Matthew 16:13-17
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.”
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
Midway through his ministry, after much teaching and many miracles, Jesus takes his disciples aside to ask them a crucial question. First, he filters out all the noise of what others are saying and then gets to the heart: “Who do you say that I am?”
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” How would you respond to this question? What do your friends and coworkers, children and family members think about Jesus?
“But who do you say that I am?” How would you respond to this second question? Apart from all the noise and external pressures, what do you believe about Jesus?
Talk with Jesus about these answers. What words does he have to encourage you or challenge you today?
PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK
O Lord Jesus Christ
be near us to defend us,
within us to refresh us,
around us to protect us,
before us to guide us,
behind us to justify us,
and above us to bless us.
Amen.