WHAT ABOUT YOU?

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today we begin a series of devotionals focused on a series of messages found in the Gospels that allow us to hear how Jesus of Nazareth spoke of his own divine nature. Many people have falsely claimed that Jesus never laid claim to the title of the Christ nor did he ever profess to be one with God the Father. These devotionals will answer that question in the affirmative.

Let’s get into our first statement from Jesus Christ about his true nature:

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

(Matthew 16:13-20 NIV11)

The People

In verse 13, Jesus is heard asking his disciples to have a discussion around the claims that others were making about Jesus’ true nature and identity. It might seem odd to us to think that so many people would need to tie Jesus to one of these prophetic voices from the past. 

But it goes to show that we often struggle to accept what it right in front of us. People around Jesus saw his power and heard his authoritative teaching but just could not accept Jesus for who he really was. They needed him to fit into a mold that they already had in their minds about who or what the Messiah would be like. 

The Disciples

In verse 15, Jesus asks his inner circle of disciples the same question. Would his disciples also struggle to accept that Jesus was the Immanuel, God with us? Would their presupposed expectations of what the Messiah might be like cause them to miss the true gift from God that was right in front of them?

Simon Peter 

The confession of Peter’s faith in the divine/human nature of Jesus of Nazareth was unequivocal. He was definitive in his statement that Jesus was not only the promised Messiah but one with God the Father. 

Jesus Christ

So how did Jesus respond to this open confession of the true nature of the Son of God? 

Would Jesus deny or deflect this outright confession of his role as the Savior and Lord?

Jesus confirmed that he was 100% in agreement with Peter. Jesus made it clear that Peter had received this truth through revelation from the Father and that it had not come from any human being or even from Jesus himself. 

In his praise of Peter’s faith and confidence in the truth of Jesus’ identity, Jesus made it clear that he was embracing his true self. Jesus was embracing his identity as the Jewish Messiah, the Promised One, as well as embracing his place as being one with the Father and the Spirit. 

Verse 20

Why did Jesus warn his disciples to keep his true nature and identity to themselves?

Because there was more work to be done before the cross. Jesus knew that public confession of his true nature and identity would lead the hypocrites and wolves in sheep’s clothing to attack and there was a lot more that the Lord needed to accomplish before that time came. 

You?

•  What if Jesus sat down with you right now and asked you the same question. 
•  What about you? Who do you say that I am?
•  How would you answer?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that you are the eternal Son, one with the Father, one with the Spirit, one God in three persons. I confess that you are the Savior of my soul and the Lord of my life. By faith, I join with Peter in my own confession of your true nature and identity. Thank you Lord. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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