.” He continued, “Jesus Christ is the Head and Believers make up the body of the Church. Through His Church the Believer has access to His kingdom (Matthew 16:19). As a Believer you have keys to the kingdom – use them to unlock the doors you need.” Jesus gave Peter (and to Believers) keys that would help him (and us) preach and teach about the kingdom of God. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church that Jesus is the head of!