Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
(Mark 8:27 (NIV))
Who do you say that He is?
Jesus is still asking that question. Sometimes he may even ask it multiple times.
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
(John 21:17 (NIV))
Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?" three times. Peter knew who Jesus was, yet, Peter felt that he had done something that had betrayed Jesus' trust. He had denied Jesus three times. It is believed that Jesus asked this question once for each of the three times that Peter had denied Him. I think that it may go even deeper.
Peter knew who Jesus was. He knew of His teachings.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
(Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV))
Peter knew that Jesus taught of forgiveness, yet Peter denied Him three times. It would not be difficult to imagine that Peter thought forgiveness could not be applied to him in his situation. In essence, Peter thought that he was beyond the forgiving grace given to him by Jesus. Peter's understanding of Jesus was warped by his own insecurities and remorse.
Are we any different? We have all done things that we feel cannot be forgiven. We forget that Jesus offers grace and mercy to any and all who will accept it. We forget that this offer is freely given to anyone. We long to claim it, yet, when we are guilty of something that is horrible in our own eyes, we forget who Jesus is. We think that we cannot be forgiven because of what we have done.
Jesus is able to forgive all sin. He is the only begotten Son of God. As such, He has the authority to forgive sins. He has authority over sickness. He has authority over demons. He has authority over sin and death. Anything less is not Jesus. Anything less is a person of our own creation. He is either the Son of God or He is merely a man.
Who do you say that He is?
Copyright 1998 - 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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