The Friday Update--July 31

Good morning,

The most definitive revelation of the identity of our Lord comes in Matthew 16. It is here that the Son of Man confronts His disciples with the question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

As we have seen in the past two months Jesus of Nazareth has: calmed a storm, cast out thousands of demons from a man, healed a man born blind from birth, and demonstrated that He can forgive sins. All of these ‘signs’ bring forth amazement, awe, and marvel from those witnesses present ... and should from us reading them. 

Therefore, it is now time for Jesus Christ to demand a response from His followers, “to no longer waver between two opinions” as Elijah demanded in 1 Kings 18:21. 

Our Lord can give no greater revelations of Himself. He has done countless miracles that no other man can do. He even has called Himself “the Son of Man”, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, over 30 times. 

So as He approaches Jerusalem, where He will die and be resurrected, He lays it all on the line for His disciples. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah …’” 

But then He must have looked them ‘square in the eye’ and turned the question on them. “But who do you say that I am?” Quickly, and without hesitation, Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

BINGO!! He gives the correct answer with astonishing clarity and confidence. Christ responds to him in great affirmation. “And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

It seems to me this is the question He asks each of us today. WHO do we say that He is? We answer His question by how we think—day in and day out. We answer it by what we desire; by how we spend our time. 

If Jesus Christ is our Lord we will honor Him by obeying His commands. If He is our most precious possession then we will desire to spend time with Him. If He is the Christ of God we must be prepared to give an accounting of our lives at death.  

However, nothing will consume how we live more than knowing “the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:39). If we truly believe that He died for us, so that we might live with Him, His love for us will inflame our love for Him, day by day. 

May this pursuit be your daily passion and prayer.

Steve 

Bible Reading Plan—Week 45

DAY 1—Matthew 16:1-4

DAY 2—Matthew 16:5-12

DAY 3—Matthew 16:13-20

DAY 4—Matthew 16:21-23

DAY 5—Matthew 16:24-28

Good morning,

The Lord Jesus Christ refers to Himself as “the Son of man” well over 30 times in the New Testament. In the whole Bible it is used over 180 times. So the question is, “Who is this Son of man?” This was asked of our Lord in John 12:34?

It stems from several Old Testament passages (Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm 61:6-7, Psalm 89:3-4). They refer to the Promised Messiah and declare Him to live forever, having an eternal Kingdom. Thus how can Jesus be ‘the Son of man’ if He will soon die?

We pick up this scene in John 12:23, “Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” 

The Lord Jesus Christ declares Himself to be the fulfillment of many prophecies. He is the true ‘Son of man.’ He came to earth to become a man … live a perfect life … and die a cruel death. He knew this all along—no one took His life from Him. Rather He gave it up freely. 

The ‘weight’ that He bore, knowing this, was a heavy burden to carry. He prayed, “Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to his hour.” This was the present sorrow and agony He felt … and would feel in the garden of Gethsemane.

His Father in Heaven hears His prayer and responds, “Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again’ … Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake not Mine.’’ (John 12:27-30)

He not only knew He would die a cruel death, but that He would be crucified on a cross. The most cruel death ever invented by ‘sinful man.’ We read, “’And when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.’ He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die.” 

Four times in Matthew’s gospel Christ Jesus declares that He will die a cruel death in Jerusalem … from the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes (Matthew 11:21, 17:12, 17:22, 20:17). This is why He is called the ‘The Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah 53—written some 500 years prior to His death. 

Jesus of Nazareth has spent the previous two years declaring Himself ‘the Son of man’—much more He gave irrefutable evidence to prove it. Yet as we have learned, most of the Jewish leaders, and ‘21st Century man’, refuse to acknowledge this.

Our Lord revealed where, when, how and why He would die. This alone is proof of His identity.

Steve 

Bible Reading Plan—Week 44

DAY 1—John 12:1-8 

DAY 2—John 12:9-19

DAY 3—John 12:20-26

DAY 4—John 12:27-36

DAY 5—John 12:37-50