“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 16:13-17).

Why do you suppose Jesus was interested in knowing what people thought about Him?  Is it really important what we believe about Jesus?  I think it is.

Jesus was interested in knowing what His disciples thought about Him, and if they had received revelation and understanding from the Father about who He is.  Those who know Him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” are His true followers, because like Jesus said “no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matt 11:27).

Notice how they are the Witnesses of each other…  As the Son speaks of the Father to make Him known, the Father reveals to the listener that “this is my Son, in whom I’m well pleased.  Hear Him!” (Matt 17:5)  Unless God’s Spirit confirms who Jesus is, the person will remain in the dark about who Jesus truly is!  To them, He would just be a wise man, a prophet, a good teacher…but not the Son of God.  They won’t come to know Him or have an intimate relationship with God.

But when God opens your eyes to see who Jesus truly is, you will believe Him and you will obey Him…and BOTH the Father and Son (two Persons, one Spirit (John 10:30)) will come and make their Home with you (John 14:23, 26).  Without God opening your eyes to see Jesus for who He really is, you cannot follow Him.  You cannot be His disciple.  You cannot even claim to know Him.  That is why Jesus also said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).  And again…  “no one can come to the Father, except by Me” (John 14:6).

The Father has made provision for salvation only through His Son, Jesus Christ.  By no other name can any man be saved (Acts 4:12)!  But the Father is still in control of who is able to see Jesus for who He is…  He knows those who are His and those who are not (John 10:14, 27; 2 Tim 2:19)…and many will be ever hearing and seeing without learning or perceiving, because it has not been granted to them to see (Mark 4:11-12).

If you have been gifted with the spiritual ability to see Jesus, to know Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, give all glory to God!  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9).  You can’t force others to accept the revelation that God has given to you.  But you must preach Christ and the gospel of Truth, and pray that God may open the eyes of all who listen to your witness, that they too may receive the true revelation of Christ.  Amen.

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