January 5, 2023
[Jesus] said to [His disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16
Establishing His identity among sinful men certainly did not happen overnight! The role of Jesus throughout His realm is executed without the use of carnal weapons. There is no instrument of coercion in the everlasting Kingdom. Peter’s accurate statement regarding the Lord’s identity was a pivotal point in the brief earthly ministry of the Son of the living God. It was a point of closing in upon the hard facts of His suffering leading to the full payment of the penalty for breaking the Law of God.
Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. (v.20)
Jesus knew that His disciples were as yet unprepared to behold His agony. Even now it is incomprehensible to see the crushing weight of the entire world’s sin placed squarely upon the sinless Lamb of God. The total separation from His Father (see Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34), which parallels the second death (Revelation 2:11, 20:6), was so horrific for the Son of the living God that He died of a broken heart.
This intense period of preparation devoted to the disciples was for the sake of training them to communicate the Good News of salvation to the world. This priceless gift and costliest of payments is available for the asking to everyone. This is the message of the church, and Jesus is the Cornerstone.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (v.21)
Today we are living in an intense time of preparation for the return of the Savior—this time in great glory!—just as He has promised. As the church, we have an obligation—because we love Him!—to spread the best news that the world could ever receive. At the same time, we are obligated to our believing brothers and sisters for the purpose of encouragement, strengthening, and sometimes rebuke. Whether by life or death (Philippians 1:20), the task of the church—the beloved bride of Christ—requires our all. The expenditure of energy and resources for the eternal benefit of others requires each of us to be totally surrendered, moment-by-moment, to our Redeemer who knows that truth under the Holy Spirit’s omnipotence will “conquer in the battle with evil, and that the bloodstained banner [will] one day wave triumphantly over His followers.” (Acts of the Apostles by E.G.White p.21) Our closing verse, made by Solomon, is profoundly prophetic in light of Revelation 19:9.
He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Song of Solomon 2:4 (NASB)