Testifying to the Truth
Matthew 16:13-20
Recollect
For the recollect part of my devotion I like to rewrite the passage word for word. This way I cannot miss out on any important details.
Matthew 16:13-20
Recollect
For the recollect part of my devotion I like to rewrite the passage word for word. This way I cannot miss out on any important details.
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Reflect
For my reflection, I look deeper into to the word by understanding what the passage means using my recollection.
At the beginning of this passage Jesus asks his disciples two questions. The first question Jesus asks is- "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples answered using their knowledge of what people say- "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." The second question Jesus asks is a more personal question- "But who do you think I am?" This time only one disciple answered; Simon Peter. He replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Simon Peter testified for the truth that God had revealed to him. This was not an easy thing to do for Simon as his culture taught him the opposite, which was- there is only one God who is in heaven. When Peter went against his past beliefs and testified for the truth, he was putting himself at risk. Jesus commends Simon for this-"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."
Jesus also changes Simon's name to Peter (which means 'rock'). He says, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The rock that Jesus will build his church is our testimony to the truth. Jesus proclaims that nothing will stand against this truth - rock.
In the last verse of this passage, Jesus warns his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. The reason for this is because what he told the disciples was prior to the fulfilment Jesus was to make at the cross, where all will see who the Messiah is. Now that Jesus has fulfilled that he is the Messiah we can proclaim the truth and bring people to Christ. Some will receive and be bound in earth and heaven, others will reject and will lose out. Jesus has revealed the truth to all of us. And now it is our calling to testify for it.
Repent
Repent is the last but most important part of my devotion. It is the part where I come to God and confess the areas I have fallen, and then ask for change I in my life.
Lord, I sometimes feel scared to stand up for you and testify for the truth (e.g- at school with my friends). I need not be scared anymore because I know that the truth stands over all. Give me the strength to be confident and share the wonderful truth you revealed to me on the cross. That you are the Messiah!
Reflect
For my reflection, I look deeper into to the word by understanding what the passage means using my recollection.
At the beginning of this passage Jesus asks his disciples two questions. The first question Jesus asks is- "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples answered using their knowledge of what people say- "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." The second question Jesus asks is a more personal question- "But who do you think I am?" This time only one disciple answered; Simon Peter. He replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Simon Peter testified for the truth that God had revealed to him. This was not an easy thing to do for Simon as his culture taught him the opposite, which was- there is only one God who is in heaven. When Peter went against his past beliefs and testified for the truth, he was putting himself at risk. Jesus commends Simon for this-"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."
Jesus also changes Simon's name to Peter (which means 'rock'). He says, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The rock that Jesus will build his church is our testimony to the truth. Jesus proclaims that nothing will stand against this truth - rock.
In the last verse of this passage, Jesus warns his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. The reason for this is because what he told the disciples was prior to the fulfilment Jesus was to make at the cross, where all will see who the Messiah is. Now that Jesus has fulfilled that he is the Messiah we can proclaim the truth and bring people to Christ. Some will receive and be bound in earth and heaven, others will reject and will lose out. Jesus has revealed the truth to all of us. And now it is our calling to testify for it.
Repent
Repent is the last but most important part of my devotion. It is the part where I come to God and confess the areas I have fallen, and then ask for change I in my life.
Lord, I sometimes feel scared to stand up for you and testify for the truth (e.g- at school with my friends). I need not be scared anymore because I know that the truth stands over all. Give me the strength to be confident and share the wonderful truth you revealed to me on the cross. That you are the Messiah!
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