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, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:13-16)
Imagine standing in front of Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sammy Snead, and Jack Nicklaus. Imagine they are asking you questions about the history of the game! Questions like—who won The Open in 1953? Imagine, if you will, your embarrassment for not knowing it was Hogan!
Not knowing the answer to trivia questions is one thing. Not knowing the answer to golfing lore is quite another. After all, the fact that Hogan won the 1953 Open is hardly trivial, especially since he won it after his horrific car accident in 1949. Historians of Sport still debate if this was the greatest comeback of all time. The Wee-Iceman had come back and won his only appearance at The Open. Not knowing about this pivotal moment in golf’s history suggest you have a passing interest in the game, not a deep attachment. All things considered, that is entirely acceptable.
Imagine however, for just a moment, that you are with Peter and the other disciples. Imagine that Jesus turns to you (y’all—its plural in the original language) and ask this question—who do you say that I am? Now, here is a question that rises above all other questions!! What would you say?
Would you answer correctly? Would your stammer and stutter? Would you look around at the other disciples and ask for help? Or would you, like Peter, answer with a deep assurance, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” If so, how would you have come to have this information? Would you have guessed? Would you have had a hunch? Would you have reasoned your way to it?
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Getting the answer to who won the ’53 Open is one thing. Getting the answer to who Jesus is, is a matter of one’s eternal destiny!
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How did Peter, answering on behalf of “the twelve,” get it right? Well, as always, we must read the rest of the story. Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my father who is in heaven.” Can you imagine that? Peter gets the answer correct for one reason and one reason only—God the Father, by his Spirit, has opened Peter’s heart and mind to know with certainty that Jesus is the Messiah (i.e., Christ).
For any of us to comprehend who Jesus is, the Father must reveal it to us. Coming to know Jesus Christ is not merely like knowing about, say, George Washington. Knowing the first President of the United States is a matter of some importance, but that knowledge is gained by research or listening intently to your grade schoolteacher. It’s historical knowledge.
Coming to know Jesus involves historical knowledge to be sure, but knowing Jesus in a saving way is a supernatural act of God (see 1 Corinthians 2). This kind of knowing is a spiritual kind of knowing. It’s a personal and intimate introduction to the Son of God.
As we probe a bit deeper into this story recorded by Matthew, we should notice that he asked another question first. That question was this, “Who do people say that I am?” As it turns out, everyone but the disciples answered incorrectly. Getting the answer to who won the ’53 Open is one thing. Getting the answer to who Jesus is, is a matter of one’s eternal destiny!