Perhaps this was how things played out.

You’re one of the apostles, sitting with the others and with Jesus. You’re “in class” and the Teacher is calling on all of you to give an answer to two questions. You can either raise your hand and try to go before others and get it out of the way or you can wait a little and use the time (and the answers of others) to formulate a better answer. Then it happens: someone goes and gives the perfect answer (and He the Teacher’s pet, too)!

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

What do you do now? Do you try to copy his answer in a different way or do you just resign yourself to the answer, “that’s what I was going to say!”?

But you know you can’t say it better. The answer given was perfect. Absolutely perfect!

I wonder if that was the feeling of the disciples when Jesus asked His questions, “who do people say that I am?” and “who do you say that I am?”

The first question seems pretty subjective and innocuous. The second one is different. There’s more behind the question; a seriousness. Something with weight. With import. There is more to the question. More behind it. But what?

If you were there with the others, what answer would you give – and why?

Jesus passed over the answers to the first question, “who do people sy that I am?” and gets right to the real, personal, essential question: “why do you say that I am?”

The question He has for Peter is for us, too. It gets at the heart of Faith.

If Jesus is just “one of the prophets,” there is no forgiveness. If Jesus is just a good person or teacher, there is no payment for sin. If He just showed us a way to live, there is no victory over death and the Devil. If He isn’t “the Christ” of God, all is lost.

That’s the Trust: “Jesus is the Christ of God,” He is the One  in Whome there is salvation, and in no one else! He is it!

But that Truth isn’t yet personal. It is true whether or not we believe it, but when we take it to heart and believe by the power of the Holy Spirit, it changes from The way of Salvation to my way of salvation. It goes from a true confession to my confession. It goes from the way of Life to my way for everlasting life.

Halleluiah!

“Lord Jesus, we confess that You are the Christ of God and the only that salvation is found in no one else but You! Thank you for not just being the Christ, but being my Christ. Send me Your Holy Spirit to move me every day from confessing and living in any way contrary to You. In Your holy, precious, and saving name do we pray. Amen!”

Scriptures

  • Acts 4:8-13
  • Mark 8:27-30
  • Psalm 118:19-29
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