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Peter's Confession and Rebuking Jesus
Peter's Confession and Rebuking Jesus
Jesus asked: "Who do YOU say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15). This is the pivotal question for every man. It matters NOT what anyone else says. It matters not if it is a political correct answer or a majority opinion. You will be judged on who YOU say that Jesus is.
When asked this question, Peter responded: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." These answers have tremendous implications. "The Christ" is the English translation of the Greek phrase that was used to translate the Hebrew phrase "The Messiah". Jesus was the promised anointed one. "
After Andrew had been with Jesus, he told his brother Peter: "We have found the Messiah (which means the Christ)" (John 1:41). The next day Philip told Nathanael: "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). After the resurrection, Jesus told two disciples: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:25-26).
The second statement in Peter's confession is that Jesus is 'the Son of God'. To Jewish minds of the first century, this meant making Jesus equal with God (John 5:18; 10:30-38). To see Jesus is to see the Father. To deny Jesus is to deny the Father. To obey the word of Jesus is to do the will of God.
It is amazing then that shortly after this, Peter rebukes Jesus! After Jesus lays out to them that He would be rejected, killed, and on the third day be raised, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him! (Matt. 16:22). You are the Son of God - but you got this all wrong. You are the Son of God - but let me teach you. Rebuking Jesus is a denial of the very confession that Peter made.
People still do this! When we make the good confession and then begin to change or add to what Jesus taught, we are doing what Peter did. When we think that we have a better way than what Jesus taught, we are doing what Peter did. There are in fact many people today that need to hear: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" (Matt. 16:23).
We need to let Jesus BE the Son of God by listening / following HIS teaching. As His disciples, we are taught to obey all that HE has commanded (Matt. 28:18-19). Are we listening or talking? Are we obeying or commanding? God said: "This is my beloved Son, Hear Ye Him!" (Matt. 17:5). Hugh DeLong
