Two Questions – One Answer

Two Questions – One Answer

And a few other questions to ponder as well

Scripture:

Genesis 3:8,9  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Matthew 16: 15-17  “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.

Reflection:

Imagine spending three years with a friend hiking the hills and trails of the Cascade mountains when he looks at you and says; “Who do you say that I am?” In any other context than Jesus asking this question to his disciples, the question would be quite strange. My guess is there would be a very uncomfortable pause with flashing thoughts of, “he’s over done it, or he is obviously not feeling well.” Maybe even…”OK, what’s the punch line?!”

The question Jesus asked wasn’t strange at all. It was penetrating and critically important. It was equal to, and the fulfillment of the first question posed to man that God asked when He asked Adam, Where are you? 

The question asked by Jesus was asked within the region of Caesarea Philippi, a cesspool of idolatry, prostitution, beastiality, exploitation of every kind with demonic images carved into the cliff walls. It was the place where Jesus references “The gates of Hell.”

“Who do you say that I am?” It requires an objective answer that isn’t just an answer, but rather a revelation and a response. The reason Jesus asked the question was that He knew our eternal destiny would hinge on this response. By answering this question, we invariably answer the question God asked Adam, where are you?  Simon Peter’s answer “You are the Messiah [Christ], the Son of the living God” came as a revelation from Heaven and an acknowledgment that real life had its axis in Jesus. One day God will ask us, what He asked Adam. Our response will be either, “I am in Christ” or I am “in the world.” 

Paul answered the same question by his quest to “count all things to be loss, in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8)

Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the son of the living God. Let it sink deep into your heart and allow it to color everything else in your life. I’m going to leave you with some questions to ponder today that will take these two questions a bit further. I hope you enjoy pausing and considering each for a few moments. 

• “Is the solution to every problem that you face found in knowing Jesus Christ more accurately and intimately.” Search your heart. Do you believe this? 

• Is there something that you can do today, to know Christ more deeply? What would that be?

• Lastly, would you consider saying this statement out loud to answer the question for yourself.  “Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God and I am and will be found in You.”