Today’s Key Scripture (all references NKJV unless otherwise noted:

And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

—Luke 9:18

After the Lord went to Caesarea Philippi and spent time in prayer, He asked His disciples, “Whom do people say that I am?”

They, of course, answered, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again” (verse 18).

Then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” (verse 20).

Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (verse 16, KJV).

Matthew 16 gives us the rest of the story, for after Peter had spoken these words, the Lord said to him: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’” (verse 17).

There was much talk about Jesus already, from the top officials to people on the streets, and He already knew what the people thought. What He wanted was to have His disciples express what God had revealed to them.

When Peter proclaimed Jesus to be God’s Son, it marked a major step in the disciples’ understanding. From that point Christ began speaking of building His church and what was to come.

And it happened after prayer and intimate time spent with Master Jesus!

A Prayer for Today:

Father God, thank You for enlightening my mind to the light of Your Word. Protect me from wrong thinking; instead, help me to focus on You who are perfect, great in mercy, and longsuffering toward me. Delivery me from the attacks of the enemy. Fill me with Your pure teaching. May I glorify You in word and deed today. I pray this in the Name above all names, Amen!