ODJ: truth from on high

August 8, 2015 

READ: Matthew 16:13-20 

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v.16).

Albert Einstein challenged long-held views of science with his theory of general relativity— a complicated idea that defied comprehension. Virtually no one could understand it. For instance, in 1919, mathematician Sir Arthur Eddington was asked if it was true that only three people on earth understood relativity. He replied, “Who’s the third?” Good question!

In Matthew 16, Jesus challenged His disciples with the question of who people said He was. They reported that the people believed He was a prophet—perhaps John the Baptist, Jeremiah or even Elijah (vv.13-14). But Peter said something even more astounding, something that perhaps no one else understood at the time, as he testified that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” (v.16). The Saviour responded by telling Peter that this truth had been revealed to him by God Himself (v.17). Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and the Son of God was and is a revelation given from on high!

Sadly, I rarely treat this truth with the awe that it deserves. Over the course of many years, I’ve become accustomed to the saying that “Jesus is Lord” or that He’s the “Son of God”. These are expressions that roll easily from the tongues of mature Christians. But it’s good sometimes to sit back and simply remember what these truths fully mean and express—that they’re nothing short of a revelation of the highest degree. And, yes, they’re something that should fill us with awe and wonder!

A proper response is amazement, much like the centurion at the foot of the cross (Matthew 27:54) or like Mary Magdalene when she first saw the resurrected Jesus on Easter Sunday (John 20:16). May we stand amazed as we consider everything God has revealed to us!

—Peter Chin

365-day-plan: Luke 13:1-21

MORE
Read Matthew 17:1-13 to see another account of Jesus’ identity being revealed. 
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Do you ever find that some of the expressions of Christianity have become cliché for you? How can you prevent this from happening and retain a proper sense of awe as you consider Jesus’ identity?