Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
– Matthew 16:13-14
From the beginning, people have held many opinions about Jesus. Some thought of Him as John the Baptist returned, others as Elijah or Jeremiah, and still others as one of the prophets. These comparisons were lofty, placing Jesus among the most revered figures of Israel’s history. Yet even the highest human opinion was still wrong. To see Jesus only as another great man of history is to miss the truth of who He is. Admiration is not enough; mistaken identities cannot save.
As the outpost of His kingdom, the church is entrusted with bearing witness to the truth of who Christ is, so that those who only admire Him from afar may come to truly know Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Let us pray for those who already admire Jesus as a wise teacher, moral reformer, and spiritual leader that the Father may reveal to them the truth and that, by believing in Christ, they may come to salvation and become part of His glorious church.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are not one among many, but the one and only great God and Saviour. Help me, and help Your church, to serve as an outpost of the kingdom, making You known to a world full of half-true opinions about who You are. Amen.
Meditation
What are some common opinions people around me hold about Jesus, and how can I, as part of His church, point them to who He truly is?