Matthew 16:13-28
Wednesday, 3 March 2021
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. -Matthew 16:27
If we are meeting with someone close to us after a long time, what joy we will feel in our hearts and our faces will sure reflect it! How much more a believer would be excited to see his Redeemer! – “Maranatha”- our LORD is coming! (1Cor.16:22 & Rev 22:20). This comforting word of hope spoken in the midst of persecution in those days, still comforts each of us in our daily lives, giving us hope that we will ever be with our God.
Jesus clearly speaks of His Second Coming, stating that He will reward each one according to his works. From today’s portion we discover three A’s –steps in preparation for His coming back:
Accept Jesus as the Son of Living God (V.16):- Peter got the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God! The god of this world has blinded the minds of humans not to believe Christ (2 Cor. 4:4) but “By HIS grace we are saved” (Eph 2:8). God the Father in heaven revealed the truth to Simon Peter (V.17). Likewise God has shed the light in our hearts about Jesus (2 Cor.4:6). Those who believe in HIM shall not perish; they receive eternal life. “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have send.” (John 17:3)
Authority (V.19):- Jesus gave authority to Simon Peter (V.19) and later He gave the same authority to all disciples-Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Mat.18:18). Jesus givens authority to the one who accepts the Son of God. As a disciple of Christ we have the same authority: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19). The believer is to use his authority to live victoriously and serve the Lord until His coming back.
“After Me”- Following the Master (Vs 24-25): The important part of discipleship is following the Master. Self-desire and greed lead to worldliness and love of the world is totally against the will of God (1John 2:15). As a role model, Jesus emptied Himself (Phil.2:5-8) and He taught us: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me…” (V.24)— denying the fleshly desire (Gal.5:19-21), denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus.2:12)-as Jesus did. Apostle Paul says “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1Cor.11:1). Can we live the same way as our Master did?
Once our lives function on the above principles, the love of God works in us and we will start bearing fruit for Him. Our God is a compassionate God and our showing love to one another displays the love of God. Winning souls is the responsibility of every believer. Remember: God doesn’t want anyone to be lost in this world.
Let’s be reminded: “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” AMEN!
(1Thes. 5:23-24)