Messianic Promises || Matthew 16:15-16 || Weekend Wind-Down #12

Welcome to the twelfth week of “Weekend Wind-Down.” This series is where we take the verse of the day, look at the face value interpretation, check the background and context of the verse, do a deeper dive on the focus scripture, and figure out what we can walk away with. 

Today’s verse is Matthew 16:15-16, which says this: 

15 – Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 

16 – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Face Value

Jesus Christ is the son of God and the Messiah. 

Background

Matthew wrote this Gospel to share the good news in proving that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed and promised eternal King. 

Our scripture comes from learning the message and ministry of Jesus, the King. Jesus shared the Sermon on the Mount (a message that invited his listeners to learn about living in the Kingdom of God) and many parables (real-life stories with Christ-like meanings) about the differences between the earthly life and the Kingdom life. Forgiveness, peace, and putting others first are some characteristics that are all about the Kingdom of God and having them. We need to live by God’s standards immediately. Jesus came to earth to show us how to live Godly.

Deep Dive

When we talk about the Messiah, what are we talking about? God anoints, or calls out, a messiah to deliver His people and establish His Kingdom. There are two places in the Gospel of John when this term comes into practice. 

John 1:34 says: 

34 – I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God. 

John’s mission was to point people to Jesus. People are looking for someone to give them security in an insecure world. We must point them to Jesus and show them how he gives certainty, direction, and fullness of life. 

Join 11:27 says: 

27 – “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 

As Martha worked to offer hospitality to Jesus, she also listened to him and took his words to heart. Her statement of faith is precisely the response that Jesus wants from us. No matter how busy we are, we must listen to him, believe in him, and then follow him.

Take-Home Point

Messiah is a term we may not use for Jesus regularly, especially in our walks with Christ. The Messiah was anointed, or explicitly chosen, by God to deliver His people from the slavery of sin and establish His Kingdom on earth. 

The story we started with involves Jesus asking who the believers, and later the disciples, he is. Some people thought he was Moses or Elijah. Some even thought Jesus was Jeremiah, but Peter knew. Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah. Peter knew that Jesus would be the one that would free them from their bondage of sin and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.

Jesus can bring us certainty, direction, and fullness. Jesus has the wisdom that we must listen to, believe in, and follow. 

Jesus reminds us that good and bad things will happen with the reminder that following Jesus would never be easy, but to have faith because his path through life is much easier and lighter than the path the earth provides. Jesus keeps us on the path set before us, with David’s reminder that God’s staff and rod bring comfort to him in Psalm 23. Jesus reminds us of the fullness of life, which I believe can be found through his two top commands of “Love God and Love People.”

No matter how busy or chaotic life gets, we need to remember those three reminders and keep close to our hearts who Jesus truly is. 

Thank you for joining me for this Weekend Wind-Down as we explored a reminder of what it means to follow the Messiah as shown in the Gospel of Matthew. Stay tuned for the next reflection. Let me close out with prayer. 

Father God, thank you for the gift and sacrifice of our son and what he did to save our lives from the bondage of sin. Help us to remember these critical statements and to keep close to our hearts that Jesus is indeed the Messiah we need for our lives. It’s in your name; we pray. Amen.