A thought by Charles R. Swindoll, from his book, Jesus: 09 (Great Lives Series) (p. 11). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)
And He was and is.
Charles said, "Everyone agreed that Jesus was someone special, and everyone had his own theory as to how or why. John the Baptizer back from the dead? An ancient prophet returning to announce the revival of Israel? As theories abounded, only a very few thought of Jesus as the Hebrew Messiah. Eventually, when Jesus thought the time was right and that His disciples had enough evidence, He put them on the spot. His companions would have to make a decision. He asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' (Matthew 16:15)."
Charles goes on, "The 'you' in that question is plural. Who do all of you say that I am? The group probably stammered and squirmed before one brave disciple blurted out, 'You are the Christ' (Matthew 16:16).
"The word 'Christ' in this verse comes from the Greek term christos. The Hebrew used the term mashiach, from which we get 'Messiah.' Both words mean 'anointed one.' In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a person would participate in a ceremony in which a small amount of oil was poured over his head as a symbol of special recognition. It could be a reward for valor on the battlefield or victory over a national enemy. Most often, it was the way a leader was commissioned. And in Israel, to be 'the Lord’s anointed' was to be the king."
He continues, "For centuries, hopeful Jews looked for a very special king—an ultimate Messiah, promised by prophets of old, who would supersede all of Israel’s past 'anointed ones.' He would usher in a new way of relating to God, He would establish an unprecedented time of peace and prosperity, and He would rule the world from Israel (Jeremiah 31:31–34). This person would not be merely a christ, but the Christ.
"Peter declared that Jesus was indeed this long-awaited, ultimate king of Israel. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to affirm another truth about Jesus."
Matthew 16:16, "Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' "
Charles says, "In the Hebrew vernacular, to be a 'son' was to share all of the father’s qualities in common and to inherit the father’s privileges and power. No one dared call himself a son of God, or he would be guilty of blasphemy. Only someone having God’s divine qualities and powers, and possessing God’s ruling authority, could call himself 'the Son of God.' And for Peter to give Jesus this title meant that Jesus was a worthy object of worship, just like the God faithful Jews had worshiped in the temple for centuries.
"Jesus didn’t object. Instead, He praised Peter, saying, 'Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.' Matthew 16:17"
Charles then says, "In other words, Yes! You’ve got it! This is a supernatural insight you have received from heaven. I am in fact deity.
"Who is this man? If we are to believe the man himself, He is God."
And that is so important and can be life-changing to believe. I believe it to be true. And you can too. Okay? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning
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