Jesus Affirmed as Son of Man

God is Just and Merciful

Justice and Sabbath Laws

Matthew 16:13-20 The Message

Son of Man, Son of God

13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

For Reflection

Who is this Christ, this Messiah? From the beginning of Judaism, God's people have been waiting for a messiah.  Several leaders have been called messiah. But this messiah, Jesus, was different. This messiah removed the barrier between God and humans.  This messiah did not save the people from their enemies. This messiah showed the people how to save themselves and free themselves from the darkness of their human condition.  Only Christ has demonstrated how to gain free access to God's Kingdom.  Only through Christ has God shown how to become equivalent in form to Him, free from the fear of living and fear of dying. Christ was and is now the archetype of human perfection. And only Christ has revealed the way to living in perfect harmony with God, God's creation, and each other.


That which Christ has revealed to Peter, he revealed to all of us. God made us complete in God's image.  Christ shows us the path to perfection.

Pray

Pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving for our God who is willing to share God's creation with and through us.  Pray so that you will see the light of divine wisdom and the beauty of following the example of Jesus. 

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