APRIL 14, 2014
Mistaken
Identity
Read: Matthew 16:13-20
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” —Matthew 16:15
My
youngest brother, Scott, was born when I was a senior in high school. This age
difference made for an interesting situation when he grew to college age. On
his first trip to his college campus, I went along with him and our mom. When
we arrived, people thought we were Scott Crowder and his dad and his grandmom.
Eventually, we gave up correcting them. No matter what we said or did, our
actual relationships were overridden by this humorous case of mistaken
identity.
Jesus
questioned the Pharisees about His identity: “What do you think about the
Christ? Whose Son is He?” They replied, “The Son of David” (Matt. 22:42). The
identity of Messiah was critical, and their answer was correct but incomplete.
The scriptures had affirmed that Messiah would come and reign on the throne of
His father David. But Jesus reminded them that though David would be Christ’s
ancestor, He would also be more—David referred to Him as “Lord.”
Faced
with a similar question, Peter rightly answered, “You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Still today, the question of Jesus’ identity
rises above the rest in significance—and it is eternally important that we make
no mistake in understanding who He is.
Frail
children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee
do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy
mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our
Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. —Grant
No
mistake is more dangerous than mistaking the identity of Jesus.
Insight
The
place where Jesus asked His disciples the question about His identity was
significant, for it was at Caesarea Philippi (v.13), a center of worship for
Baal, the Greek god Pan, and the emperor. Jesus first asked what others were
saying about His identity (vv.13-14). He then made it personal, directing the
question to His own disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (v.15). To the
world, Jesus was merely a great man, such as John the Baptist, Elijah, or
Jeremiah (v.14). But Peter got it right: “You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God” (v.16).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
