T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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“ O th e r s s a id , T h a t It Is B l l a s . A n d o th e r s s a id , T h a t I t ' Is a p r o p h e t, o r a s o n e o f t h e fr o p h e t s .” They confused the tw o , advents of Christ and looked upon 'J e s u s as the fo rerunn er of th e Messiah, though the faith th a t h ad existed among them during th e early p art of His m inistry had largely died out. The second question propounded by Jesus was far more im po rtan t: “Whom do ye say th a t I am? He had already said to them , “Unto you it is given to know th e mysteries of heaven” (Matt. 1 3 :1 1 ); now He asks for th e ir verdict in view of His messages and His works which they had heard and seen. This question involves the person and work of the Son of God, and its answer involves th e destiny of th e soul of every human being. The man who was always th e m outh piece of the disciples, answers th e ques tion. Peter,— impetuous, appealing, of strong personality, sometimes rig h t and sometimes wrong, bu t always th e first to act and speak,— answers, and th is tim e he is right. H is reply has well been called “The Great Confession” (Rom. 1 :4 ; Heb. 1:5) “ F o r u n to .w h ic h o f th e a n g e ls s a id h e a t a n y tim e , T h o u a r t m y S o n , t h is d a y h a v e I b e g o tte n th e e ? ' A n d a g a in , I w ill b e to h im a F a t h e r , a n d h e s h a ll b e to m e a S o n ? ” It was not by human wisdom th a t P eter spoke these splendid words. They were given to him of th e God and F ath e r of our Lord Jesus- Christ, through the Holy Spirit (v. 17). The answer embraces two essentials. F irst, His office as Messiah,— th e Christ; and, second, His n a tu re as th e Divine OneM -the Son of th e Living God. This testim ony which had al ready been given by Jesus H imself in the working of m iracles,— bu t now in c l e a r , unm istakable, comprehensive term s by Peter, embodies th e essentials for man’s salvation (1 John 4:15 ) ‘‘W h o s o e v e r s h a ll c o n fe s s t h a t J e s u s is t h e S o n o f G o d , G o d d w e lle th in h im , a n d h e in G o d .”
Bethsaida, to which Jesus and His dis ciples had gone after LESSON th e opposition from EXPOSITION the Jews in Caper- T. G. H orton naum. This incident m arks th e completion of the first stage of our Lord’s public m inistry, and He seeks th e testimony of th e disciples concern ing . Himself,— th e conclusion they have reached con cerning Him. (1) THE FATHER’S REVELATION, vs. 13-17. “Thou a rt th e Christ, th e Son of the living God.’’ Luke tells us th a t our Lord was praying a t th is tim e, and th is fact would lead us a t once to expect some speqial lesson, or sign, to follow. He asks th e disciples a question,— first, concerning the a ttitu d e of th e people tow ards Him; and, second, concerning th e a ttitu d e of His own disciples. He does not refer to Himself, here, as “ the Son of . God,” bu t as “ the Son of m an,”— th e title th a t brings Him so near to men, and a title th a t was never used of any other man, w ith two ex ceptions. Jesus did not ask th is ques tion because He did not already know, fo r He knows th e h earts of men (John 2 :2 5 ). He was seeking to draw out th e disciples and prepare th e way for His own testim ony concerning Himself. The question developed th e fact th a t the Jews were impressed w ith th e tru th th a t He was a g reat man, bu t they did not recognize His high claim as th e Messiah. He was a disappointm ent to them . He failed to fulfil th e ir expecta tions and g reat hopes. Some, w ith guilty consciences, as Herod, believed H im to be John the B aptist (Matt, l i : 1 , 2 ) “ A t t h a t tim e H e r o d th e t e t r a r c h h e a r d o f th e fa m e o f J e s u s , A n d s a id u n to h is s e r v a n ts , T h is is J o h n th e B a p t is t ; h e is r is e n fr o m th e d e a d ; a n d th e r e fo r e m ig h t y w o r k s d o s h e w fo r t h th e m s e lv e s in h im .” O thers though t He m u st be E lijah (Mark 6:15)
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