“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” (Matthew 16:13–16, ESV)
Was Jesus feeling uncertain about his standing and thus wanting some moral support from his disciples? NO!
Having right thoughts about God is the most important thoughts we will ever have. If we see God as He truly is; as He presents Himself in scripture; this sets the stage for how we encounter all of life. When you know that you face the day with its various challenges (we know they are there but we know not what they will be) knowing that
GOD – the uncreated Creator of all things
GOD – who loves you and gave His only Son Jesus (who is himself God) for you
GOD – all powerful, all knowing, always everywhere present, unchanging, eternal, infinite, perfect God
Then we go confidently into the day and say in our hearts “If God is for me who can be against me…” Romans 8:31. Then we are anxious for nothing. We are confident in God completely – we don’t have to know or even need to know what or how or when God will move today – we just know that He is, He will, and it is well with our soul – NO MATTER WHAT.
Jesus wanted His disciples to constantly remind themselves just who they were following; what God (the Father) had promised throughout the Old Testament (the only Bible they had at the time) regarding the coming Messiah; and, that Jesus Himself is that promised Messiah. Then they could be at peace no matter what came.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Have you been born again?
Do you know Jesus as your Savior?
If you are a born again (by grace alone – a gift from God – through faith alone in Jesus alone) Christian – then your answer is yes and that sets the stage for everything else in life – not that it will be easy, it won’t, but you will walk in peace and strength with your eyes on your Savior and know it is well with your soul.
If you have not been born again, then let today be the day of salvation. You do not need the presence of a pastor. You do not need to be in a church. You do not need someone else to help you.
To be saved is to come to the place where we know that we are a sinner that we cannot save ourselves, and we put our trust in Jesus, who died on the cross to pay for our sins, was raised from the dead, and by doing so defeated sin, death, and the grave. In other words, to have a change of mind, a repentance, and be born again, made right with God as a gift from God by faith in Jesus as Savior.
Jesus is God. He has always been God. He is without beginning and without end. We can and must trust him in all things for all of life and all of eternity.
Who do you say Jesus is? He is God. He is my Savior and my Lord. He is more than enough. I say with the old hymn, “When peace like a river attends my way and when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.'”
