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Good morning, Saints,
Greetings, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, as together we reflect during our Lenten journey eagerly awaiting the celebration of Easter.
During my Lenten reflections this week, I began to think about what defines us and our faith. Often, in our culture, we can simply turn to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary to define something. Okay, so a: one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and b: Disciple - does a pretty good job. The problem then arises when we dig deeper and ask ourselves who is Jesus Christ and what is a disciple? How, then, should we answer this question?
In today’s devotional scripture verses, Peter gets it right this time. I love Peter and identify with him because sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I don’t. When asked by Jesus, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” On this occasion, Peter gets it right, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” During our life-long faith journey, and specifically, our Lenten journey, recognizing Christ’s identity is important. In fact, looking beyond Jesus as just a ‘figure in history’ to know Him as the promised Messiah and sacrificed Savior helps us to define our relationship with Him as disciples. We can’t know who we are unless we know who He is.
Our students struggle with being defined, too, and I am afraid Merriam-Webster can’t help them. They face a constant daily barrage of worldly advice on defining themselves. You can imagine, only partially, their lived experience through the powerful lens of technology that shapes not only the view of self but their worldview, too. That’s why reading God’s Word is so important; it informs them (us) about Christ’s identity, His divine nature, and the role He has in our salvation, which we so closely observe during this time leading up to Easter. Being faithful is a struggle that is real; many things are competing for our students' hearts.
The world can’t help; they didn’t know then, nor do they know now. They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Peter, however, was the first disciple among the chosen twelve; he instinctively and without hesitation spoke aloud. He knew. He had the vantage point to see Jesus the Son of God perform miracles, multiply loaves of bread, heal, and even walk on water until he didn’t, and then the hand of the Son of God saved him from those stormy waters. Sure, he knew.
Peter’s confession of who the Son of Man is pleased Jesus. So much so that Jesus immediately blesses Peter, “Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!’” Peter’s faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ is a gift of grace from our Heavenly Father. A God-inspired faith made only possible through the work of Jesus Christ, “‘For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’” Peter was blessed by Jesus for confessing Christ, and we are blessed by God when we confess Christ.
Jesus then uses Peter’s confession of truth to cement the mission of the church, “ I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” The church, all people who come to the faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, exists to proclaim one central truth: Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the very Son of the living God. Further, those who believe have the best fire insurance known to mankind, Jesus said, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Those in Christ are protected, yes, even from the very gates of hell. How’s that for insurance?
In those days, a servant would be only given the keys to lock and unlock an estate if they were highly regarded and trusted. Jesus heard Peter’s declaration of truth, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then delegated His authority, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” He gave His disciples the authority and privilege to introduce the gospel message to the world, a mission the twelve would learn more about in the coming days before His resurrection and after. Theirs was a mission with great responsibility, authored by heaven, not to do their own will but the will of the Father. A mission defined for us, too.
During this Lenten season, as you follow Christ’s journey to the cross, I pray that you continue to experience the transforming love of Christ and that your faith is strengthened by Christ’s identity as both fully God and fully man, who came to walk on earth among mankind to redeem each of us from sin. Saints, only by God’s grace, Christ’s unimaginable death on the cross, and His resurrection can we, as Christians, be defined. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.
Have a peaceful weekend, Saints.
In Christ’s love and mine,
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