THE MIND OF CHRIST -- Tomorrow:
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:11-16, NASB).
Devotion 6 of 28
On one occasion, Jesus interrogated His disciples concerning the people's view of Himself. After their initial response, Peter replied to Christ's pointed question, "But who do YOU say that I am?" His answer is commonly referred to as "the good confession." "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:15-16).
One might suppose this to be an obvious answer, requiring only common sense and a familiarity with the events of the time. After all, even the demons had confessed Jesus as the Son of God, called Christ
(Luke 4:41). Jesus had confirmed He was the Christ to certain Jews who asked if this were the case (John 10:24-25). Martha, the sister of Lazarus, knew Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of God" (John 11:27). Academically speaking, there was nothing unique about this knowledge. Even the "power of darkness" knew this.
The Lord Jesus took the time to explain the real situation to Peter. His assessment leaves no question about what happened to Peter on that eventful day. Each one of us does well to let our Lord's words sink down into our ears and hearts. "And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven'" (Matt 16:17, NASB).
Peter was not commended for having a good memory, being attentive, or even for having been perceptive. His logical mind was not declared to be his primary asset. His answer revealed that he had been "blessed," not merely quick to learn or perceptive! What he confessed was NOT the result of learning, but of blessing. As a man, he had walked with the Son of God, heard him, and spent extended and intimate time with Him. Yet it took the blessing of God for him to know who Jesus really was. The Adamic order could not identify or clarify the Christ to Him--and it cannot to you either. Jesus told Peter that His Father, Who is in heaven, had made this known to him. How He did it is not the point--that the Father DID do it is the point!
Peter and his brother Andrew were the first disciples Jesus called (Matt 4:18). Peter walked with Jesus, talked with Him, and was one of the inner circle of His disciples. Jesus had taught the people while sitting in Peter's boat, then provided a miraculous catch of fish for Peter (Lk 5:5-6). He had enabled Peter to walk on the water, then lifted him out of the raging deep when he was distracted by the storm (Matt 14:26-31). If God had to reveal the Person of Christ to Simon Peter, do you think you can come to know Him without such a blessing?
The Savior had already declared "no one knows the Son, except the Father" (Matt 11:27). Of this passage, Robertson well says, "This sublime claim is not to be whittled down or away by explanations." Those who unduly exalt academic approaches to the things of God do well to listen to one of their own princes! There has been infinitely more damage done by sophists trying to explain Christ's words than we dare to imagine. Far better to believe them and embrace them, so that God can explain them to us.
There is no age in which this ceases to be true--i.e., that flesh and blood does not reveal the true identity of the Son of God, but rather, the Father in heaven. It was not obviated by the introduction of the New Covenant, but rather expanded. If this statement is true--and it emphatically is--Peter could not have known Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, without God showing it to him. Why was this the case? Because "the natural man" is impotent in the spiritual realm!
Consider that this truth--Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God--is the pivotal fact, upon which salvation is hinged. The persuasion of this single reality enables the soul to overcome the world. As it is written, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?" (1 John 5:4 5, NKJV).
It should be obvious that believing Jesus is the Son of God is not mere academic acknowledgment. Neither, indeed, is it the result of one mortal teaching another. To be sure, it is preceded by the proclamation of the Gospel (Rom 10:14-17). The desire of the individual is also involved, as well as an honest and good heart. But in the last analysis, it is the result of the blessing of God. To every person who is able to identify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, it can still be said, "You are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven." (NJB)
PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, and with thanksgiving, I acknowledge that the understanding of Jesus comes from You.