February 19th Devotion

Mark 8:27-29 (NIV)
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

In Peter’s confession, he is putting his hope in Jesus. Peter is saying that Jesus is not Elijah or another prophet, but the one sent to save Israel. Matthew’s account gives more details. He tells Peter that this knowledge was revealed by God.

Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

It is very important to understand that people who hear from God, can also listen to Satan. We have to be diligent and careful to make certain we don’t believe anything that is contradictory to scripture. Believers in Christ can still believe a lie from Satan.

After this confession of faith, Jesus taught about his death. Look at this conversation.

Mark 8:30-33 (NIV)
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Peter completely missed the mark, and Jesus rebuked him, calling him Satan and saying that Peter had the mind of men. Brothers and Sisters, we need to be on guard, because our enemy never gets tired of attacking us. Who better to warn us than Peter himself.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Love, Pastor Don