Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

You Are the Messiah

Date: Jul. 30, 2015

Passage

Matthew 16:13-20

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Key Verse: Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

First, who is the Son of Man? (13-16) Jesus was a popular and controversial figure in his time. His ministry reminded people of various servants of God. But Jesus' disciples knew him best. Jesus asked them, "Who do you say I am?" Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We, too, must personally answer Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?" How we answer this question has eternal ramifications.

Second, Hades will not overcome Jesus' church (17-20). Simon Peter did not make this confession only by his own intellect or strength. God the Father gave him this knowledge. Jesus would build his church upon Peter, the rock. Jesus will uphold and protect his church so that even death and Hades will never defeat it. Jesus also gave Peter spiritual authority to proclaim the gospel, which are the keys to the kingdom, and to exercise church discipline, binding and loosing on earth.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Thank you for revealing this to me. Use me to share this gospel with others.

One Word: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

Today's Question

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