Now it happened that
as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who
do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others
say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he
said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ
of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying,
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:18-22).
The apostles returned from preaching the gospel
and heling the sick. Great crowds followed them back into the company of Jesus.
He welcomed them, taught them more about the kingdom of God, and healed their
diseases. Finally, Jesus empowered His disciples to supernaturally feed the
hungry crowd of more than five thousand. All of this left the crowd wondering
aloud about who Jesus really was. Many speculated that He was John the Baptist,
Elijah, or another prophet risen from the dead. Peter spoke for the disciples
that were closest to Him, for those who had been anointed by Him with power to
heal, deliver, and bless in His name. Peter was the first among many through
the ages that would correctly identify Jesus as “The Christ of God.”
But curiously, Jesus ordered that this proclamation be kept secret because it
did not tell the whole truth of the gospel. Jesus did not want less than the
whole gospel proclaimed before its fulfillment. Then He revealed to the
disciples, and to earnest gospel witnesses in all ages, the truth of the gospel
that saves
The true gospel is rejected by the religions
of the day. People are created in God’s image with an inner awareness and
longing to know Him… “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also,
he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God
has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This
leaves us vulnerable to the corruption and deception of religious truth
promoted in every age by Satan, our enemy… “And the great dragon was
thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels
were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9). That’s why the gospel is
set apart from the works-righteousness of other religions by the unique truth
that in Christ God does the saving work for sinners. Jesus’ warning that His gospel
will be rejected by the world but received by the repentant is echoed by the
Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul… “For the word of the cross is folly
to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of
God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The true gospel is revealed in the reviling
of Christ. The crowds were enamored by the power of Jesus’ teaching and
miracles. But it would take more to save their souls. Their reaction to Christ’s
suffering would be very different… “He saved others; he cannot save
himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we
will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires
him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:42-43). But there
were other responses among the witnesses to Christ’s suffering and crucifixion.
Those whose spirits were quickened with a hunger for truth, like the centurion
and the small crowd with him were granted a revelation of who Jesus really was…
“When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over
Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and
said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:54).
The true gospel is realized in the resurrection
of Christ. The crowds were impressed by the authority and power of Jesus’ words
and ministry, and they might be moved by His willingness to suffer and die for
His kingdom message, but real faith would only come when He demonstrated
victory over the crippling and deadly consequences of sin through His
resurrection. The resurrection confirms Christ’s divinity… “For you will
not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption” (Acts
2:27). And the resurrection confirms true believers’ ultimate victory over
sin and death… “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
As we grow up into Christ effective
witnesses are blessed by and careful to share…
The Truth of the Gospel that Saves.
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