A few days ago a group of men and I were talking about Peter. We were thinking through his life and impact. We were also talking about his denial during Christ’s arrest, trial and crucifixion.
One of the men remarked that it was strange that Peter fell away during that time in light of his confession at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13 – 16; Mark 8:27 – 29; Luke 9:18 - 20). As we talked through that it occurred to me that Peter’s confession that Jesus was Messiah was at some level academic. By that I mean Peter declared Jesus to be the Christ, not my Christ (emphasis added). Perhaps that is why on the heels of Peter’s declaration; he was able to rebuke the Messiah for detailing His mission.
There are a lot of people in this world and even in our churches who will acknowledge Jesus is God and that He is the Messiah. Then some of those same people will complain and disagree with what the Bible says or take positions on issues that are counter to what Christ teaches. Being a Christian is more than an intellectual understanding of a truth. It is acceptance of that truth personally to the extent that the truth becomes the center point of one’s life. Or using a Texas Hold ‘em term, you are “all in” with Christ. He becomes central to all that one does, a personal Messiah, not the Messiah. At that point our argument with Him diminishes.
There are a lot of people in this world and even in our churches who will acknowledge Jesus is God and that He is the Messiah. Then some of those same people will complain and disagree with what the Bible says or take positions on issues that are counter to what Christ teaches. Being a Christian is more than an intellectual understanding of a truth. It is acceptance of that truth personally to the extent that the truth becomes the center point of one’s life. Or using a Texas Hold ‘em term, you are “all in” with Christ. He becomes central to all that one does, a personal Messiah, not the Messiah. At that point our argument with Him diminishes.
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