Matthew 16:13-20
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
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, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus asks the question, “Who do YOU say that I am?”
How do you respond?
Let me turn the question around by reminding you and me that we begin with God.
Our relationship begins with God – who God is, what God does, and how God perceives us. For our relationship with God is not an IF-THEN relationship, but a BECAUSE – THEREFORE relationship.
What does God have to say?
Who does Jesus say YOU are?
This song is one of my favorites. Here is a link to the video –
“Hello, My Name Is” by Matthew West
Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief
Oh, these are the voices.
Oh, these are the lies
And I have believed them,
for the very last time.
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
What love the Father has lavished upon us
that we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
In response to God’s great love for you and me, we confess Jesus Christ as Lord. When we fail to live as God so intended, he welcomes us back, carries us home and reminds us of his great love for us. He died for our sins. He rose for our salvation. His love is everlasting.
Let us pray:
Dear God, it’s me. You name me and claim me as your own. In response, I follow where you lead, for you are my God. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
