He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Take a Stand
I once went to McDonald’s with a man who had never visited the Golden Arches. He stood in front of the menu and said nothing. His eyes went from item to item. But he seemed unable to decide. Every menu-choice seemed to lead to insecurity and second guessing. Even after he finally selected a Quarter Pounder, he slumped to his seat, unsure that he had made the right choice.
As soon as he tasted it though, all was well.
Jesus asked the disciples to consider all the options for who He was. They mentioned John the Baptist, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. (Matthew 16:13) In the end, Jesus asked who THEY said that Jesus was.
He asked them to make a stand.
To risk being wrong, to risk mockery, to risk their reputations, to risk, in fact, everything.
It should not have been a difficult choice. He had shown them who He was, told them who He was, and challenged them to believe. And I imagine that the Holy Spirit was shouting to them, saying, “HE IS THE CHRIST!”
And so Peter, sometimes impetuous, but here, brave, makes his choice. He says that Jesus is the Messiah.
We are called to make a similar stand.
Our world denies that Jesus is divine, the Messiah, or maybe even historical. Today we could make a long list about who OTHERS say Jesus is.
But every time that He has overcome your fear, He has shown you who He is.
And every time you read even a small part of the Bible, He has told you who He is.
And while the world doubts, and mocks, and tempts, the Holy Spirit has shouted to you, too.
Fear not, then make a stand.