Claiming Christ’s Victory
Who do you say I am? A tough question, coming from Jesus.
His disciples were just getting to know Him. Miracle after miracle, healing after healing, He could do things no other person could do. It must have been somewhat easy for Peter to say you are the Christ. Another thing to understand what he said.
Peter was surely thinking of Jesus as being king, overthrowing the Roman army, getting rid of the Jewish leaders, and many more things that life oppressing for the people.
Instead, Jesus tells them how he must suffer, die, and be raised. This would be shocking. They would not want to hear it. And they certainly did not understand this way of thinking at all.
Who do you say I am? An open-ended question that they must personally respond to. If they are to be disciples of Christ the prophecy of suffering, dying, and rising does not sound very appealing.
To follow Jesus means turning away from those sins of anger, jealousy, hatred, resentments, and untruths. To put it another way, we must give up our favorite sins, die to self, and pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Are you ready?
Lent begins next Wednesday. This Lent give up something that causes you to sin. Make it something where you can spiritually grow in faith. Claim your part in the victory of Christ.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen