This morning, as I was looking for an illustration to go with my sermon (sometimes I like to put in videos), I got to thinking that so many of us get our own idea of who Jesus is. We look our whole lives, and search for the One who can fulfill us, but sometimes I wonder is our idea of Jesus too small? Some people teach a Jesus who offers prosperity, some teach a Jesus that can make our troubles leave us, but I say that if we teach any Jesus other than the one of the Bible (and even then we're limited in our scope), then our view of God is far too small. Jesus didn't come to make your life easier. He didn't come to prosper you materially, He didn't come to remove all obstacles from your path. He came that you may have Life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10). All too often we equate Jesus with this world, but this world is passing away. I choose the Eternal Jesus The one who lived as one of us, humbled Himself as a servant, Preached the Good News, healed the sick, fed the poor, and loved all people, who was and is and is to come, and who is sitting at the Right Hand of the Father. Even my limited ability is not enough to describe the wonder, majesty and person of Jesus Christ. I choose to seek His word, and seek Him in His word, and take Him at His word. It's time to see Jesus in the lens of eternity, that He is greater than we are, that He is eternal, uncreated, and all powerful. It's time that we humble ourselves and worship Him, seek to be filled with the promised Holy Spirit, and represent Him to all we see.
Matthew 16:13-20 English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. 19 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[c] in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 16:18 The Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar
b. Matthew 16:18 Greek the gates of Hades
c. Matthew 16:19 Or shall have been bound… shall have been loosed
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