Discovering Christ
“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
Jesus took the disciples aside after a long day of ministry and began talking with them about his identity. He asked them who the people thought he was. They had their various ideas and interpretations, but then Jesus got personal. Jesus asked Peter specifically who he thought he was. At that moment, Peter said one of the boldest things he would ever say. He declared Jesus to be the son of God.
Jesus rejoiced at his revelation, pointing out that it was no man that revealed this truth to him. That came from the Spirit.
Peter shows us two things in this moment. First, he shows us how easy it is to be near Jesus and not know him as Lord. Peter was no stranger to the ministry of Jesus at this point. This verse comes halfway through the gospel of Matthew, so he had plenty of experiences to build up this revelation. We have to see that Peter walked closely with God-in-the-flesh, and it took him a while to get on board with what was really going on.
Of course, I would never condemn Peter for the place he was in. We would all need deep and convincing assurance to make such a bold declaration about a leader we are following. I follow a lot of godly leaders, but I am not in any way prepared to declare them as God. Yet Peter was not ready to do this either until this moment. From the outside, Jesus was a skilled and supernatural prophet, but Peter received a revelation in his Spirit.
The second thing Peter shows us in this story is that Jesus is incredibly patient with us as we follow him. Jesus knew who he was as the son of God. He talked at length about his Heavenly Father, to the rage of the religious leaders. Jesus was content to walk with Peter and the other disciples while they did their best to figure out what was going on.
I love that Jesus treats us the same way. He invites us to be close to him just where we are in our journey. If we are skeptical, we are invited. If we are hopeful, we are invited. Strong leaders and insecure followers are all invited. Wherever we are in our journey of faith, God invites us.
Still, he wants to move us closer to the revelation that will transform us from the inside out—when all the air sucks out of the room, and we realize how powerful and profound our relationship with Jesus is.
I want you to think about the best news you have ever received. That is a taste of the revelation Peter received. After reading this, close your eyes and ask God to help you picture this moment with Peter. Recognize that it was a real moment in time. Just one moment that changed Peter’s life forever and brought joy to the heart of God. Ask God to show you more deeply that he is God.
All-New Podcast
Go further with the ministry of Abiding Daily by listening to our podcast. We just released our first episode that you can stream on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can always listen directly on our website here.
-
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
-
Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
