Today for our Devotional I have written about the time that Jesus asks his disciples whether they knew who he really is. The Scripture is Matthew 16:13-20:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” Jesus asked.
“Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
[20] Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.
This reading is filled with many great teachings, but for today I call to your attention only two.
- The Great Question
In verse 15, Jesus asks His disciples a critical question: “Who do you say I am?” This moment is more than just curiosity; it’s a test of conviction in the midst of misunderstanding. Recognizing Jesus’ true identity was not only advantageous to the disciples but also necessary. Their path would be filled with persecution, trials, and even execution. Only a strong, unchanging awareness of Jesus as the Son of God could anchor them and make every sacrifice worthwhile. This insight turns hardships into victories, proving that knowing Jesus is the foundation of strong faith. - The Promise of the Coming Church.
In verse 18, Jesus declares, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
To understand what Jesus is saying, we must know what the word Hades means. Hades is not what we think of as hell where wicked people go. It is a word that refers to death, the abode of the dead, or the grave. Here, Jesus assures his disciples that even though they will kill him, his kingdom, the church will come to fulfillment. It’s remarkable that the church which was so important to Jesus is not deemed to be irrelevant.
Lonnie Davis