Day 6: Some say
[Jesus] asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
“But what about you?” He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:13-17).
Father in heaven, You gave us the gift of eternal life through Your Son. The Lord Jesus Himself explains this in His prayer as He nears the end of His earthly mission: For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent (John 17:1-3).
Father, You did not send Your gift of love unannounced—You promised His advent from the dawn of creation. To a dark world, He was the light to come—the promise of hope You had given Your people centuries earlier: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you” (Isaiah 60:1-2).
Believing hearts recognized that He came from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79). Believing hearts understood that "God said," and that Your words are trustworthy and true (Revelation 22:6).
Not so unbelieving hearts. The apostle Peter addressed this when he confronted the crowd at Pentecost with words that cut to the heart: “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know…” (Acts 2:22, 37).
Father, they had seen the miracles. The had seen the wonders. They had seen the signs. They had seen the authority. They had seen Your unmistakable accreditation. But they refused to belief.
Lord, today, some still say... Because the most critical question to all humanity is still posed by Jesus, But what about you—who do you say that I AM?
And sadly, many look for revelation from flesh and blood (Matthew 16:17)—from those who love darkness instead of light because their deeds [are] evil (John 3:19)—from those who perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Father, some still say all manner of false things about the Son of Your love, God who became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). Prophet, Preacher, Good Teacher—anything is more palatable than behold[ing] His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
But for all who come sincerely seeking, the Father still reveals (Matthew 16:17). For You, O God, so loved the world that You gave Your one and only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
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