The Vine: March 25, 2024

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”

— Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus intentionally brought his disciples to Caesarea Philippi to ask them an important, defining question: “Who do you say that I am?” Before the city was named Caesarea Philippi, it was known as Pan. The city was associated with the worship of the god Pan, a figure in Greek mythology associated with nature, shepherds, and flocks. It was later renamed Caesarea Philippi after Emperor Augustus Caesar.

Imagine Jesus as he walked through the city with his disciples. In the background there were multiple areas of worship of other gods, along with the sun glistening off the marble temples against the beautiful landscape. It was Jesus’ way of saying, “Right here in the midst of all these other gods and commercialization, I’m asking you the most important question of your life – who do you say that I am?”

Over the centuries there have been many different answers to the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Some believe the story of Jesus’ life is a fairy tale at best. Jesus never existed. Others believe Jesus existed and was a great teacher and moral example, but certainly not the Son of God. And then there are those who believe Jesus was not only a great teacher and moral example, but also the Son of God and Savior of the world.

I like what C.S. Lewis wrote about the identity of Jesus in his book “Mere Christianity”:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (that is, Christ): ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse...You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Jesus asked the question and Simon Peter answered: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” What is remarkable about this story is not so much that Peter answered correctly about the identity of Jesus, but in how he came to such a conclusion in the first place. Jesus responded to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” God literally revealed God’s self to Peter in Christ. Christianity is a revealed religion. In other words, we need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to not only believe in Jesus as the Messiah, but also to guide us in our lives as we follow the way of Christ.

Questions for Reflection

Just as Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, the same question is asked of us today. What is your answer? How has your understanding of Jesus’ identity developed throughout the course of your life?

Jesus praised Peter’s response to the question, and reinforced the concept that Peter’s ability to answer correctly was revealed from God. What does this tell us about how people come to faith in Christ? What has God revealed to you in your life concerning matters of faith?

Prayer:

“All loving God, we thank you for revealing yourself to us in Jesus Christ. Help us to understand that it is only by your grace that we are able to believe and live our lives according to your purposes. Help us to love as you have first loved us. Amen.”

Have a great week!

In Christ,

Brad

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