Confession is Good for the Soul



Who Do Men Say That I Am?

 

Gleaning from Sunday's sermon as Pastor Jerry read from Matthew 16:13:20, and began to recount how Peter and his brother Andrew were in the fishing business with their father. 

 

One day Jesus passed by and said, “Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men.”

Without hesitation they dropped everything leaving their parents, home and their business to abide with Jesus as He gathered others to make up his twelve disciples.

Matthew 16: 13-16 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter was always slow to understand and quick to speak.  This time Jesus was pleased with Peter’s answer but He urged them all not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.

Jesus was accepted by the people but not the religious leaders.  He did not back down when the leaders accused him of being a false prophet and working with the devil. 

Jesus was quick to tell them that their hands were clean from their many rituals, but their hearts were dark.

The question Jesus asked his disciples is still an important one today. No matter what your denomination, or your position in leadership, the question remains;  Who do YOU say Jesus is?

1. What does your worship mean to you, both private and in a group setting?

2. Is your service to God a ritual or does your service come from your heart?

3. Does your giving in time and money measure up to your answer to the question?

Jesus told Peter  verse 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Did Jesus mean the keys were only given to one person?  No, He was speaking of keys that would unlock truth and authority regarding heaven and earth. 

Often we get tied up in social pot-luck gatherings and bazaars which have their place, but we must realize that WE hold the keys to the Kingdom and we can use them to reach out and become fishers of men. 

God is still speaking and he will speak through us as we share with others the wonderful answer to the question that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God.

This post is shared at Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays