How to Contend for Your Miracle by Ryan Johnson

Author:Ryan Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

WHO WE SAY HE IS

In Matthew 16 we see the story of Jesus sitting down with the disciples in Caesarea Philippi. There Jesus would ask His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples respond by saying, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets” (Matt. 16:13-14). What fascinates me is the fact that Jesus then asked the same question, but in a different manner. “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Barjona speaks up to respond, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:15-16). Immediately Jesus said:

Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 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. 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 (Matthew 16:17-19).

What a powerful revelation and word spoken to Simon Peter. Now, before he or the other disciples could process what had just occurred, Jesus warned them that they could not tell anyone that He was the Christ. Once again, Jesus began to go into detail of what was coming. He began to share that He had to go to Jerusalem where he would end up suffering many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes. He shared with the disciples that there in Jerusalem He would be killed, but He would also be raised from the dead on the third day. Although Simon Peter had received this revelation from the Father that Jesus was the Christ, the news of His suffering and death was more than he could handle. Simon Peter took Jesus aside and actually began to rebuke Jesus. That’s bold right there! Simon Peter told Jesus that it would never happen, as if Peter wasn’t only rebuking Jesus for speaking this way but also telling Jesus that Simon Peter would never allow it to happen. What happens next is a surprise to us all as Jesus declared, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).

Jesus had the disciples at the place of revelation. They answered Jesus according to what others were saying. Jesus then asked the same question in a different word structure and got a response from Simon Barjona (Peter). Simon’s response was remarkable because it revealed that no one had told him this but the Father in heaven. That moment of personal revelation of who Jesus truly was also opened the revelation of who Simon was. Like Simon Barjona, we too find ourselves unable to know who we really are without first having the revelation of who Jesus is.

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