Matthew 16: 13-19 Peter's confession of Christ

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but 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 Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Previously we said that whatever comes from flesh is flesh, but that which is born of spirit is spirit. This is the nature of Peter's confession. Jesus wanted to know who people said that he was. Those in the flesh all guessed wrong labeling him as anything from a prophet to Beelzebub (meaning from Satan). When Simon Peter was asked the question, he says it correctly which is that Jesus is the expected Messiah. Jesus said to him that he did not derive this conclusion on his own through his flesh, but instead by God's grace it was revealed to him. In the same way, nobody who was born from a woman can find Jesus in the flesh. Unless they are drawn, they will not find him. And for those who find him, they become children of God and inherit his kingdom.

Daily Prayer: Father, I am thankful that you gave me the faith necessary to find Jesus. Now make me a co-worker with him so that people can hear about you and the son from one who was once lost, but has now been found. In Jesus name I pray Amen.