Day 40: March 7

March 7th, 2024
by Randy Eliason

MATTHEW 16:13-28

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

Vs 13-14 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Vs 16 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it

Vs 24-25 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

OBSERVATIONS:

Jesus asked his disciples what they believed about him. Peter’s reply is the first acknowledgment in Matthew’s Gospel by the disciples that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus told Peter that he Jesus was going to build his church upon Peter’s faith confession.
Hell will never be able to stop the church that Jesus is building.
Jesus delegated authority to his followers to bind (forbid) and loose (permit). It is important to note that this delegated authority we have from Jesus only works when we act according to Jesus’ will. What we bind/loose will have already been bound/loosed in heaven.
Jesus did not want his disciples to reveal his identity at this time.
Jesus predicted his suffering and death. He also predicted that he would rise again.
Peter arrogantly boasted that he would not allow that to happen. It seems apparent that Peter’s emotions were stirred by hearing Jesus speak about his death and stopped listening because he was thinking about his response. I have acted like Peter more times than I would like to admit. Peter received a stern rebuke for his failure to listen to and accept Jesus' words.
Jesus said that in order to be one of his followers we must be willing to surrender our will and embrace the purpose that Jesus has for us. When we do that we will find real life.

APPLICATION:
What we believe about Jesus is important. We cannot claim to be Christians unless we are willing to accept that Jesus is who he revealed himself to be.

Peter’s response to Jesus' prediction about his death and resurrection is a reminder to me that good intentions and loyalty to Jesus must be accompanied by a humility that listens and accepts Jesus' word even when it goes against my way of thinking.

When Spirit led Christians speak and act according to the Spirit, our words and actions will carry the Spirit’s authority. What God has declared in heaven will be enacted and implemented through his Spirit-led children. Lead us Lord!

True life comes from surrendering control into the hands of Jesus. As long as we try to control our lives we will end of losing out because we won’t fulfill God’s ordained purpose for our lives. I must guard against loving the things and experiences that this world has to offer and live with an eternal perspective in pursuit of what will matter in eternity!

PRAYER:
My prayer comes from the old hymn, "Take My Life and Let It Be":

“Take my silver and my gold;

not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

every power as thou shalt choose,

every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;

it shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart it is thine own;

it shall be thy royal throne,

it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

at thy feet its treasure store.