“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ Jesus asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:13-16 NIV)
What
if Peter had not been receptive to the truth?
What if no one had been willing to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God? For two years the trouble had not lain with
the transmission of the Word of God, but with the reception of the
instruments. For two years Jesus had not
forced His identity on the apostles. He
was not about to change His methods.
They must respond. They must be
open to God. They must find God in
Jesus.
When they do -- when we do -- meaning is found to the drama of the New Testament. Unless they do -- unless we do -- that New Testament remains a mere collection of interesting stories and sayings. But when we acknowledge God in Christ, when we know God sent His only Son into the world, then we find the key which unlocks all mysteries, to God and Jesus, to life and eternity. Revelation is vital, but Jesus commends response to God's truth, and openness to that revelation.
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:17 NIV)
-- H.S. Vigeveno in “Jesus the Revolutionary”
#5913
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